April Festivals in Spain – Guide To The Best Fiestas & Ferias
Popular April Festivals and Fiestas
Moors vs Christians Festival
– Holy Week: This is the main attraction in April although it can start in late March depending on the Easter dates each year. It is a religious celebration honouring Jesus Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. You can expect to see spectacular processions with traditional religious icons. Holy week is a big part of the festival calendar in Spain and is held in all the major cities including Seville, Málaga, León, Zamora, Valladolid, Salamanca, Cuenca, and Cartagena. Each region of Spain observes Holy Week in a unique fashion.
Seville April Fair: This is one of the biggest and most important festivals in Spain, held each year in Seville, the capital city of Andalusia. It usually starts at midnight on the Monday two weeks after Holy Week and lasts for a whole week, ending with a spectacular fireworks display.
Moors and Christians Festival: This is a historical re-enactment of the battles between the Moors and the Christians that took place in Spain during the Middle Ages. It is held in various towns and cities across Spain, but one of the most famous ones is in Alcoy, in the province of Alicante.
The Volatin and the Angel: This is a peculiar festival that takes place on Easter Saturday in Tudela, in the province of Navarra. It involves burning an effigy of Judas Iscariot that is hung from a rope over a bonfire. The effigy has firecrackers inside it that explode when it catches fire, making it spin around like a propeller. The festival symbolizes the betrayal and punishment of Judas for his role in Jesus’ death.
– De Cajon Flamenco: The largest dance and folk music festival that celebrates the use of a famous wooden box called the Cajon Flamenco. This festival, which is a significant component of Barcelona’s festival scene, is a centre for traditional folk music, singing, dancing, playing the guitar, and clapping.
– Picaos, is a religious celebration held in San Vicente de la Sonsierra that calls for self-flagellation as a form of penance. As they move through the streets, the participants wear white robes and hoods and whip themselves with knotted ropes on their backs.
– The Descent of the Angel festival in Penafiel is a recreation of the biblical scene in which an angel tells Mary Magdalene that Jesus has risen from the dead. In order to remove a black veil from a statue of Mary Magdalene, a young child in an angelic costume is lowered from a tower.
– Bando de la Huerta Spring Fiesta: A celebration of Murcia’s agricultural history. The festival includes float parades with floral and fruit decorations, folk music and dance, and traditional attire.
– Faldeta Day in Fraga: A celebration that highlights the regional dress of the Aragonese town of Fraga. The outfit consists of a black skirt with vibrant ribbons and embroidery.
The festival also features gastronomy, dance, and music.
– San Jorge: This is a cultural festival that takes place on April 23rd in various regions of Spain, such as Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia. It celebrates Saint George, the patron saint of these regions, as well as World Book Day. The festival features book fairs, rose stalls, parades and concerts. In Catalonia, it is customary to exchange books and roses as gifts on this day.
– San Prudencio: This is a religious festival that takes place on April 28th in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the province of Álava. It honours Saint Prudence, the patron saint of Álava. The festival features a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Armentia, where the saint’s relics are kept, as well as music, dancing and gastronomy. One of the typical dishes of this festival is perretxikos, a type of wild mushroom.
Seville April Fair
Seville April Fair
Probably one of the biggest and most important of the April festivals in Spain is the Seville April Fair ( La Feria de Abril ) held each year in Seville, the capital city of Andalucia.
As the festival is held during Easter week the actual festival dates can vary each year so it is always best to check before booking your holiday.
The fair usually starts at Midnight on Monday two weeks after the holy week ( Semana Santa ) and is the beginning of one of Spain’s, biggest parties lasting a whole week, ending the following Sunday with a spectacular fireworks display.
The city of Seville comes alive with the sight of thousands of local girls wearing colourful and stunning Flamenco dresses. In fact, people come from all over Andalucia, Spain and further afield each year to witness and be part of this unforgettable Spanish tradition.
The Easter holy festivals are celebrated all over Andalucia and are a highlight of the year for many towns and villages with large numbers of the local population involved in the preparation of the large religious floats.
