Vélez-Málaga Royal Fair of San Miguel

The Royal Fair of San Miguel is the most important of the fairs held within the municipality of Vélez-Málaga, the main town of the Axarquía. It is named after Saint Michael the Archangel, whose feast day, 29 September, falls during the fair, and one of the municipality's two local holidays is devoted to this saint.

It has two sides. From midday it takes place in the town centre, with bars run by brotherhoods, confraternities and associations, regional dances, verdiales and live music in several squares and streets. At night the party moves to the fairground, with the marquees, the rides and the big concerts.

The Livestock Fair is one of the parts most closely tied to its tradition: for two days it brings together livestock, horses and enthusiasts at the Santo Chiquito grounds, and the Peña Caballista riding club holds a harness contest in the town centre. Other customs every year are the opening speech (pregón), the Diana Floreada morning band parade, the Miss and Mister contest known as the Certamen Amparo Muñoz, Children's Day and the Seniors' Dinner.

The daytime fair fills the centre of Vélez-Málaga: Plaza de las Carmelitas, Paseo de Andalucía, Paseo Nuevo (Paseo de los Naranjos), Plaza del Carmen, Calle Romero Pozo, Calle Albero and Calle Canalejas, where the children's fair is set up, and the Explanada de la Estación, with the youth marquee (Caseta Joven).

The night fair is held at the fairground (Recinto Ferial), next to the El Ingenio shopping centre, home to the Official Marquee, the Municipal Marquee, the Children's Marquee and the rides. The Livestock Fair takes place at the Santo Chiquito grounds.

From Málaga, line M-260 of the Málaga Metropolitan Transport Consortium links the city with Torre del Mar and Vélez-Málaga.

The pregón opens the fair in Plaza de la Constitución, after a parade by the Vélez-Málaga Bailes, Coros y Danzas folk group. The next morning, the Diana Floreada band parade tours the town-centre streets and, at night, the fairground opens with the Miss and Mister contest.

Local groups play a big part in the daytime fair: rociero choirs from the Axarquía, verdiales bands, dance academies, seniors' choirs and brass bands, alongside the bars set up by brotherhoods, confraternities and local groups. At night, the concerts at the Official Marquee.

The Livestock Fair and the harness contest keep the country and equestrian side of the fair alive. The last day brings Children's Day, with the rides at half price, and the Seniors' Dinner.