La Feria de Abril de Sevilla

The Seville Spring Fair, La Feria de Abril de Sevilla, is a huge annual event held in the Andalucian capital of Seville, Spain.

The Fair dates back to 1847 when it was originally organized as a livestock fair by two local councillors. Queen Isabel II agreed to the proposal, and on 18 April 1847 the first fair was held at the Prado de San Sebastian, on the outskirts of the city.

The fair generally begins two weeks after the Semana Santa, or Easter Holy Week and officially begins at midnight on Monday, and runs six days, ending on the following Sunday with a huge fireworks display. The fair is held at the Real de la Feria just outside the city centre opposite the Maria Luisa Park, next to the site is a huge fairground.

Each day at midday the fiesta begins with the parade of carriages and riders,carrying leading citizens of Seville which make their way to the bullring, Plaza de Toros de Maestranza, where the bullfighters and breeders meet.

For the duration of the fair, the fairgrounds, a vast area on the bank of the Guadalquivir River, are totally covered in rows of casetas, individual decorated marquee tents which host flamenco performances, loud music and a bar. Some of these casetas belong to prominent families of Seville, some to groups of friends, clubs, trade associations or political parties.

At noon every day there is a procession called the Paseo de Caballos in which local ladies in their full flamenco outfits are driven through the city in beautiful carriages by splendid horses. In the evening some of the year's top bullfights take place at the Plaza de Toros de Maestranza with tickets selling out well in advance.

From around nine at night until six or seven the following morning you will find crowds partying and dancing Sevillanas, drinking Jerez sherry, or manzanilla wine, and eating tapas.

At La Feria of Abril you will find the men and women dressed up in their finery. Men dress in the traditional traje corto, short jacket, tight trousers and boots, and wear hats called cordobés. The women dress in their faralaes or trajes de flamenca, flamenco style dress.

Dates of the Seville April Fair

Where to Stay

The city is overbooked well in advance for this event as thousand of locals and visitors decend on the city for the party. Search here for a hotel in Seville or if you are on a budget and fancy something a little cheaper search here for hostel accommodation in Seville

Getting There

To get there you should book a flight to Seville

You might then consider hiring a car, booking a train ticket or book a bus ticket to get you to your final destination.