Two weeks after the solemn and holy week of Semana Santa, Sevilla gets ready to kick up its heels (and stomp its feet!) at the Feria de Sevilla, a 10-day festival of dancing, eating, drinking, and horseback riding that celebrates Andulcian culture and heritage. This year’s feria just wrapped up, and there are estimates that say over three MILLION people attended the Feria over the 10 days!
The Feria started as a livestock fair in 1846 or 1847 during which horses and cattle were traded and sold. From those early years of a three-day celebration with only a few “casetas”, privately-run tents that pretty much function as mini-restaurants and dance halls for the Feria Week, the Feria has grown into a week-long party with over 1000 casetas, only eight of which are open to the public. The rest are owned by local businesses, family groups, social clubs,trade groups, or other organizations.
The Feria is one of the most important, anticipated, and beloved events of the year in Andalucia. With the streets adorned with colorful lights and streamers, the people processing around in their finest “traje de flamenco”, the clopping of 1000’s of horses parading along the hard-packed, sandy roads, and the smells of traditional Andalucian fare wafting through the air, the Feria is a feast for the senses.
The Feria begins with “El Pescaíto”, the traditional dinner of fried fish, before the lighting of the portada at midnight. After that, it’s a non-stop party, with each caseta starting to serve food around 1 in the afternoon and continuing sometimes until 6 or 7 the next morning! Friends and family, eat, drink, socialize, and dance sevillanas.
At midnight a week later, the Feria ends with fireworks after which the casetas are taken down, flamenco dresses and suits are cleared and put away, and the fairgrounds are empty until next year.
Want to be here for next year’s Feria season? Email us to find out how you can!
