Table of Contents
- What is Feria de Abril?
- When is it?
- Where is Feria de Seville held?
- How is Feria de Abril celebrated in Seville?
- What are casetas?
- What do you eat during Feria?
- What should I wear during Feria de Abril?
- Can I rent a dress for Feria?
- The origins of Feria de Abril
- Tips for visiting Feria de Abril as a tourist
In terms of colourful festivals and celebrations around the world, few can beat Spain’s Feria de Abril. Of course, there’s Holi in India and Brazil’s Carnival, but consider this Europe’s entry for most colors of the rainbow spotted in one location. The Feria de Abril is one of the most anticipated events in Seville and definitely a must for all the culture vultures out there who want to truly immerse themselves on their travels.
There are plenty of things to do in Spain and reasons to visit, and Feria is absolutely one of them. A week of dressing up, drinking, and dancing, with promises of endless fun and good moods. How can you resist? If you’re interested, then read on for our guide to the Feria de Abril.
What is Feria de Abril?
Feria de Abril, or Feria, is an annual festival held in Seville. It lasts for a week and it’s basically a big fair which celebrates Andalusian culture with lots of music, dancing, and food. Expect plenty of bright colours, polka dots and stripes, fancy dress, garlands on every street, and one of the liveliest atmospheres ever.
When is it?
The Feria de Abril is almost always held in April, as the name might suggest. It takes place exactly two weeks after the Semana Santa, another Spanish festival of significance. So, depending on when the Semana Santa falls, the dates for Feria can change.
Expect mid to late-April celebrations which can sometimes slip into May.
Where is Feria de Seville held?
Feria isn’t a Spain-wide celebration, it’s held exclusively in Seville, specifically in a ‘recinto ferial’ – basically a fairground. The fairground is located in the upscale neighbourhood of Los Remedios which has plenty of boutiques and beautiful parks. Even outside of Feria, this neighborhood is a gorgeous one to visit with Parque de los Príncipes’ idyllic winding paths and the twinkling Guadalquivir River lapping peacefully.
The Real de la Feria – where the Feria takes place – stretches for miles and miles and includes an amusement park, the famous Calle del Infierno (Hell street!), and all the casetas. It’s basically like a very colourful mini city within a city that’ll take your breath away.
Image source:Nick Karvounis / unsplash
How is Feria de Abril celebrated in Seville?
Feria is not for you if you’re not a fan of a party. This celebration is basically an excuse to dance, drink, eat, and stay up all night long for an entire week. And don’t forget the gorgeous and vibrant outfits you’re encouraged (practically obliged) to wear. It’s a true cultural spectacle which will bring you closer to the local people and culture, and make you feel welcomed with open arms.
Firework displays light up the night and parades brighten the day. Expect to see horse-drawn carriages decorated to the nines, as well as people riding on horseback in their beautiful get up.
Synonymous with Feria is the opening night’s feast of fried fish called the cena de pescaito followed by the alumbaro: the turning on of all the twinkling lights at midnight. This happens at midnight and marks the official start of Feria.
What are casetas?
An essential and very fun part of the Feria de Abril are the casetas. What are casetas? Well, they’re basically big tents or booths, often characterised by the red striped tarps that cover them and the warm atmosphere inside. Drinks flow, tapas are served, and music blares gently under the tent-top.
There are over 1,000 casetas, but what’s important to know is that many of them are privately owned by families, groups of friends, businesses, political parties, etc. If you’re planning to head to Feria, knowing someone who owns a caseta is like a golden ticket as you’ll be able to enter one of these private tents.
That being said, there are public casetas as well so everyone can enjoy the fun! There is one specifically for tourists, six representing each of the districts of Seville, two municipal ones, and one named Fiesta Mayores. It’s also possible to enter political party ones and trade union ones without a ticket if you so choose.
What do you eat during Feria?
Lots and lots of delicious tapas! You’ll often hear the food referred to as raciones and these include lots of plates like cheeses, prawns, ham, fried fish, etc. You’ll also be able to get olives, various hearty meat dishes, and pescaito frito which is a classic coastal dish made up of prawns, calamari, tiny octopus, acedias, and adobo. Perfect if you’re a fan of seafood.
Basically, expect plenty of classic Spanish dishes and all your favourites in abundance.
The most popular drink during Feria is rebujito: a dry sherry mixed with lemonade that tastes basically like a very refreshing soft drink, or fino, another kind of sherry. Beers are also popular and available too to get you in the dancing spirit.
Note: If you’ve been invited to a private caseta, the host will always offer to buy your first round of food and drink. You should let them as its tradition and offering to pay in their stead can be seen as bad form.
What should I wear during Feria de Abril?
Dressing up isn’t a suggestion during Feria, it’s basically mandatory, and there is a dress code. If you’re a tourist visiting Spain and Seville during Feria, wearing the proper attire is key to joining in and showing respect for the culture.
So, what should you wear? Women traditionally wear flamenco dresses which are vibrant and bright like jewels, often featuring ruffled and lace details as well. Women also often wear a shawl over their shoulders which adds to the traditional look, as well as a flower in their hair. In terms of jewelry the rule is go big or go home. A small comfortable heel, like an espadrille, is the preferred shoe of choice.
For the men, a suit and tie is recommended, topped with a traditional jacket that features intricate brocades and embroideries. You’ll want some dress shoes as well – polished until brilliant – to complete the smart look.
Whatever your gender identity, wear what makes you comfortable within the options above. Feria is basically a cat walk, so you want to look your best and shine like the star you are!
Can I rent a dress for Feria?
Yes! Obviously, many visitors probably don’t own a flamenco dress they can just pack up in a suitcase – more power to you if you do though! So, there are plenty of places that you can rent dresses from for the week. Same goes for the men: if you want a stylish traditional jacket, you can rent one of those as well.
The origins of Feria de Abril
The Feria de Abril originated back in 1847 where it started as a livestock trading fair. This came after the Napoleonic wars which ruined Seville’s economy, and was an attempt at revitalising it. The primary goal of the original Feria was commerce and trade, but over time, the fair gradually evolved into a larger social event, shifting to an atmosphere of celebration.
As the fair grew in popularity, a larger fairground was needed. The original location of the Prado de San Sebastián was moved to the current location of Los Remedios and has stayed there ever since.
Today, the Feria de Seville is a major event which hosts over 5 million visitors over the course of the week. Massive! So, it’s safe to say that the economical benefit of the holiday has remained.
Image source:Jose Manuel Esp / unsplash
Tips for visiting Feria de Abril as a tourist
While a local cultural festival focused on Andalusian life, Feria is very much open to tourists as well. Sharing is caring, right? But if you want to immerse yourself without making any dire faux-pas, here are some tips.
- Learn a little Spanish beforehand: A little goes a long way! You don’t have to be fluent, but learning some basic Spanish phrases will really make the locals like you more and show a willingness to learn and engage with the culture
- Listen to some Sevillanas: This is the specific genre of folk music in Seville that you will hear all through the week. Familiarise yourself with it before attending, and why not learn some of the traditional dance steps as well?
- Join in: This goes without saying, but if you’re attending someone’s party, you’ve got to join in! Don’t be afraid to get involved in the drinking and eating and dancing. It’s a great way to show your appreciation, and as long as you’re respectful, the locals will embrace you like one of their own.
Other practical tips include booking in advance for all your accommodation and travel – a few months in advance is recommended – because rooms will book up fast. Also make sure to carry some cash on you as cards are not always accepted, just in case.
