Events and Festivals
Andalucia is probably the best region to experience local events and festivals. Every celebration is a great opportunity to organise a Family Fiesta – as everywhere kids will participate!
There are some dates of the year which canot be missed:
February
Carnival in Cadiz – is the oldest carnival celebrations on mainland Spain dating back to the 16th century and influenced by the carnival in Venice, a trading partner of Cadiz at the time. Normally is happening at the beginning of February. But don´t expect Rio Carnival here. In Cadiz carnival is about sense of humour, cabaret songs (chirgotas) sang by groups of ordinary people from Cadiz. Carnival in Cadiz is about fancy dress – all famillies dressing up in many different themes and having fun. Finally Cadiz carnival is also about sherry.
Easter
The Easter is a main and most celebrated holiday in Andalucia. The celebrations are hold during the whole Holly Week, staring from Palm Sunday. All cities and towns of Andalucia transforms into processions. Every day there are different processions, some of them hold during the night but on all of them you will see groups of pointy-hood wearing Nazarenos holding big candles. Each brotherhood (as that what they are) have different colour of the ropes and hood. Each one leaving their parish church to the cathedral (or main church in the town) and returns. You will never see anything like it anywhere else.
From April to June
Ferias. Each town in Andalucia has it´s own Saint as a patron. Each of towns is celebrating from 4 days to 1 week of
feria which is a mixture of old andalucian tradition with modern funfair for kids. The feria lives all nights with parties, food and drink. Each town has it´s own traditions but everywhere you will see traditional flamenco dresses, andalucian horses, you could listen to life music and dance and watch others dancing. kids would love to go for funfair.
My favourite is Feria del caballo (swieto koni) in Jerez de la Frontera – normally at the beginning of May. WIth old tradition of horse market now it has many horse shows on and great sherry from bodegas de Jerez.
Wildlife
From birds watching, ocean fishing to playing with macaques on the Rock of Gibraltar. Today the Gibraltar population represents the only free-living monkeys in Europe. In Fuente de Piedra Natural Park you can watch the second largest colony of Flamingos in Europe.
Andalusian Horses
Andalusia, is the breeding grounds for the Andalusian horse, a strong and powerful race favoured by Moorish kings and thought to have evolved from the Portuguese breed. From The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, through Feria de Caballos in Jerez de la Frontera, famous Beach Horce Raicing in Sanlucar de Barrameda to horse riding during the sunset on the beach. This is a place for horses lovers!
Golf
The magnificent climate allows professionals and amateurs to enjoy golf all the year round. Cadiz is one of the best golfing holiday destinations in Europe.
Surfing, Kite Surfing and Windsurfing
Some of Spain’s best surfing, kite-surfing and wind surfing spots are situated in between Tarifa and Cádiz on the Costa de la Luz. In fact, it is the town of Tarifa (Cádiz province) which is considered the birthplace of Spanish surfing. Here you will find national and international surfing championships and events.
All year round you can catch a good wind in Cádiz and Chiclana de la Frontera although if you are planning your holidays to spend it on the waves and catching the wind, the best time will be out of the season.
Windsurfing is one of the most popular sports in Chiclana de la Frontera and attracts water sports enthusiasts from all over the world to this beautiful region in Spain.