Feria is one of the most special and vibrant times in Andalucia. It’s a time when people welcome change and celebrate the end of winter and beginning of spring! There is always a shift in the atmosphere when Feria is near. People are more vibrant, lights go up, the streets get busier and there is excitement in the air! I will never forget how enamored I was with everything I saw at my first feria. From the beautiful Flamenco dresses to the colorful casetas (tents made into bars), I just knew I had to experience as many Ferias as possible.
So what exactly is Feria? On this blog I will answer this questions plus what to wear, when to go, and what to drink at Feria!
But first lets define some terms I will be using through out this post (common terms at feria):
- Casestas – Temporary tents transformed into bars at Feria
- Flamenca Dress- Typical Flamenco dress worn at feria by most local ladies
- Sevillana– A type of flamenco dancing seen at feria
- Rebujito– Mixture of local dry wine (Manzanilla, Fino) mixed with lemon soda
- Jarra– Pitcher
So, What is Feria?
If you’re looking for a real taste of Andalusian culture, this is the place to be!
Feria is one of the most vibrant and lively celebrations in Andalucia, Spain! It’s a cultural festival celebrating Andalucia’s rich heritage and the arrival of spring! Feria can last anywhere from 4-7 days. The festival has food, drinks, Sevillana (type of flamenco dance), music, rides, and more! Feria is open to locals and tourists alike, and attracts thousands of visitors every year. Whether you’re hitting the dancefloor with the locals or simply soaking up the atmosphere, feria is an experience that you will never forget! So gather your friends and family and get ready to dance the night away at Feria!
When does feria begin?
Feria takes place every year, usually beginning in late April or early May– always after Holy Week and it’s the perfect time to visit Andalusia. Every town hosts feria on different dates, you can find the schedule for all ferias in Andalucia HERE.
One of the reasons why Feria happens in the spring is that it coincides with the arrival of the warmer weather. After a long, cold winter, Andalusians are eager to welcome in the springtime with a big celebration! The festival is also closely linked to agricultural practices, as spring is the time of year when farmers begin to plant and sow their seeds.
What makes feria so special?
For starters, the atmosphere at feria is like no other! And it’s celebration of all things Andalusian. From the Sevillanas and equestrian shows to lively casetas and refreshing rebujitos, everything is designed to showcase the unique culture of this region. It’s impossible not to get swept up in the festivities.
One of my favorite things about Feria are the amusement rides and the games! There’s a ride for everyone from child friendly rides to rides that will have you questioning your safety ( for the daredevils like me!).. If you don’t enjoy amusement rides, there tons of games to play. Some Féria’s even have a flee markets where you can shop! What makes Feria truly special is that it’s a celebration for everyone to enjoy!
What to eat?
Another highlight of Feria is the food! Andalusian cuisine is renowned for its fresh flavors and spices, and Feria is the perfect opportunity to sample some of the region’s best dishes. My favorite thing to eat at feria are the stuffed potatoes! These potatoes give an explosion of flavors. The potatoes can be stuffed like a kabob, olives, veggies, meats, aoli and so much more! For dessert, I recommend trying churros with hot chocolate dip – so so yummy!
What to drink?
The drink of choice at Feria is Manzanilla or Fino, both of which are types of dry wine made from grapes typically grown in Andalucia. Manzanilla comes from San Lucar and Fino is typically from Jerez. It’s very typical to mix one of these wines with lemon soda. This mixture is called Rebujito and it is a FAVORITE at feria! Rebujito is sold in jarras (pitchers) for only 7euros! It is a sweet but refreshing drink but be careful because it can sneak up on you QUICK (from personal experience 😆)!
Pro-tip: Oder bottle of Manzanilla and sip on it throughout feria, this will help you pace yourself.
What to wear?
You can wear anything to Feria! If you want to embrace the culture, it’s fun wearing a traditional Flamenca dress! However, committing to dress up can get pricey pretty fast. Flamenca dresses can range from 100-300€ +. There are several components to creating the feria “look”. My blogger friend Kate wrote an awesome blog about what you need to know before you buy your dress. To read more on that click HERE
Besides the dress, you’ll need:
- Earrings
- Mantocillo (shawl)
- Flowers to accessorize your dress
- Shoes
If you don’t want to buy the dress but still want to look Flamenca, a boldly colored dress or skirt with a fun print will do the job. Just make sure to add flowers to your hair! Remember the bigger the feria the dressier it will be. Smaller ferias are more casual.
Where to get a Flamenca dress?
Here are 3 locations where you can find Flamenca dresses. If you live in Rota these locations are within 30 mins driving or less.
- Rota- BLOOM11520
2. El Puerto de Santa Maria – Flamencas Marilo
This store has a wide range of beautiful in-style dresses. Prices range in the 200+ euro range without tailoring but they do have a sale rack where you can find dresses for as little as 90 euros (if you get lucky!)
3. San Lucar – Carmen Gonzales
Great for second hand dresses that are still in style and usually cheaper. This is where I found my dress (pictured in this blog) and my total with tailoring was 175 euros.
Pro-tips to know before you go (from experience):
- Bring cash – Now a day most casetas and rides will accept card. However, it is not uncommon for places to be cash only so I always recommend bringing cash.
- Bring tissue paper and hand sanitizer – This is a MUST! Bathrooms are available but easily get pretty nasty with so many people. Think a used port-a-potty situation. There is usually no toilet paper, no soap, no mirror! Bringing your own will be a game changer.
- Wear wedges– Feria grounds are usually on dirt-lots, which can turn into mud quickly. I always wear wedges or some sort of platform shoe.
- Pace yourself with Rebujitos, they can sneak up on you verrry quickly!
- Mixed drinks in Spain will in general be stronger than most American mixed drinks so just try to pace yourself!
- The biggest/most famous feria in Andalucia is Sevilla
- If you choose to go to this feria- just know that most casetas are private. To get into these casetas, you’ll have to either know the owner or know someone who can sponsor you in. There are a few casetas that are open to the public and those get full really fast!
