Here’s a guide on how foreigners can enjoy Spanish Fairs!
Many Spanish lovers dream of attending a typical Spanish feria (fair)!
There are only a few places where you can get so close to the essence of Spanish culture: lust for life, great food, spirited music, passionate dance, etc.
All this might seem a bit overwhelming at first sight, but in the end, you’ll fall in love with Spanish fairs!
For those who come from above the Pyrenees, I summarized a few hints in this Southern Spain Guide on how to feel quickly comfortable at your first Spanish feria.
Despite being a guiri (foreigner), so check it now!
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My Favorite Tips on Spanish Fairs
1. It’s all about the dress
For the full feria experience, you essentially need a flamenco dress!
Since prices for a nice flamenco dress start from 100 € upwards, you can consider buying one second-hand.
But since flamenco fashion changes from one year to another, though it is not in the Spain dress code, I decided to rent one instead.
There are so many fancy designs, why should I go to every feria with the same dress?
The only thing I was concerned about was how I should mingle with a polka-dotted bright red dress without everybody staring at me as if I were a pink elephant.
But after a few chupitos (shots), you lose all your shyness! All the girls on the ferias try to stand out, so the motto for picking an Andalusian dress is the brighter, the better!
Even if many designs and color mixtures seem a bit too daring to Non-Latinos, the flamenco dress is all about being showy and flamboyant.
And yes, you can actually mix polka dots with fringes; it’s part of the dress code in Spanish culture!
For the accessories, you should follow the thumb rule: the more, the better! Ferias are about the passion of life and you should be prepared to transmit yours!
2. Get the Spanish attitude!
Spanish women love to dress up, especially for the feria! Many of them get their flamenco dresses made to order.
If you don’t want to stay in their shadow, you should better take care of every detail of your look.
Spanish chicas (girls) and chicos (boys) usually wear their best clothes to attend the fair.
Take the time to get make-up resistant to the stresses and strains of a long day and hot temperatures.
A flamenco make-up normally highlights only eyes or lips. You usually gather your hair in a bun and decorate it with a big flower on top or just below the ear.
You might want to combine your dress with a complementary fan, and you’ll need shoes to dance all day (and night) long. Alpargatas (canvas shoes) are always a good choice!
Not many flamencos wear a handbag: take the bare essentials and kindly ask your partner to carry something for you.
Last but not least, the most essential accessory for an unforgettable feria day is your self-confidence! Be prepared to be the center of attention and enjoy it!
It’s better to know and enjoy tips to enjoy many things to do in Andalusia for first timers.
3. Be prepared to dance!
There is no way to escape the vibrant rhythms of a feria, and you will be invited to dance!
Even if most of the music being played is Latino pop music, you should also be prepared to dance a sevillana.
It is a traditional folk dance of Seville and its region that is danced at ferias and festivals all over Spain. Customs vary from one town to another.
Whereas sevillanas are played almost everywhere at Seville’s April Fair, Ferias in Jerez or Malaga are also open to Spanish oldies, disco pop classics, or Latin pop.
Each Sevillana song consists of four parts, each featuring a different dance. Its music is very lighthearted and should not be mistaken for flamenco.
Although the rhythm seems tricky at the beginning, the steps are really easy to catch.
I suggest watching some YouTube dancing tutorials and practicing the steps at home. It’s easy to do!
A little tip: dance with a Spanish friend. She will make you feel comfortable and confident. Many cities also offer very cheap dancing lessons in the months before the fair begins.
The rest is mostly about pretending to know what you are doing!
4. Make sure your friends are dressed up too!
The more, the merrier! It’s much more fun to go to the feria with a group of friends.
If you go dressed up altogether, you’ll automatically feel more confident in your flamenco dress.
The Spanish usually visit ferias in big groups of more than 10 people or with their entire families.
If you’re attending the feria with your boyfriend, there’s no way that he’s going in shorts and flip-flops! Not even when it’s 35°C outside!
The strictness of Spanish dress code often depends on the city where the feria is taking place.
Whereas in Malaga, a casual Malaga dress code is fine, in Seville, a formal suit is often standard. Generally, men usually wear an elegant polo shirt or a white shirt.
If he’s open-minded, he can also opt for the full Spanish cenachero costume, including a sombrero cordobes (Cordovan hat), fajin (sash,) and alpargatas (espadrilles).
5. Know the Fairground Layout
Navigating a Spanish fair (especially with a feria dress) is like stepping into a world of color, music, and tradition.
However, to truly enjoy the experience, you need to understand its layout.
The fairgrounds are filled with casetas, festive tents where locals gather to eat, drink, and dance the night away.
While some casetas are private, reserved for families, businesses, or social clubs, there are also public ones where anyone can join in the fun.
Each caseta has its own personality—some blast flamenco music for spontaneous dancing, while others focus on serving traditional tapas and drinks.
You may also try the best Spanish tapas!
6. Pace Yourself with Rebujito
At any Spanish fair, you’ll see locals cooling off with a refreshing glass of rebujito, a dangerously easy-to-drink mix of dry sherry (usually Manzanilla or Fino) and fizzy lemon-lime soda.
As one of the most famous Spanish drinks, served in large pitchers with plenty of ice, it’s the ultimate fair beverage—light, crisp, and perfect for warm Andalusian evenings.
However, don’t let its smooth taste fool you; a rebujito cocktail packs a punch, and overindulging too quickly can leave you feeling the effects immediately.
Seasoned fairgoers know to sip slowly, alternating with plenty of water to stay hydrated and keep up with the endless dancing.
After all, Spanish fairs are marathons, not sprints, and the best memories come from celebrating all night!
7. Don’t start singing flamenco! Not even when you’re drunk!
Nothing is more embarrassing than a bunch of guiris pretending to sing flamenco on the feria!