Moors v Christians Festival Alicante
Moors Christians Festival
Another major festival in April is the Moros y Cristianos held in Alcoy in the province of Alicante.
The festival commemorates the battle of Alcoy in 1275 when Saint George assisted in the defeat of the Moorish hoards lead by Al Azraq.
The Moors v Christians event takes place between the third and fourth weeks in April, not an attempt by the locals to be historically accurate, it’s about having fun as the marvellous, noisy and colourful spectacle of the battle is re-enacted with verve and energy by the local population.
The Alcoyans prepare well for this annual festival as some 30 armies are prepared for battle.
National Spanish Cheese Festival
Manchego Cheese
This very tasty festival is usually held the last weekend in April in the town of Trujillo in the Extremadura region of Spain. It usually lasts until the beginning of May each year offering all the fun and dance of a typical Spanish fair but here will also be able to try the delicious varieties of cheese from this region of Spain.
The National Spanish cheese festival Trujillo attracts many thousands of visitors looking for a food holiday with a difference.
It is now regarded as one of the largest cheese fairs in the world.
Here you will find a huge number of stands by local cheesemakers displaying their finest cheeses, not to mention an amazing choice of local wines to wash it all down.
Cheeses from the Extremadura region are renowned for their quality and taste and include such varieties as Torta del Casar, Torta la Serena, Los Ibores and the famous Manchego cheese.
Holidays Today and Upcoming Holidays in Spain
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All Holidays in Spain 2023
Holidays Today in Spain
Holidays are calculated using the local time in Madrid.
Upcoming Holidays (April to August 2023)
| Date | Name | Type | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr | Friday | San Prudencio | Observance | Álava |
| 1 May | Monday | Labor Day / May Day | National holiday | |
| 2 May | Tuesday | Day of Madrid | Autonomous Community Holiday | Madrid |
| 7 May | Sunday | Mothers’ Day | Observance | |
| 15 May | Monday | Feast Day of St Isidore | Municipal Holiday | Madrid |
| 17 May | Wednesday | Galicia Literature Day | Autonomous Community Holiday | Galicia |
| 28 May | Sunday | Whit Sunday/Pentecost | Observance | |
| 30 May | Tuesday | Day of the Canary Islands | Autonomous Community Holiday | Canary Islands |
| 31 May | Wednesday | Day of Castile-La Mancha | Autonomous Community Holiday | CM |
| 8 Jun | Thursday | Corpus Christi | Autonomous Community Holiday | CM |
| 9 Jun | Friday | Day of Murcia | Autonomous Community Holiday | Murcia |
| 9 Jun | Friday | Day of La Rioja | Autonomous Community Holiday | La Rioja |
| 21 Jun | Wednesday | June Solstice | Season | |
| 24 Jun | Saturday | Saint John the Baptist Day | Observance | AB, AL, BA, GA, GC, LE |
| 24 Jun | Saturday | Saint John the Baptist Day | Autonomous Community Holiday | Catalonia, Valencia |
| 29 Jun | Thursday | Eid al-Adha (Tentative Date) | Autonomous Community Holiday | Ceuta, Melilla |
| 13 Jul | Thursday | Festival of the Vaquillas | Observance | Teruel |
| 25 Jul | Tuesday | Feast of Saint James the Apostle | Autonomous Community Holiday | CL, GA, NA, PV |
| 25 Jul | Tuesday | Feast of Saint James the Apostle | Observance | CN, LO, M, S |
| 28 Jul | Friday | Day of the Institutions | Autonomous Community Holiday | Cantabria |
| 5 Aug | Saturday | The Day of Our Lady of Africa | Autonomous Community Holiday | Ceuta |
| 13 Aug | Sunday | The Day of Cantabria | Local observance | Cantabria |
| 15 Aug | Tuesday | Assumption of Mary | National holiday | |
| 19 Aug | Saturday | Feast of Saint Maginus | Observance | Tarragona |
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While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.
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Labor Day / May Day
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Day of Madrid
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Mothers’ Day
One of Spain’s most popular and festive family occasions is Mothers’ Day on the first Sunday in May.
