Everything You Need To Know About The Famous Malaga Fair 2024

The Malaga Fair is one of the biggest dates in the local calendar and it takes place in the city every August. Right in the heat of the summer holidays, it’s a real highlight of life in Malaga as well as a huge drawer for tourists.

If you’ve never been to the fair before then planning your trip can be overwhelming but don’t worry, we’re here to help!

Here’s everything you need to know about the famous Malaga Fair 2024:

What Is The Malaga Fair?

The Malaga fair takes place over a week in August every year, from dusk to dawn. It is billed as southern Europe’s biggest summer party and that is a title that is well deserved.

Think traditional funfair rides, free concerts, parties, fireworks, and all other kinds of entertainment too.

This year the Malaga Fair will run for the 7 days between 17 and 24 August.

Where Will You Find The Malaga Fair In Malaga?

Malaga is a big city, so it’s not enough to say that the Malaga Fair takes place in Malaga – you need to know exactly where to go! There are 2 main areas of the city where the fair takes place. The first is in the Old Quarter.

From midday to around 6pm this is the place to be, and is considered the daytime party hub of the event. You’ll find people here all day looking to have a good time and often the revelers here are wearing traditional Andalusian costume. This is an incredible sight to see as well as a fun thing to take part in too. This is the place to be for the traditional horse elements of the fair too.

If music is more your thing then you’ll find free concerts in several squares in the old quarter throughout the week of the fair. Look to  Plaza de la Constitución, Plaza Uncibay, Plaza Mitjana, Plaza de las Flores and Plaza de San Pedro de Alcántara (off Calle Carreteria).

When the sun comes down the party moves to the fairground, which is located on the west side of the city. The fairground is home to a large traditional funfair and nearly 180 casetas areas. These are like huts which have their own private music and other amenities.

Why Should You Visit The Malaga Fair In 2024?

One of the best things about the Malaga Fair is that there are so many different things to see and do. This means that everyone visiting the fair can have their own unique experience, and often no two people’s experiences are ever exactly the same.

Obviously the longer you spend at the Fair, the more scope you have to try all the activities available. Some of the most popular activities include:

• Partying The Night Away. The Malaga Fair is one big party. Traditional (and non-traditional!) dancing, drinking, and spending time with fr            iends are a big part of what makes this event special. Some of the most popular drinks at the fair are Cartojal, which is a sweet wine local to the region, and rebujito (which is a local sherry mixed with lemonade or sprite.
• Visit the Funfair. Big rides, kids rides, and everything in between. If you’re a thrill seeker then head straight to the fairground. And even those who don’t typically enjoy fairground rides will love to see the views across Malaga from the top of the ferris wheel.
• Attend Free Concerts. Although there are a few paid events, most of the concerts during Fair Week are free of charge. It’s in Spanish (so non-Spanish speakers will need to use the Google translate tool) but Here’s a link to the programme  for these events.  You’ll find plenty of options to choose from.
• Bull Fighting. Bull fighting is seen as a quintessentially Spanish activity, and this is one of the bigger events for the sport in Spain. Some of the country’s top bullfighters will take on their quota of five bulls at the fair. It’s a visual spectacle and incredibly popular.
• Horse Activities. From 4pm to 8pm everyday you can see horse events at the Real de la Feria. Events include dressage, horse exhibitions, and carriage parades too. Entry is free and no tickets are needed, but get here early to get a seat

What To Wear To The Malaga Fair

You can wear anything you want to the Malaga Fair: there is no dress code. Given the temperatures found in Malaga in August, lightweight and comfortable clothing are always recommended.  If you’re not used to the heat then you might want to wear a hat, plenty of sunscreen, and carry a bottle of water.

But if you want to look and feel the part then you could consider wearing traditional Andalusian dress and releasing your inner flamenco dancer. You can find a dress from around €100 and there are several good shops in the center selling them as well as the beautiful accessories you’ll see Spanish women wearing to the events. If that’s a little beyond your budget then seek out a Cudeca charity shop where there is often a great selection of second hand dresses.

What To Eat At The Malaga Fair

You’ll find an abundance of traditional fairground foods at the Malaga Fair. This includes both American-style fairground food (such as popcorn and burgers) as well as Spanish-style fairground food (such as deep fried fish).

If you want to eat something more substantial in a restaurant, we recommend you book well in advance. As you’d expect at an event as busy and well attended as the Malaga Fair, restaurants book up fast. It’s better to be prepared than to be hungry!

If you don’t book in advance then try eating on the side streets, or walk a little way out of the main feria areas to find a restaurant with room to seat your party.

How To Navigate The Malaga Fair

It doesn’t matter if you own a car or have hired a car for your trip to Malaga. Leave it at home for feria week! The traffic is a nightmare and finding a parking space is near-impossible. Instead use the excellent public transport system.

The F line bus runs 24 hours a day from Malaga city centre to the fairground during the week of the fair. There are other additional bus services operating that week too – just look for any bus with the letter F in the front window and it will get you to the right place!

 Tickets cost €1.50 or you can buy 10 tickets for €9.95.

Are you thinking of moving to Spain? Perhaps you like the idea of submerging yourself into the traditional Spanish lifestyle and visiting the Malaga Fair and all the local ferias in your new Spanish home? Whatever your dream, we can help. Why not get in touch with our team of local property experts today, to find out more about how we can help you.