One thing which the Andalucian people do well is to throw a party. Wherever you are in the region there always seems to be a fair or festival taking place in the town you are in or nearby. The reasons for these festivals are held for a number of reasons from religious celebrations to a celebration of food.

Sadly a number of the old traditions seem to be dying out and are been replaced with new modern traditions.

One such tradition is the celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day where in the past the people of the towns and villages gathered to watch a traditional performance of Zorrilla’s “Don Juan Tenorio” and visit the graves of their loved ones . Nowadays this date is now getting better known for the celebration of Halloween with the costumes and pumpkins along with the trick or treaters who come knocking on your door in the search of candy.

However if the old traditional festivals are what you love there are still places where you can find the local people taking part in a good old fashioned fair.

One such event which is coming back and is well worth visiting is the Chestnut Fair which is held in a number of towns and villages across Andalucia.

One of the best places to celebrate this fair is the beautiful village of Alcaucín which is located in the Axarquía area of Malaga province. Here the local town hall decided to return to the old tradition of the chestnut fair and visitors who make the journey to the village are made to feel welcome and join the village people in the main square to roast chestnuts and eat them

The plan is on the 31^st October this year is to roast and distribute around 300 kilos of chestnuts which will be served along with around 200 kilos of sweet potatoes, cinnamon madeleines (“mantecados”). Don’t forget to wash down this wonderful food with a glass or two of the gallons of anisette which will be on offer

Like every other festival and fair in Andalucia the main event will be supplemented by excellent music and other fringe activities.

For more information about the Chestnut fair in Alcaucín you should contact the town hall on (+34) 952 510 002 or visit the towns website http://www.alcaucin.es

The next day Benalauría, in Serranía de Ronda, will have its “tostón” or Chestnut roasting party where the locals open their town to visitors and invite them to join them in a day of celebrations

For further information, please contact the local Town Hall on (34) 952 152 502
or online at http://www.benalauria.es

These are just two of the Andalucian towns you can see a return to the old traditional festival celebrating the chestnut. Other towns include

Istán
Maro
Jubrique
Ojén
Marbella
Pujerra and many others .

It is important to support the old traditions so why not head along to one of the many chestnut roasting parties that are been held this year . You will have a good time and you get the added bonus of enjoying some great food and drink.