Whit Sunday/Pentecost
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Spring break in Spain: travel ideas. Spain in Russian
On days when everything blooms and wakes up, some corners of Spain become even more beautiful. Many of them are a sin not to add to the traveler’s list for spring break.
Selva de Irati
This place in Spain literally has a place to roam – the dense beech forests of Selva de Irati cover an impressive area of 17 hectares! This natural reserve is located in Navarre, in the valley of the river Irati. In addition to beeches, here you can admire lush fir trees and centuries-old oaks. Luxurious selva is considered relatively young, despite the fact that some trees have been growing in it for more than 10 thousand years.
In spring, many tourists come here, attracted by the natural beauties of the region. The crowns, adorned with young leaves, form picturesque forest corridors that make a great backdrop for photographs. Outdoor enthusiasts usually go to the Irabia reservoir, located in the forest. With the advent of the first warm weather, vacationers are provided with a wide range of outdoor activities.
We recommend visiting here for lovers of mystical stories. The forests of Irati were a favorite haunt of Spanish witches before the advent of the Inquisition. And the locals are sure that the ghost of Jeanne d’Albret, Queen of Navarre, still lives in these places.
Reserva Natural del Nacedero del Río Urederra
The Urederra River rightfully takes its place in the list of the most unusual and at the same time very beautiful natural sites in Spain. The Urederra Nature Reserve is part of the Urbasa National Park in the province of Navarra.
All thanks to its radiant blue color with an emerald sheen. Actually, the name Urederra in translation means “beautiful water”. Its beauty can be seen just in the spring months, when the banks are covered with greenery and create a picturesque contrast with the water surface. In addition, it is during this season that the waterfall beats with full force from the crevices of the rock, from where Urederra originates.
The river is surrounded by dense protected thickets of walnuts, oaks, elms and other trees and shrubs. The inhabitants of these places are representatives of protected fauna. In particular, here you can meet large birds: hawks, kites, vultures and eagles. Trout splashes in the river, which can be seen from the shore through clear clear water. Walking along the five-kilometer trail along the river, you can make a lot of interesting shots.
Black Lagoon (Laguna Negra de Urbión)
The recognized natural pride of the Spanish province of Soria is considered to be the Black Lagoon.
Some remoteness from civilization, as well as landscapes evoking a mystical mood, gave rise to many legends and stories, which are now cordially shared by residents of nearby villages. So, one of them, for example, says that storms over the lake are calmed by huge animals that live in the dark water depths.
Real forest animals coexist with mythical lake creatures: deer, martens, squirrels, wild cats and roe deer. Pine and beeches, traditional for Spanish forests, alternate with birches, poplars, chestnuts and nuts in the vicinity of the lagoon.
Muniellos Biosphere Reserve (Reserva Natural Integral de Muniellos)
The onset of spring is also clearly felt in Asturias. There are several protected areas and national parks here. One of them is Muñelos, recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. Under the protection of local authorities and a global organization, rich nature remains practically untouched in the park, in particular, one of the largest and oldest oak groves in the country.
An impressive company of forest dwellers is also gathered here – from wolves and bears to black grouse.
The water in the reserve is clear, the air is clean, and the animals live in a natural environment. This enviable state of affairs is possible thanks to strict restrictions on the number of visitors. A maximum of 20 pre-registered people can visit Muñelos per day. Therefore, those wishing to visit this spring need to take care of permission in advance.
Gardens of the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso (Jardines del Palacio Real de La Granja de San Ildefonso)
The majestic palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso served as the summer residence of the Spanish monarchs. But its beauty fades into the background compared to the magnificent views that open up to visitors in the surrounding gardens. These six-kilometer lands were once created by the talented gardener René Carlier.
Today, a bizarre combination of hilly landscape, flower beds, artificial lakes and dozens of fountains can easily be attributed to works of landscape art.
Travelers are advised to come here on one of the days when the fountains are turned on: Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday, to fully enjoy the walk. The tour of the palace and garden is quite interesting and lengthy. Therefore, it is recommended to stop in nearby Segovia and slowly enjoy a visit to the palace gardens.
