Festivals in Spain take place all year long. However, nothing beats the beauty, colour, and pomp of Spanish summer festivals.
From adrenaline-filled Running of the Bull to the messy Tomatina, Spain is where you want to be this coming summer. This write-up delves into some of the best Spanish festivals you should enjoy for a memorable summer holiday. Read on!
1. Fiesta de la Mercè – Barcelona
If you’re religious, you can spend the hottest months of the year in Barcelona at one of Spain’s most popular religious festivals. Spaniards mark the day to honour the Virgin of Grace, who they claim saved Barcelona from a locust plague in the 17th century.
The clash of modern and traditional cultures here is mind-blowing. And the best part? You don’t have to hit the current EuroMillions Jackpot to afford the tickets. You can be part of all this fun for free.
The festival is basically a huge display of theatre, music, visual and circus arts. Here, you can witness incredible street parades and puppetry processions, all landmarks of Catalan region celebrations.
This event also gives participants an opportunity to see gravity-defying super-tall human towers outside a circus.
However, it’s worth noting that, like most Spanish festivals, Fiesta de la Mercè impacts the whole week with festivities like food fairs, games, and theatre events. While all the activities in this festival may make movement difficult, the fun is worth it. It usually runs from 15th to 21st August.
2. La Tomatina – Buñol
This is one of the most famous Spanish summer festivals. If you’ve always dreamed of hurling a ripe tomato at someone’s face without any adverse consequences, La Tomatina should be in your must-do activities this year. The festival happens in the summer of every year in Buñol, a small town a few kilometres from Valencia.
The main event includes revellers, both tourists and locals, having a food fight, with the weapon of choice being truckloads of ripe tomatoes. The hour-long battle at Plaza del Pueblo is fought on the final Wednesday of August, crowning the week-long celebrations.
Revellers also compete to reach a smoked ham leg placed on top of a greasy pole. Buy a ticket early because only 20,000 tickets are on sale every year. In fact, they usually sell out long before the main event’s date.
3. Fiesta Mayor de Gracia in Barcelona
Fun seekers who don’t relish the mess that comes with Tomatina or the violence of the Running of the Bulls can find reprieve in the third week of August. During this week, Barcelona turns into a huge art gallery that you can quietly enjoy with friends and family.
All you will see in the streets during the festival are lots of handmade paper lanterns in all colours and shapes decorating the streets and pathways. It’s a great chance to let your creative side take over.
Other family-friendly activities here include games, food fairs, and other fun activities. The evenings are even more spectacular, populated with acrobatic shows, fireworks displays, music, and parades in Garcia.
4. Running of the Bulls – Pamplona
Also known as Sanfermines, this is an extremely popular Spanish festival you can enjoy in the first weeks of July. Like the Fiesta de la Merce’, it has religious origins because it is held in honour of Saint Fermin, hence the name.
Sanfermines officially kicks off on the 9th of July at noon with a Chupinazo, which is a colourful display of fireworks. The fun goes on unabated for nine days until the 14th. Common activities during the week include musical performances, dancing, and street parades.
Despite all that, the festival is known for one major event: bullfighting. Specific streets are cordoned off, and six to ten bulls let loose. The revellers then run in front of the bulls, some doing acrobatics to avoid being gored to death. This is the place to be if you love the adrenaline rush triggered by near-death experiences.
5. Boloencierro in Madrid
If you want to have the bull running experience but in a safe manner, head to Madrid this summer. The event is recreated at Mataelpino, a remote mountain village north of Madrid, only this time, a gigantic polystyrene ball weighing over 150 kgs replaces multiple fierce bulls.
During the event, revellers directly participate by outrun the ball, trying their best to evade it as they would if a live bull was after them.
Conclusion
The warm, balmy weather blended with both contemporary and old cultural traditions makes Spain a top summer destination. In that case, you should consider including the Spanish festivals discussed above on your bucket list for a memorable holiday this Summer.
