Summertime attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to southern Spain each year, who are drawn to the warm climate, fresh food, Spanish culture and of course, the various fiestas and celebrations. Whether centred around local history, religious traditions or folklore, the summer festivals of Málaga are cultural experiences that will have you eating, drinking and dancing - sometimes until the wee hours of the morning! They are not to be missed. The Night of San Juan “Noche De San Juan”, as it is known locally, is celebrated on June 23rd, around the same time some other places around the world are observing summer solstice. It is on this night that locals believe the gods make themselves visible. People spend the day building bonfires on the beaches and at night the bonfires are lit. Locals jump over the bonfires, believing that if it is done three times, their sins will be purified and all of their troubles will be burned away. It is a magical night and quite the experience to take in! The Blessing of Fishing Boats The Virgen del Carmen is a religious fiesta, celebrated on July 16th in various towns along the Andalucían coast, including Málaga. The statue of the Virgen del Carmen, the patron saint of fishermen, is removed from her church and carried throughout the streets and then to the harbour to bless the fishing boats. At the end of the day, towns and fishing villages along the coast parade their own statues of the Virgen del Carmen, setting sail in decorated boats among blowing horns and fireworks that light up the sky. In Málaga in particular, it is customary for people to toss flowers into the sea in remembrance of relatives and friends who have passed away. Málaga Fair One of the largest festivals in southern Spain, the Málaga city Fair or “Feria de Málaga” is a week-long celebration that takes place during the third week of August. Beginning with a fireworks display in the park, the fair honours the reclaim of Málaga from its Moorish occupants to Catholic Spain, by monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand in 1487. With streets festively adorned in paper lanterns and decorations, there is plenty of food, "rebujito" (sherry mixed with lemonade), concerts and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. Spanish women dressed in colourful, dotted flamenco dresses dance to traditional Andalucían music and the general vibe is one of excitement and celebration. Daily festivities centre around the Marques de Larios in the heart of the city’s centre, while evening activities take place on the outskirts of Málaga and run until dawn most nights. Travelling to Málaga Getting to Málaga to take in the summer events couldn’t be easier. There are a number of direct flights offered by numerous airlines that fly out of London, arriving in Málaga in less than three hours. If you’d rather take the scenic route, you can travel by train from London to Málaga over a couple of days, stopping in Paris, Perpignan and Madrid before arriving at your destination. You will pay close to the same fare for either option. Taxis from Málaga airport are plentiful, and booking a private airport transfer is the quickest and most convenient way of getting you and your family to your hotel in Málaga, to start the celebrating right away! Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for affordable taxis from Malaga airport, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.
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