Flamenco is a multifaceted and intricate art embracing dancing, singing, instruments, and body percussion.
It’s very complex and you shouldn’t presume to master this art unless you had some singing or music lessons.
By simulating mastery of this centuries-old art, you’ll only denigrate it and attack contempt and censure from the Spanish. You better just leave it to the professionals.
In spite of the party mood, a feria is not a carnival or a drinking contest!
It is a demonstration of pride in Spanish culture and tradition. You should, therefore, adapt your behavior accordingly!
The typical dance at festivals in Andalucia is sevillanas, which are very different from flamenco.
8. When & Where to assist a Spanish Feria
The feria season normally starts in April and ends in September. The Feria de Abril (April fair) in Seville makes the grand season opening.
Other ferias worth visiting are the Feria de Malaga (August) and Feria de Cordoba (May).
Ferias don’t have fixed dates but change every year according to public and religious holidays.
In order to miss none, check the local calendars of the cities you plan to visit on your vacation or make a short call to their tourist office.
If your stay in a bigger Andalusian city doesn’t coincide with its feria, don’t despair! Many surrounding smaller villages celebrate their feria during the summer months.
You can find a feria near your local bar by asking the bartender. I’ve included a homepage listing many Spanish fiestas: Portal Fiestas and Spain.info.
There are 2 moments at every fair: the feria de día (day’s fair) and feria de noche (night’s fair).
The best time of the day to go to a feria is in the late afternoon when temperatures have cooled down.
During the day’s fair, Spanish families walk their horses in beautifully decorated carriages.
The night fair starts around 8 PM when the recinto ferial (fairground) is illuminated by 1000 and 1 lights. The later you stay, the more the feria becomes a drunken jolliness!
Most ferias take place in fair enclosures outside city centers. Public transportation or feria shuttles are the best options for getting there without damage.
9. Know that Every Feria is Different!
Ferias differ a lot from one city to another! It’s important to know that the feria you are assisting is always the best of entire Spain!
The locals have a very special pride in their feria and can get very emotional about it!
See below the difference between the Feria de Malaga and the Feria de Abril in Seville.
Whereas most Andalusian ferias have the same characteristics in common (flamenco dresses, casetas, horse carriages), ferias outside Andalusia may vary a lot.
Costumes may also vary from town to town. In Madrid, ladies go dressed as a chulapa (not a flamenca!), and men go as chulapo to the traditional festivities of San Isidro or Verbena de la Paloma.
Also, the music style is quite different from the Andalusian fairs.
In the north of Spain, ferias in the Catalonian and Valencian communities are often associated with other local customs: San Fermines in Pamplona, Los Castellers in Catalonia, or Fallas in Valencia.
10. Feria de Abril & Feria de Malaga – The Difference
There’s always been a rivalry between Seville and Malaga. Both cities are very different and gorgeous in their own way. I don’t think you can compare them.
And so are their ferias. But please, never tell a Sevillano that you prefer the Feria de Malaga, and never say to a Malagueno that you had more fun at the Feria de Abril!
It’s an absolute no-go!
When in Seville, for example, never compare the Feria de Abril with the Feria de Malaga! An old rivalry links both cities, which are sure to have the best feria in Spain!
The Feria de Abril is famous for its restrictive and chic character. You only have access to a caseta (stand) with a personal invitation. A formal dress code is a must in Seville!
In Malaga, you have free access to most casetas, and you don’t need to follow a specific dress code.
That is also why I recommend touristss unless they have Seville’s “Who’s-Who” address book, to rather visit the ferias of Malaga, Jerez or Cordoba.
These ferias are much more relaxed about dress codes, and restrictiveness to casetas and have more affordable prices than Seville’s April Fair.
Another difference between the April Fair of Seville and the Feria de Malaga are men’s costumes.
In Seville, the gentlemen usually go very formal with a jacket and tie or in the traje campero (country suit) in case they attend on a horseback.
In Malaga, the traditional traje de cenachero becomes more and more popular. The costume can be seen on Malaga’s most emblematic statue at the marina: El Cenachero.
He usually wears a sash, esparto shoes, and a hat to protect him from the sun.
Food and drinks also vary from one city to another. In Seville, the most popular drink is rebujito.
But in Malaga, Cartojal (a sweet Muscatel wine) is the king of the party!
Both have one thing in common: they don’t seem very strong and are sickly sweet, but they hit when you least expect it!
If you don’t soak it all up from time to time with some paella or fried Spanish calamari, you’ll have the hangover of your life the other day! Trust me!
These “Guiri” Bloggers also wrote about their experience at Spanish Fairs:
Sunshine and Siestas: The Do’s and Dont’s of Feria de Abril of Seville
Spanish Sabores: Feria de Abril: Why It’s Not for Me!
There are plenty of exciting feria experiences to be lived, so don’t waste any time!
Grab your flamenco dress, put a flower in your hair, and dance all night long! Spain is full of ferias waiting for you!
Are you a guiri and you’ve recently visited a feria? I am looking forward to hearing your stories about Spanish fairs!
FAQs on Spanish Fairs
How much is a flamenco dress in Spain?
A flamenco dress in Spain typically costs between €100 and €500, but high-end custom designs can exceed €1,000. There’s no Flamenco dress code in Spain, but it will feel more authentic if you wear one!
What is feria in Spanish?
Feria Spanish means “fair” or “festival,” often referring to a local celebration with food, music, and entertainment.
What is feria in Spain?
In Spain, feria refers to traditional fairs in various cities, featuring flamenco dancing, horse parades, and vibrant casetas (tents) for socializing.
Hola, I’m Paulina! Together with my team, we are passionate about Southern Spain. Here we share all you need to know for great times in Southern Spain with the best places to visit, stay and, of course, the best food to eat.
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