Marbella Events, Fiestas and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Marbella, Costa del Sol, Spain)

A major tourist destination offering a wealth of attractions for its visitors, Marbella also features an impressive calendar of events, with many prominent festivals taking place throughout the year. Popular celebrations in Marbella include the February carnival, Holy Week around Easter time, and the San Bernabé Fiesta and Summer Fair each June.

Also, each November, the Fiesta del Tostón (Day of Toston) is held in Marbella, a religious festival which includes many different events and plenty of parties. Close to Marbella, further annual festivities can be found in both Malaga and Torremolinos.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - Ano Nuevo / New Year's Day
• 5th January - Epifania / Epiphany
• 19th March - Dia de San José / St. Joseph's Day
• Late March or early April - Jueves Santo / Maundy Thursday
• Late March or early April - Viernes Santo / Good Friday
• 1st May - Fiesta del Trabajo / Labour Day
• 15th August - La Asunción / Feast of the Assumption
• 12th October - Nacional de Espana / National Day
• 1st November - Todos los Santos / All Saints' Day
• 6th December - Dia de la Constitución / Constitution Day
• 8th December - La Inmaculada Concepción / Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• 25th December - Navidad / Christmas Day

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Cabalgata de los Reyes (Three Holy Kings / Wise Men) - January 5th, traditional Spanish celebrations around the city centre, where three locals dress in costume and ride around on horses, distributing sweets and small presents to children who line the streets.

February

• Carnaval - early February, a popular Spanish carnival celebration, with numerous processions and festivities in and around Marbella.

March

• Holy Week - mid-March, Holy Week in Marbella, with many religious festivities leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

April

• Market of the Documentary European and Latin American (MERCADOC) - mid-April, an important multi-media television event held every year in Malaga, standing 58 km / 36 miles from Marbella, attended by around 50 different countries.

May

• Romeria of the Juanar Cross - early May, historic festival dating back to the end of the 19th century, with a range of events around the Sierra Blanca Mountain.

June

• Dia del Pescaito (Fried Fish Day) - early June, a summer seafood festival in neighbouring Torremolinos, just 58 km / 36 miles from Marbella, attracting both locals and tourists, together with beach events on the Playa de La Carihuela.
• San Bernabé Fiesta and Summer Fair - mid-June, held on the week nearest to June 11th, honouring Marbella's Patron Saint, this week-long event features bullfights in the city centre, horse and carriage rides, food and wine, and a fair ground, with many festivities based around Old Town Marbella, the Plaza San Bernabé and Alameda Park.
• Fiesta de San Juan (Feast of St. John) - mid-June, an enormous religious festival throughout Malaga, 58 km / 36 miles from Marbella, with a variety of street entertainers, large bonfires where people jump over the flames, fireworks and midnight swimming in the sea, with similar festivities held throughout Spain, including Marbella, although the festivities are on a much smaller scale.
• The Movies of Summer in your Neighbourhood - late June, the 'Nights of the Movies' festival in nearby Malaga, including many screenings of new summer films, at various cinemas and theatres around the Malaga area.

July

• La Virgen del Carmen - mid-July, a number of towns and villages along the Costa del Sol celebrate this religious festival, including processions of fishermen, chapel masses, a fleet of fishing boats travelling to the Puerto Banús area of Marbella, and religious statues being stored in underwater caves, ending with a stunning fireworks display.

August

• Feria de Malaga - mid-August, one of Malaga's biggest annual events, just 58 km / 36 miles from Marbella, when the whole city parties, with fancy dress costumes, authentic Spanish music and Flamenco dancing, general street entertainment, outdoor concerts and plenty of night-long parties.
• Nuestra Senora de la Victoria Pilgrimage - mid-August, pilgrims travel to Malaga each year on horseback, and horse and carriages, to celebrate Nuestra Senora de la Victoria, their patron saint.
• Ascension of the Virgin Fair- mid-August, based in nearby Malaga, including dance tents (casetas) and a lively wine festival.

September

• Semana Internacional de Cine (International Movie Week) - early September, based around the Puerto Banús area at the Gran Marbella complex, attracting many famous celebrities and directors promoting their films, with various screenings and awards.

October

• Fiestas of San Pedro de Alcántara - mid-October, held on the week around October 19th (the Patron Saint's day), when the central streets of San Pedro are decorated, with festivities and partying throughout the day and night.
• Dia de la Hispanidad / National Day Festival - October 12th, a festival celebrating the history of Spain, held at various venues around Marbella.

November

• Fiesta del Tostón (Day of Toston) - early November, a notable religious festival which has become a major part of Marbella life each year in November, with All Saints' Day celebrations on November 1st, together with chestnut roasting and other local specialities, drinks, overnight camping and partying until the early hours of the morning.

December

• New Year's Eve - December 31st, a range of parties and celebrations held throughout Marbella and along the Costa del Sol, culminating in midnight fireworks.