Verdiales Main Festival

Verdiales are a music and dance of rural origin, a fandango native to the Montes de Málaga that is sung and danced to violin, guitars, tambourine, cymbals and castanets, and in some styles also lute or bandurria. There are three styles tied to their territory: Montes, Almogía and Comares.

The festival reaches its peak on 28 December, Holy Innocents' Day, when the revellers are called «tontos» (fools). For more than six decades that day has seen the Fiesta Mayor de Verdiales, the bands' main annual gathering, with competitions by style.

In 2010 the Andalusian Government entered the Fiesta de Verdiales in the General Catalogue of Andalusian Historical Heritage as a Site of Cultural Interest, in the category of ethnological activity. With the rural exodus of the 1960s the tradition moved from the Montes to outlying districts of the city, such as Puerto de la Torre.

At the grounds of Andrés Jiménez Díaz park, in the Puerto de la Torre district.

Each band is led by the alcalde, who directs the performance with his staff of office, and headed by the flag-bearer, who dances with a flag. The most characteristic garment is the verdiales hat, also called the hat of freedom, which is handmade.

The bands compete by style in several categories: fiesta, couple dance, trenzaíllo dance, flag dance or bajín, and best singer. Ritual «fights» between bands and sung exchanges (revezos) are part of the tradition.

Verdiales are also present at other city festivals, such as the Centre Fair on Calle Larios.