Festivals are common and important events in Spain and the Andalusia people celebrate with passion. Almost every month of the year has a festival but definitely the Holy Week festival Semana Santa and two weeks later the April Fair, Feria de Abril, and the Feria de Malaga in August are the most popular.

Semana Santa has the town folk and tourists lining the streets to watch the procession of floats of religious significance. Each float is adorned with candles, lights, crystals, velvet and other elaborate fabrics. The sight is beautiful and the event a sombre, peaceful event. The processions include penitents wearing their white robes with pointy hats and carrying candles. The procession continues every night of holy week.

Two weeks later the Feria de Abril is held. This festival is loud with lots of drinking, flamenco dancing, castanet clicking and partying. It is sight for the eyes as the flamenco dancers wear colourful polka dresses and dance Andalucía’s traditional dance, Sevillanas. The festival also includes horse parades.

In May, the May Crosses is a festival held for Malaga’s patron saint. The Fiesta de San Juan is held between June 21 and June 24. The events purpose is to celebrate the arrival of the midsummer solstice and like all fiestas in Spain, involves street parties. The Fiesta de San Juan is a catholic celebration that makes the elements fire and water centre stage. The town folk light bonfires on the beaches and in the town squares and burn effigies of famous figures. Sometimes the town folk walk on the hot coals or jump over the bonfire when it has burned low.

The August fiesta is called the Feria de Malaga in August and continues for ten days and resembles a street party. September celebrates the patron saint Virgen de la Victoria in the Victoria Festival, and October the fiesta is held for Picasso.