If you want to let your hair down and go a little bit wild this August, there is no better place to party than Malaga Feria.

Being held between the 14th and 23rd August this year, Malaga comes alive during feria time, where the locals and tourists fill the streets with colour, music, flamenco and fino.

This fabulous Andalucian feria was originally held to celebrate the re-conquering of the city of Malaga in 1487 by ´Los Reyes´, Isabella and Ferdinand, and is now one of the biggest street parties in Spain.

Fairground fun
Many of the revellers arrive on horseback, wearing traditional dress and make their way to the centre of town, passing crowds of people dancing in the streets.  Even in the daytime, the bars and restaurants are festooned with bunting and banners to leave visitors in no doubt how much this annual event means to the locals.  The whole city vibrates with life and noise, and the fun continues at the fairground throughout the night.

My friends and I always take a trip to the feria during the daytime which is just as raucous as the evening, with all the usual attractions taking place through the streets.  One of the most beautiful spectacles is the horse procession through the city centre, where the riders show off their skills and the horses turn out in all their feria finery.

Train to Malaga
If you live near Fuengirola, take the cercanias train to Malaga, which is a comfortable way of travelling, and also gives you peace of mind if you are likely to over-indulge with the fino sherry and sangria which is liberally served throughout the main square.  The train takes about 40 minutes, and when you disembark, you only need to follow the crowds to find out where the fun is.

Loud music blares out of every bar , almost as if they were in competition for the liveliest joint at the feria, and the local ladies dance in the streets, decked out in their flamenco dresses and shawls with flowers in their hair and dancing shoes to match.

The beauty of Malaga Feria is that it is not as touristy as the ferias in the main resorts to the west of Malaga, and you really sense a feeling of ´the real Spain´ when you visit here, instead of the watered down versions in other towns.  This is the largest event in Andalucia, outside of Seville, and the location is superb.

Malaga Tapas
Also famous for its tapas, Malaga´s bars open their doors early during feria time and often serve until the small hours of the next morning.  There is no better way to enjoy this fabulous annual event than taking your time to explore the city´s streets, soaking up the atmosphere, and sampling different drinks and tapas along the way.  Traditionally, fino, dry Spanish sherry, is served liberally during the feria, and many revellers carry a specially designed fino glass on a leather thong around their necks.

In the evening the feria fun moves to Cortijo de Torres, with more than 200 pavilions open to the public, each hosted by a different local group or association. Certain nights are dedicated to flamenco dance and music and pop and flamenco bands will have you dancing till dawn.

Bullfight Malaga
Malaga Feria coincides with the main bullfighting season, so if you are not a fan of the bullfight, you might want to bypass the Plaza de Toros. If you wander down to the port, you can enjoy some amazing firework displays shooting high into the sky over the Mediterranean.
Malaga Feria is not for the faint-hearted, and if you prefer a quiet time, the city is probably best avoided during this time.  If, on the other hand you want a change from the pool and the beaches, and you fancy joining in one of the liveliest annual celebrations in Spain, then there is no better way to spend a day or two than dancing, drinking and merrymaking with the crowds in Malaga City.

Malaga Shopping
If you have some shopping to do, why not go into Malaga early in the afternoon and have a browse round the shops at Calle Larios or take a trip round El Corté Ingles, where you can find almost anything at reasonable prices.  If markets are more your thing, take a trip to Benalmadena on Sunday to Tivoli World, or nearby Torremolinos Market, also held on Sundays, where you can bag a bargain.
If you still have some energy left after a visit to the feria, Malaga also has some great nightlife in and around the city centre, including clubs, discos and music bars.

Malaga Feria details
Where:  Malaga City Centre.
When:  14th – 23rd August, 2009.
How to get there:  Take bus, train or car to the centre of Malaga where there are plenty of car parks.  Follow the crowds to reach the centre of the feria.