Doñana National Park (Parque nacional y natural de Doñana)
It would seem, what’s the point of going on a spring tour to where most of the area is swampy? It is very worth doing if we are talking about the famous Doñana National Park. In the spring months, the swamps are covered with variegated fragrant flowers. Spread over an area of more than 100 thousand hectares, the park is the pearl of Andalusia.
In addition, the place has become a haven for migratory birds, and therefore you can meet “guests” here in all their diversity.
In particular, African birds flock here in the summer, and guests from Central and Northern Europe in the winter. This reserved corner of Andalusia, by the way, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The easiest way to get here is from Seville (by bus or car) or the small town of El Rocío, located nearby.
Cascada de Colores
A waterfall that shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow can easily be mistaken for the skillful work of the artist. But this fabulous landscape is quite real. Cascada de Colores, or the Colored Waterfall, has long established itself as a hallmark of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park (Parque nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente) on the island of La Palma.
The waterfall acquired its unique multicolored appearance due to the high content of various minerals in the water itself, as well as the mouth along which it flows. The river that carries its waters to the Colored Waterfall is also painted bright yellow.
You can get to the unique waterfall by descending into the Rivaseras ravine.
Valle de Arán
A memorable springtime experience awaits you in the Val d’Aran. It is no coincidence that this place is chosen for recreation by more than the first generation of Spanish monarchs. Surrounded on all sides by the Pyrenees, this green island of land seems to be a separate state.
The trip to the valley will be especially interesting for those who love fishing. The local places abound with clean lakes full of fish, as well as specially equipped places for fishing. By the way, with your catch you can go to one of the restaurants located in the village of the same name. Chefs of local establishments are happy to prepare fish caught by them with their own hands.
There is also something for lovers of active sports. Here you can go rafting, quad biking or even go on a night tour of the mountain slopes with an experienced guide.
Marimurtra Botanical Garden (Jardín Botánico Marimurtra)
The amazing garden of Marimurtra is very popular with tourists. It is located in one of the resort towns on the Costa Brava – Blanes.
The territory of the garden is conditionally divided into three climatic zones – subtropics, the Mediterranean and a zone with a temperate climate. Each of them is inhabited by flowers, trees, an impressive collection of cacti and even birds – motley noisy parrots. But the main pride of this place is the garden, which is located on a high cliff, allowing visitors to observe a breathtaking view of the coast.
To get to the garden, just take one of the sightseeing buses leaving from Blanes. You can also make the path on your own, but you need to be prepared for a long hike on foot.
Center for services for life and business “Spain in Russian” is your guide in the world of individual tourism.
Organization of tours, routes, trips, tickets for various events, excursions with the best guides, organization of holidays. Services for demanding clients.
+7 495 236 98 99 or +34 93 272 64 90, [email protected]
School holidays in Spain 2022-2023 by region
In this publication, School-Holidays.Info collected information about school holidays in Spain 2022 -2023. We have collected from official sources the approved start and end dates for the school year and all holidays for all autonomous communities and cities in Spain. The data is reliable and can only change in the event of force majeure.
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Features of the schedule of the school year
The territory of Spain is divided into 19 autonomous parts. It includes 17 autonomous communities (autonomous regions) and two autonomous cities: Madrid and Ceuta. Each autonomy has its own schedule of school holidays. Their start and end dates differ slightly. The number of rest periods and their dates in Spanish schools differ.
But, regardless of the region and city, all schools in Spain have summer, Christmas and Easter holidays. Also in some areas there may be:
- Holidays to All Saints’ Day;
- Carnival holidays;
- February holidays.
Summer vacation end dates may vary depending on the age of the students. In pre-school educational institutions (kindergartens) and elementary school, classes begin 1-3 days earlier than in middle and senior secondary schools.
The dates of the beginning of the summer holidays differ less often. We have indicated the exact start and end dates for the school year for different schools below, in the section about school holidays in Spain 2022-2023. Also Spanish schools are closed during public holidays. You can read about them using the links at the beginning and end of the article.
