The Magic of the Seville April Fair

The April Fair has become one of Spain's most colourful celebrations and is always an opportunity for the residents of Seville to continue winning the world over with their Andalusian passion. The Fair officially begins with the "lighting up" of the fairgrounds, but for many, the celebration has already started before then, especially once the approximately 1,000 booths that fill the fairgrounds have been set up. The strange thing is that the Fair turns the Real de la Feria Fairgrounds into a sort of "parallel city," a time and place where past and present come together and ancestral traditions are revived. Outside of its limits, the daily hustle and bustle of Seville continues as usual.



The Booths have been at the heart of the Fair since 1847, when the noble families of Seville erected the first ones, turning a horse and cattle fair into a social event. The Booths are run, for example, by families, groups of friends or associations, which in other parts of Spain, would be called syndicates. There are also Booths run by the city's famous bars and restaurants, businesses and institutions that are open to the public, but it isn't quite the same. It isn't easy to become a member. For those who are deeply entrenched in the fair without being members, part of the spirit of the celebration is the search for a "hook-up," as the invitations or entrances to a Booth are known.

For seven days and nights, the Fair completely occupies the daily lives of many residents and visitors. The so-called serious part takes place during the mornings and midday with the procession. It is understood that anybody who is somebody will arrive at the fair on a horse or in a carriage, and in any event, dressed in typical Andalusian garb. Over time, it has become an international celebrity parade, ever since Anthony Quinn made it famous outside of Spain.



The truly serious part takes place at five o'clock in the evening with the running of the bulls through the Plaza, and it is after this that the multitude returns to the fairgrounds, where the real Andalusian revelry begins. The Booths are supposed to close at four in the morning, but many continue celebrating until daybreak, fuelled by a good cup of hot chocolate and churros.



The initial days are the best time to visit the Fair, when the atmosphere is still relatively "peaceful" and the residents are gathered together with their families. The last three days, which fall on the weekend, can be somewhat draining. In any case, the April Fair is one of those celebrations that, with time, has become an authentic mass event, and it is not to be missed by anyone who happens to be in Andalusia during that time. Remember to reserve your room in advance because the hotels in Seville tend to be fully booked during the Fair.



For those of you who love the Andalusian spirit and, by extension, dry sherry, flamenco and horses, although not necessarily in that order, the April Fair is an event that you simply must experience.



Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.