November Festivals in Spain
November may not be the peak tourist season in Spain, but that certainly doesn't mean there are fewer festivals and fiestas.
From the start of the month, Spain celebrates many cultural and religious events, each with its traditions and customs.
November is the month of All Saints' Day, or Día de Todos Los Santos, a religious holiday commemorating all the saints and martyrs.
It is a day of remembrance and celebration. People visit cemeteries to pay their respects to their loved ones. Many towns and cities hold special events, including parades, processions, and traditional food markets.
Another significant festival celebrated in November is the Fiesta de San Andres, held in the Basque Country and the Canary Islands.
This festival marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. People light bonfires, dance traditional folk dances, and drink Txakoli, a local wine.
The month of November also marks the start of the olive harvest season in Spain.
Many towns and cities hold olive oil festivals, where visitors can taste different varieties of olive oil, learn about the production process, and participate in activities such as olive oil tasting and cooking workshops.
Here we have a look at the most significant festivals and fiestas that take place during the month of November, providing an insight into each one and the unique festival culture of Spain.
Popular November Festivals and Fiestas
All Saints' Day
This is a national holiday that takes place on November 1st in Spain. It is a day to remember and honour the deceased, especially family and friends.
Many people visit cemeteries and churches to bring flowers and candles to the graves of their loved ones.
Some people also make traditional sweets such as huesos de santo (saint's bones) and buñuelos de viento (wind fritters).
International Sherry Week
This gastronomic festival takes place in early November in various locations across Spain, especially in Jerez de la Frontera, in the province of Cadiz.
It celebrates sherry, one of Spain's most famous wines, produced in the Andalusia region.
The festival features activities such as sherry tastings, pairings, tours, and exhibitions. It also includes music, dancing, and gastronomy.
San Andres Festival
This folkloric festival usually takes place the last week of November in various towns and villages across Spain, especially in Tenerife and the Canary Islands.
It celebrates Saint Andrew, the patron saint of fishermen and winegrowers.
The festival features chestnut roasting, wine tasting, bonfires and fireworks. One of the most peculiar attractions is the arrastre de las tablas (dragging of the boards), where people slide down steep streets on wooden boards.
Film Festivals
November is a month of film festivals in Spain.
Some major film festivals organized in November include the Seville European Film Festival (First week of November), which showcases European cinema and awards prizes such as the Golden Giraldillo for the best film.
Cartagena Jazz Festival
(November weekends) features jazz music and films; the Zinebi International Documentary Film Festival (mid-November) focuses on documentary films from different countries.
The Gijon Film Festival (Late November), features films for young audiences and awards prizes such as the Principado de Asturias Award for the best film.
Fiesta de la Trashumancia
This folkloric festival takes place on November 7th in Madrid, the capital of Spain.It commemorates the ancient tradition of transhumance, which involves moving livestock from one grazing ground to another according to the seasons.
The festival features a parade of sheep and shepherds through some of Madrid's main streets, such as Gran Vía and Cibeles.
The festival also includes music, dancing and gastronomy.
Fiesta del Orujo
This gastronomic festival takes place in mid-November in Potes, in the province of Cantabria.
It celebrates orujo, a strong liquor made from grape pomace typical of this mountainous region.
The festival features activities such as orujo distilling, tasting, contests, and exhibitions. It also includes music, dancing, and fireworks.
Feast of the Almudena
This religious festival takes place on November 9th in Madrid.
It celebrates Our Lady of Almudena (La Virgen de la Almudena), the patron saint of Madrid.
The festival features a mass at the Almudena Cathedral, a procession with the Virgin statue through the streets of Madrid, and a floral offering at the Plaza de la Villa. It also includes music, dancing, and gastronomy.
Festival of San Martín
This gastronomic festival usually takes place on November 11th in various towns and villages across Asturias, a region in northern Spain.
It celebrates Saint Martin, the patron saint of winegrowers and pigs. The festival includes pig slaughtering, sausage making, chestnut roasting and cider tasting.
The festival also includes music, dancing and folklore.
Dia de Todos los Santos – All Saints’ Day – 1st November
All Saints’ Day is an important national holiday in Spain and allows people to reflect on life and remember family and friends who have passed on.
Many people attend masses at the local cemeteries and churches, where they offer flowers and other offerings to the sick.
Once the sombre mood is over, the atmosphere turns rather upbeat as people celebrate the good memories of those who have passed.
Benidorm Annual Festival
The annual Benidorm festival honours the town's patron saints, la Virgen del Sufragio and San Jaime Apostol.
Street parties, sporting events, open-air theatre, and parades are all part of this popular annual festival. The final day's spectacle includes a huge parade of decorated floats followed by a fireworks display from the main Benidorm beach area of Playa de Poniente.
Make sure you take a bag with you as tons of sweets are thrown from giant floats for the children to scramble over.
The Benidorm fancy dress event is a hugely fun day the following Thursday after the Annual Benidorm festival.
Although the annual Benidorm festival officially ends on Wednesday, the fancy dress parade is well worth watching.
The Benidorm fancy dress party unites many local and foreign residents and holidaymakers.
Film Festivals
November is a time to celebrate the art of filmmaking, as many film festivals occur throughout Spain.
» Girona Film Festival
» Indie Film Festival Barcelona
» Gijon Film Festival
» Alcine Film Festival Alcala de Henares Madrid
International Sherry Week
What better way to learn everything about this famous Andalucian wine than by attending one of the many events held during the Jerez wine festival?
During International Sherry Week, there are plenty of opportunities for wine-tasting sessions, and you can even visit one of the local vineyards for the day and learn how Sherry is made.
Festival of Orujo
Usually held on the second week of November, the festival de Orujo celebrates the locally made strong liquor produced in Potes, near Santander in Northern Spain.
This unusual festival was first held in 1984 and has become increasingly popular. People from all over the region gather to honour this famous strong liquor, local food, and fare from the area.
The Orujo festival includes musical events, traditional folklore, parades, and street parties.
San Andres Festival Tenerife
The San Andres festival is held at the end of November in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife. It celebrates the annual grape harvest and the tasting of new wines.
A great way to taste the local wines and join in the noisy fun as locals take to the streets with pots and pans banging their way around the town.
Fun parties and entertainment are all part of this vibrant Tenerife festival.
November Jazz Festivals
For jazz lovers, Spain is a perfect choice to visit in November as there is are a number of Jazz fests throughout the month.
» Madrid Jazz Festival
» Granada Jazz Festival
International Theatre Festival Vitoria Gasteiz
The International Theatre Festival has been running for over 40 years held over a couple of weeks, usually commencing around the 5th of November.
A cultural highlight of the Vitoria Gasteiz in the Basque Country, this well-organised film festival showcases films made in Spain and abroad whilst covering genres.