Malaga Fair

The Malaga Fair commemorates the Catholic Monarchs' entry into the city in 1487 and its incorporation into the Crown of Castile. That is why the municipal bylaw requires every edition to include 19 August, which is also a local public holiday in the city.

The fair has two sides. By day it is held in the historic centre, with music in the streets and squares, verdiales on Calle Larios and its own entrance arch. By night the party moves to the Real de Cortijo de Torres, with marquees (casetas), rides, free concerts and the lighting display.

Every year the Local Government Board approves the exact dates, which usually cover a week in mid-August.

The Centre Fair fills the streets and squares of the historic centre: Calle Larios, Plaza de la Constitución, Plaza de la Merced and the surrounding area.

The Real de la Feria, the fairground, is at Cortijo de Torres, in the west of the city. It holds the casetas, the municipal auditorium, the Explanada de la Juventud, the municipal verdiales marquee, the flamenco and copla marquee, the children's marquee and the Equestrian Exhibition Centre.

EMT runs special line F, which links the centre (terminus on the north side of the Alameda Principal, between Calle Larios and Puerta del Mar) with the Real de Cortijo de Torres 24 hours a day. At night there are also special direct lines from the neighbourhoods to the fairground, and by day several regular lines reach it.

At the fairground there are two taxi ranks open 24 hours, by the main entrance on Avenida de las Malagueñas and on Avenida de Ortega y Gasset, and parking areas nearby. Renfe also reinforces its Cercanías commuter trains during the fair.

The fair starts the evening before with fireworks and a historical parade re-enacting the handing over of the city's keys to the Catholic Monarchs. On the first Saturday there is the urban pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of La Victoria and, at night, the opening speech and the switching on of the fairground lights.

In the centre verdiales are played every day on Calle Larios, and there is Malaga folk music, flamenco and live music in the squares. At the fairground horses play a big role, with riders and carriages parading. The concerts in the municipal programme are free.