10 Crazy Spanish Festivals You Need To See

Everywhere in Spain, from the tiniest hamlet to the great cities, each one devotes at least a couple of days a year to its own particular fiesta, festival or carnival.  Spanish festivals and fiestas are about honouring the local saint, celebrating a new harvest,  the deliverance from the Moors, or a safe return from the sea – any excuse will do.

Festivals in Spain come in all shapes and sizes, here is our pick of the top 10 crazy Spanish festivals you should see.

1. Running with the Bulls in Pamplona

Bull Running Pamplona
Bull Running Pamplona

Each year during the San Fermin fiestas thousands of visitors flock to Pamplona to participate in the running with the bulls.

12 tons of brave bulls ( Toros Bravos ) are let free at 8 am each morning to run around a prepared route within the ancient city of Pamplona.

The bulls will chase and hound the runners ( Mozos ) until they all reach the bullring.

This adrenaline-fuelled spectacle is one of the highlights of the annual festival calendar in Spain which attracts people from all over the globe eager to take part.

Dates held: 6th to the 14th July

» Pamplona Tourism Board
» Running with the Bulls

 

2. La Tomatina – Spain’s Biggest Food Fight!

La Tomatina Festival
La Tomatina Festival

La Tomatina is a unique festival in Spain and one of the biggest food fights in the world. The fiesta is held in the town of Buñol ( pronounced Bunyol )  in Valencia on the last Wednesday of August each year and involves over 100 tons of ripe tomatoes thrown around by thousands of willing participants

The event starts at around 11 am in the morning when a ham is placed upon a large greased pole, participants then battle to try to get to the top and grab the prized ham joint, once achieved the party can begin.

Participants then proceed to throw tons of ripe tomatoes at each for one hour in controlled areas in the centre of town. This once-in-a-lifetime experience should not be missed by any respectable fun-loving partygoer!

The population of the small town of Buñol rises from around 9.000 to well over 30,000 during the week-long festivities. With so many willing participants the local council have limited the number of participants wishing to take part in the main tomato fight so you will need to ensure you have entrance tickets if you plan to attend.

Dates held: Last Wednesday of August each year.

» La Tomatina Festival
» Pamplona Tours

 

3. Dance Of The Dead Festival - Girona

Dance Of The Dead Girona

This quirky festival is held during Easter each year in the town of Verges, close to the city of Girona in Catalonia.

The Dance of Death ( La Danza de la Muerte ) has its roots back in medieval times and takes place on Maundy Thursday during the Easter period.

Participants are dressed as skeletons and scatter ash as they make their way through the sheets to the rhythm of drums and music.

This spooky tradition symbolises the final judgement of individuals just after death to decide whether heaven or hell awaits their souls.

Dates held: 7th April each year.

4. The Human Towers Of Barcelona

The Castells Barcelona

The construction of the human towers festival, known as Castells,  is one of Catalonia's biggest festivals.

This is Barcelona's way of ushering in autumn and includes music, arts, acrobatic shows, and street processions among 500 fun activities.

The highlights of this important festival, declared a Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, include the amazing Castellers - human towers - which take place in various towns and cities in the Barcelona area.

Try to get there early as many thousands of people pack out the town square to watch the building of the human towers culminating in youngsters climbing to the top.

This unique festival will surely remain in your memory long after you leave Barcelona.

Dates held: Most Saturday mornings between the 9th of May and the 29th of August.

»  Barcelona Tourism Board

 

5. Tenerife Carnivals

Carnivals of Spain

The Tenerife carnivals are amongst the most colourful and energetic in Spain and are held during the month of February on the Canary Islands. The main street parades are held in Santa Cruz de Tenerife located on the north of the Island.

The Tenerife carnivals resemble those held in Brazil and feature noisy parades, colourful floats and costumes and street bands performing all types of carnival flavoured music as they parade through the cobbled Canarian streets. The colourful costumes can weigh over 100 kilos which can take almost all year to make.

Although there is plenty of accommodation in Tenerife to choose from, carnival week gets extremely busy so if you want to stay reasonably close to Santa Cruz it is best to book your hotel in Tenerife well in advance as the budget options are quickly taken.

