Summer is here and that means it’s feria time in Andalucia. Here in Manilva, the feria programme has just been announced and there’s lots to look forward to, so we wanted to give you the lowdown on what to expect and what not to miss.
Remember that Manilva covers the areas of Manilva Pueblo, Duquesa, Castillo and Sabinillas and there’s plenty going on in each area to enjoy. To find out more about this great area, check out our Manilva area guide.
Virgen del Carmen – Castillo de la Duquesa and Sabinillas
The first event is Saturday, July 13th, with kids' games at Plaza Miramar at 11am, followed by a "moraga" lunch at 1pm featuring traditional fish cooked espeto style in Parque de Huerto. Enjoy live music at 6pm and the crowning of the carnival Queens and Princesses.
The main event is Tuesday, July 16th, honouring the Patron Saint of Sailors, Virgin de la Carmen. In Castillo, mass begins at 6:30pm, followed by a procession to Duquesa Port where the virgin’s statue is taken out to sea. Live music follows in Parque del Huerto.
In Sabinillas, mass is at noon, with the crowning of Queens and Princesses at 1pm. At 7pm, the statue heads to the sea, and live music begins at 10pm.
Fiestas Patronales Santa Ana – Manilva Village 26/07
We celebrate the patron saint of Manilva on the 26th of July, up in the village. The fun kicks off with musicians walking the streets from 8am, to get everyone moving. Then there’s mass at 19.30 in the main Manilva church, and the statue of Saint Anna will be taken around the streets and accompanied by the town band. There’s then music from 22.00 in Calle Mar, with three groups taking to the stage and a great atmosphere.
August Feria
The celebrations continue into August with nearly a week of festivities at the Sabinillas fairground, known for its Sunday market. Enjoy a funfair, food stalls, live music, and flamenco as locals from Manilva, Sabinillas, and Castillo come together to party. Expect vibrant music, lights, dancing, and late-night fun.
The event kicks off on Wednesday, August 7th, with fairground rides starting at 9pm. The first day, “Kids’ Day,” offers rides for just €1.50, making it perfect for families. At 10:30pm, the feria officially opens with speeches, crowning of Kings, Queens, and Princesses, and live music.
There are two music zones: the "Caseta Municipal" for live performances, open from 9pm to late, and the "Caseta de Juventud" for teens (ages 12-16), open from 10pm to 1am from August 7th to 11th.
Live music continues nightly at 10:30pm, midnight, and 2am from Thursday, August 8th, to Sunday, August 11th. Family-friendly highlights include the "Disnemania" musical on Friday, August 9th, at 9:30pm in the Caseta Municipal, nightly fairground rides, and parades through Manilva at 8pm on Saturday, and Castillo and Sabinillas at 7:30pm on Sunday.
To fully enjoy, take a siesta during the day and stay late—festivities peak in the early hours!
San Luis de Sabinillas Fair 25/08
Sabinillas has its own fair to honour the patron saint from which the town gets its name on Sunday 25th of August. Just like in Manilva, musicians will go through the streets to wake the town up from 8am and then in the evening there’s a mass in the church at 20.00 before the parading of the saint’s statues through the streets, accompanied by the town band. To finish things off, there’s live music in the main square Plaza Vicente Espinel from 22.30.
Browse properties in Sabinillas on our website.
© Peter Whitham
Vendimia 31/08-01/09
The feria season comes to a close with a bang at the Vendimia up in Manilva Village. This is also known as the Manilva Wine Festival and is a harvest festival, the likes of which you’ve never seen. This is a time when thousands descend on the typically sleepy Manilva Village for two days of partying, music and the traditional crushing of the grapes to celebrate the harvest.
Check out our guide to the Manilva Wine Festival for everything you need to know about this important local event.
This year it starts with a mass at the church at 19.30 and the traditional procession around the town. Then there’s a competition to find the heaviest bunch of grapes.
The music gets under way at 22.30 in the Vendimia Square and continues late into the night.
Sunday is the big day of the festival! Starting at 13.00 there’s the day feria opening in the main street of Calle Mar and a procession on horseback through the street at 13.30. The music begins at 14.00 in Calle Mar, with different groups playing, and the whole village dancing, drinking, eating and having fun. For the youngsters, there’s also DJs playing in the Vendimia Square from 16.00.
The highlight of the celebration takes place at the Vendimia Square at 19.00 for the crushing of the grapes and the tasting of the first press of Manilva wine. This is a real spectacle, and definitely worth seeing.
Then there’s more music to bring the festival to a close, from 21.30 to late.
This is certainly a place that knows how to party and if you’re visiting over the summer, or are lucky enough to live here all year round, there’s plenty of fun to be had. Browse properties in Manilva or contact us if you’d like to view properties in Manilva and find out how you could call this wonderful place home.