School holidays in Spain 2022-2023 by autonomy
Below are the start and end dates for the 2022-2023 academic year and school holidays in Spain.
The days of the beginning and end of the rest periods are included in the holidays. For example, if it is indicated that the Easter holidays last from the 6th to the 17th, then these days are included in them and are days off for Spanish schoolchildren.
Andalusia
- First day of school (preschool and elementary): September 12, 2022;
- First day of school (middle and high school): September 15, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 26, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 7 April 2023;
- Last school day: June 22, 2023.
Aragon
- First school day: September 8, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 22, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 10 April 2023;
- Last school day: June 23, 2023.
Asturias
- First school day: September 12, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 26, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Carnival holidays: from 17 to 21 February 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 11 April 2023;
- Last day of school: 23 June 2023.
Balearic Islands
- First day of school: 12 September 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 23, 2022 to January 5, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 6 to 14 April 2023;
- Last school day: June 23, 2023.
Valencia
- First day of school: September 12, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 23, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 6 to 17 April 2023;
- Last day of school: 21 June 2023.
Galicia
- First day of school: 8 September 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 23, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Carnival holidays: from 20 to 22 February 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 10 April 2023;
- Last day of school: 21 June 2023.
Canary Islands
- First day of school (preschool and primary school): 9 September 2022;
- First day of school (middle and high school): September 12, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 23, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 7 April 2023;
- Last day of school: 23 June 2023.
Cantabria
- First day of school (preschool and elementary school): 8 September 2022;
- First day of school (middle and high school): September 9, 2022;
- Feasts of All Saints: October 31 to November 4, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 26, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- February holidays: from 20 to 24 February 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 6 to 14 April 2023;
- Last day of school (preschool and elementary): June 23, 2023;
- Last day of school (middle and high school): June 26, 2023.
Castile and León
- First day of school (preschool and primary): 9 September 2022;
- First day of school (middle and high school): September 14, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 23, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Carnival holidays: February 20 and 21, 2023;
- Easter holidays: March 30, 2023 to April 7, 2023;
- Last school day: 23 June 2023.
Castile-La Mancha
- First day of school: September 8, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 23, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Carnival holidays: February 20 and 21, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 10 April 2023;
- Last day of school: 20 June 2023.
Catalonia
- First day of school (preschool and elementary school): 5 September 2022;
- First day of school (middle and high school): September 7, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 22, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 10 April 2023;
- Last day of school (middle and high school): June 20, 2023;
- Last day of school (Preschool & Primary): June 22, 2023.
Ceuta
- First day of school: September 8, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 23, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 7 April 2023;
- Last day of school: 23 June 2023.
Basque Country
- First day of school: 8 September 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 26, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 6 to 10 April 2023;
- Last day of school: 21 June 2023.
La Rioja
- First day of school: 8 September 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 26, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 10 April 2023;
- Last day of school: 23 June 2023.
Madrid
- First day of school (preschool and elementary school): 7 September 2022;
- First day of school (middle and high school): September 8, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 23, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 7 April 2023;
- Last day of school: 22 June 2023.
Melilla
- First day of school: 6 September 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 23, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 7 April 2023;
- Last day of school: 21 June 2023.
Murcia
- First day of school (preschool and elementary school): 8 September 2022;
- First day of school (middle and high school): September 12, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 26, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 7 April 2023;
- Last day of school (middle and high school): June 23, 2023;
- Last day of school (preschool and primary school): June 26, 2023.
Navarra
- First day of school: September 7, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 23, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 6 to 14 April 2023;
- Last day of school: 22 June 2023.
Extremadura
- First day of school (preschool and elementary school): 12 September 2022;
- First day of school (middle and high school): September 13, 2022;
- Christmas holidays: from December 23, 2022 to January 6, 2023;
- Carnival holidays: from 21 to 22 February 2023;
- Easter holidays: from 3 to 10 April 2023;
- Last school day: June 22, 2023.