Dates held: Varying dates in February and March each year.  In 2024: Fri 9th Feb to Sun 18th Feb and in 2025: Fri 28th Feb to Sun 9th March.

» Tenerife Carnival Tourism Board

 

6. Las Fallas de Valencia – Spain’s Bonfire Night

The Fallas De Valencia Festival

The Fallas festival in Valencia is a spectacular and unique event that captures the essence of the city's culture and creativity. Held annually from March 15th to 19th, it is a celebration of art, craftsmanship, and community spirit.

The highlight of the Fallas festival is the creation and display of enormous sculptures called Ninots ( meaning Puppets or Dolls ). These intricate and elaborate structures, often satirical or humorous in nature, depict various themes and characters. They are meticulously crafted by local artists and displayed throughout the city streets, forming a vibrant open-air museum.

Throughout the festival, there are parades, fireworks, music, and traditional costumes that fill the streets with an electrifying atmosphere.

The festival reaches its climax on the night of March 19th, known as La Nit de la Crema, when the Ninots are set ablaze in a mesmerising display of flames and fireworks.

Dates held: March 15th to the 19th each year.

» Valencia Tourism Board

 

7. Semana Santa – Easter Holy Week

Festivals Holey Week

Easter holy week is an important religious festival in Spain, there is a spring party atmosphere in many towns and cities that offer parades and processions which are quite spectacular to watch. Catholics mourn the final days of Christ on Earth and at the same time sympathise with the grief of the Virgin Mary.

Semana  Santa is held on the week leading to Easter Sunday.  Throughout the entire week, processions are celebrations are held daily. The main event is held on  Good Friday whereby the floats leave the churches in the middle of the night and are carried throughout the night to their final destination: the cathedral.

Dates held: Varying dates in March & April.  In 2024: Sunday, March 24th to Sunday, March 31st

8. Moors VS Christians

Moors vs Christians Festival

The Moors Vs Christians reenactments take place during spring and summer and are held in many towns across Spain.

The most important of these festivals are held in the towns of Alcoy and Villajoyosa in the province of Alicante.

A spectacular festival that reenacts the historic battle between the Christians and Moors that ruled Spain for over 700 years.

Most Moors vs Christiana festivals are held in the Valencia region around Alicante, other than Alcoy and Villajoyosa, there are a number of smaller towns that are well worth visiting as well to enjoy this amazing festival. These include Orihuela, El Campello, Villena,  Bocairent, Javea, Oliva, Denia, Benidorm and Banyeres de Mariol.

Dates held: To be confirmed. Check the local tourism board websites.

» Alcoy Tourism Board
» Villajoyosa Tourism Board

 

9. The Great Rioja Wine Battle At Haro

Festivals Rioja Wine

This mighty wine-fighting festival takes place each year in the picturesque village of Haro usually during the last week of June each year.

The location is the beautiful Rioja wine-growing region of northern Spain, for wine and party lovers this is a must-visit festival in Spain.

It is held on St Peters Day to honour the local wine production,  and where locals and visitors climb a mountain and throw wine over each other, what could be more fun!

The region of Haro is one of Rioja's top wine-producing municipalities with over 40% of the area's vineyards located here, the production of superior quality wine is the mainstay of the local economy and is celebrated in style each year.

Dates held: Thursday June 29th in 2023

» Haro Tourism Board

10. Flour Fight Festival - IBI Alicante

Flour Fight Festival Ibi

If you are looking to get very messy, then the crazy, flour fight held in the town of Ibi, Alicante each year is the one you should visit.

Held on December 28th, a series of absurd laws are imposed on the locals, and anyone who breaks them is duly pelted with flour, eggs and vegetables.

Luckily for many, the crazy laws are only in place for a day, the ultimate goal though is to raise funds for local charities.

Great fun is had by all the participants who enjoy getting completely covered in flour and food as well as enjoying the local gastronomy. music and other activities that go on throughout the day.

Dates held: December 28th

»  Ibi Tourism Board

 

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