{"id":69,"date":"2009-09-24T09:59:39","date_gmt":"2009-09-24T09:59:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vintageholidays.co.uk\/?p=69"},"modified":"2009-09-24T09:59:39","modified_gmt":"2009-09-24T09:59:39","slug":"top-5-fiestas-in-andalucia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vintagetravel.co.uk\/blog\/top-5-fiestas-in-andalucia\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Fiestas in Andalucia"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re planning a trip to Andalucia then you may want to join in one of their many fiestas that run throughout the year and that have very different focuses. Believe it or not there are well over 3,000 fiestas thrown in the region every single year, including fairs, pilgrimages, carnivals, mock battles between Moors and Christians and religious processions, throughout the some 800 communities of the region. There is a heavy emphasis on carnival season after the autumn harvests… and wherever you are you can be guaranteed a yearly procession celebrating individual patron saints.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith so much choice which ones are we going to go to?\u201d we hear you say… well, this is our essential guide to our top 5 fiestas in Andalucia.
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\nFor The Music Fan<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019re going to love the Grenada Music Festival which has now been running for over 50 years and is still going strong. You\u2019ll find a congregation of some of the world\u2019s finest musicians and dance performances, which bring Grenada\u2019s top venues to life over the months of June & July.
\nFrom symphonic orchestras to ballet to flamenco shows and ancient music, this International Music and Dance Festival offers inspiration and smiles from the thousands that attend.
\nTicket prices ranged from 15 to 60 euros with concerts held both day and night.<\/p>\n

For the seafood fan<\/strong>
\nThanks to the Mediterranean coastline, Andalucia is abundant with the freshest seafood you can imagine. As you\u2019d imagine, there are thousands of people who make a living out of fishing and they certainly like to celebrate the fact. We can recommend three fishing fiestas to attend, each celebrating the lush fruits of the sea.
\n\u2022\tLa Virgen del Mar (Virgin of the Sea) – Almeria
\n\u2022\tLa Virgen del Carmen (the protector of seamen) \u2013 Estepona
\nHeld around middle of July across fishing towns and villages along the coast.
\n\u2022\tSaint John\u2019s Feast \u2013 San Juan
\nHeld on the 24th June, Andalucia\u2019s beaches light up with fireworks and bonfires. Fantastic experience<\/p>\n

For the wine lover<\/strong>
\nThe Vendimia Festival takes place during the month of September in Jerez (the feast of St Matthew) and celebrates the \u2018Vintage\u2019 grape. It starts with the picking of the first grapes and lasts around a month. It all starts with a grand procession, the Queen of the Vintage occuping the seat of honour and is surrounded by her handmaidens, all chosen from the beautiful girls of Jerez, wearing white dresses and blue silk scarves, representing the white chalky soil and blue sky that give life and body to the vines.
\nCarts are steered through the streets decorated with grapes and children chase them hoping to catch some of the sweets that are thrown from the cart. Fireworks and men in masks tend to be somewhere close to the procession.
\nYou\u2019ll also find bullfights, a horse sow, motorcycle race, arts and crafts, flamenco and lots of merrymaking in the streets. It\u2019s a lot of fun, just go with an open mind!<\/p>\n

Food Festivals in Andalucia<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"grenada-music-festival\"
\nThe autumn harvest is a very important time for celebrations across the entire region of Andalucia, and brings with it a huge variety of concerts and mini fiestas that basically celebrate food.
\nYou will be spoilt for choice around Autumn when it comes to finding these fiestas, they are literally everywhere. Here\u2019s a quick guide as to what to look out for:<\/p>\n