March Festivals in Spain

Holy Week Malaga
Holy Week Malaga

Spain is a country that loves to celebrate, and March is no exception. With a rich cultural heritage, there are many festivals and fiestas that take place during this month, celebrating everything from religious traditions to historical events to local produce.

If you plan to visit Spain in March  you will be able to experience a range of events, from solemn processions to lively street parties.

One of the most famous March festivals in Spain is Semana Santa, or Holy Week, which takes place in the week leading up to Easter Sunday. It is celebrated all over Spain, but some of the most impressive processions can be seen in Andalusia, especially in Seville and Malaga.

Another notable March festival is Las Fallas, which takes place in Valencia. It is a huge celebration of the arrival of spring and is famous for its spectacular fireworks displays and the burning of large paper-mache sculptures.

March is also the month of Carnival, celebrated in many cities and towns throughout Spain. The most famous Carnival celebration is in Tenerife, where the streets are filled with colourful parades, music, and dancing.

In addition to these major festivals, there are also many local events celebrating the unique heritage and traditions of each region. For example, in Catalonia, the festival of La Patum takes place in the town of Berga and involves performers dressed as devils and mythical creatures dancing in the streets.

Overall, March is a vibrant and exciting month to visit Spain, with plenty of festivals and fiestas to experience and enjoy.

Popular March Festivals and Fiestas in Spain

Fallas Festival Valencia
Fallas Festival Valencia

The famous Las Fallas:

The fames Fallas festival is held in Valencia, Spain's province of Valencia, from March 15 to March 19. It honours Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, as well as the start of spring.

The Las Fallas event is known for its enormous and ornate papier-mâché structures (fallas), which are displayed in the streets before being set ablaze on the festival's last night. In addition, the celebration features gastronomy, music, dancing, and fireworks.

Sant Medir Festival:

This is a musical festival that takes place on March 3rd in Barcelona, in the province of Barcelona. It celebrates Saint Emeterius (Sant Medir), the patron saint of farmers and bean growers.

The festival features a procession of horse-drawn carriages, bands and groups of people who throw candy to the spectators. The festival also includes music, dancing and gastronomy.

Cherry Blossom Festival:

This is a natural festival that takes place from late March to early April in Jerte Valley, in the province of Cáceres. It celebrates the blooming of over one million cherry trees that cover the valley with pink and white flowers.

The festival features activities such as hiking, biking, horse riding and photography. The festival also includes music, dancing and gastronomy.

Re-enactment of Columbus's Arrival:

This is a historical festival that takes place on March 1st in Baiona, in the province of Pontevedra. It commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus's ship La Pinta in 1493, after his first voyage to America.

The festival features a re-enactment of the landing, as well as exhibitions, lectures and workshops. The festival also includes music, dancing and gastronomy.

Reconquest of Vigo:

This is a historical festival that takes place on March 28th in Vigo, in the province of Pontevedra. It commemorates the victory of the local people over the French troops in 1809, during the Peninsular War.

The festival features a re-enactment of the battle, as well as parades, concerts and shows. The festival also includes music, dancing and gastronomy.

The Jerez Flamenco Festival:

This is a festival for lovers of flamenco music and dance, which takes place in Jerez de la Frontera, one of the cradles of flamenco. The festival showcases the best flamenco artists from Andalucia and beyond, with performances in theatres, plazas and bars.

The Burial of the Sardine:

This is a quirky festival that marks the end of the carnival season in Andalucia. It involves a procession of people dressed in black, some as priests and nuns, who carry a sardine through the town and then bury it or burn it.

The festival symbolises the death of the past and the rebirth of the future.

The Reconquest of Vigo:

This is a historical festival that takes place in Vigo, Galicia. It commemorates the victory of the local people over the French troops that occupied the city in 1809.

The festival features a reenactment of the battle, a medieval market, music and costumes.

The Fallas of Alzira and Sagunto:

These are similar festivals to the Las Fallas de Valencia, but they take place in other towns of the Valencia Region.

They also involve the creation and burning of papier-mâché figures, as well as fireworks, music and parades.

Las Fallas de Valencia – Mid March


The Fallas of Valencia is visually one of the most spectacular Fiestas you will come across in Spain.

In mid-March, Valencia lights up its streets for an entire week of celebration and parties. With work officially suspended, the city inhabitants make giant paper mache figures representing notable people as well as traditional figures. These are then displayed in the city during the entire week of celebration before being burned down one of the most amazing bonfires that bring the Las Fallas festival to en enigmatic end.

The Las Fallas festival was intended to honour Saint Joseph the patron of the carpenters guild, where this spectacular tradition arose from.

It is an impressive display of huge figures, mostly comical depicting personalities in Spain which are made over the year only to be burnt on the last day of the fiesta.

The week leading up to the Fallas comes alive with fireworks displays, street performances, performances by local bands and so much more.

There are now well over 100.000 Falleros and Falleras who ensure that these fiestas are an unforgettable experience each year in Valencia.

The Jerez Flamenco Festival

Flamenco Dancing Spain

For lovers of traditional flamenco and folk music, the Jerez Flamenco Festival is one not to miss.

Jerez comes alive each March with the colour and sounds that only flamenco can do. Singing, dance and guitar music is present on every corner, plaza and street around Jerez which gives the town a unique atmosphere.

The golden triangle of flamenco music is said to be located within the city walls of Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz and the Triana district of Seville.

People arrive from all over the world to take part in the Flamenco Festival, they come to enjoy the historic city and listen to the very best flamenco guitar players and dancers from all over Andalucia.

There are numerous headline shows at the central Vilamarta Theatre as well as other venues such as the Plaza Romero Martinez and the Palacio de Villavicencio.

The Burial of the Sardine  (El Entierro de la Sardina)

This is quite a strange festival that takes place after the carnivals in Andalucia have finished. Its true origins are not known though the theory goes that in the 18th century King Carlos III was given some sardines that turned out to be rotten, and he immediately ordered them to be buried.

This unusual symbolic ritual has been played out ever since in many towns around Andalucia in southern Spain.

The locals dress up in black, some as priests and some as nuns. who carry the sardines through the town for everyone to see.

The fish is then either buried or cooked over an open fire on wooden spits.

The burial of the sardine was depicted in a painting by Francisco Goya.

Best Festivals in Spain - Month by Month

National Holidays in Spain

Jan 1st -  New Years Day - Ano Nuevo
Jan 6th - 12th night, The Three Kings  - Dia de los Reyes
Mar 19th - Fathers Day - San Jose
Variable - Good Friday - Viernes Santo
May 1st - Labour Day - Dia del Trabajador
Aug 15th -  Assumption - Dia del Asuncion
Oct 12th - Spanish National Day - Dia de la Hispanidad
Nov 1st -  All Saints Day - Todos los Santos
Dec 6th -  Constitution Day - Dia de la Constitucion<
Dec 8th -  Immaculate Conception - Imaculada Concepcion
Dec 25th - Christmas Day - Navidad