The last Summer Fiesta on the Costa del Sol is likely to be the San Pedro Alcantara Feria.
From early October preparations are being made. Enormous blue and white poles are erected to provide supports for the ropes from tents, casetas and sweet stalls and also the huge bundles of electric cables needed to keep the thousands of lights shining throughout the week of the feria.

Tradition dictates that the typical Spanish town of San Pedro Alcantara celebrates its Saint’s day with a great deal of noise, glorious colour, much laughter and singing as well as copious amounts of alcohol – beer (cerveza), sherry (fino) and Sangria being the main drinks of choice. Tradition also seems to mean that there is thunder+lightning and large amounts of rainfall at some point during the week… however, it takes more than a shower of rain to dampen the enthusiasm of the local Pedrianos when it is Feria time!
The Feria itself is situated on the area of ground usually used for the Thursday Market on the northern edge of San Pedro. It is 5 minutes walk from the main church square – be guided by the noise!

The Feria starts this year on Tuesday 16th October.
At 14.00hrs you will hear the sound of church bells ringing and the bangs and ‘whooshing’ sound of numerous rockets launched into the air to signal that the five-day Fiesta has well and truly started.

At 18.00hrs there is a procession around the streets of San Pedro. There are usually numerous decorated floats, many representing local businesses, all colourful and packed with children, teenagers and adults all dressed in traditional costumes. They are escorted by very noisy and proud musicians marching alongside. The traditional Fino Sherry flows in abundance and is handed out quite liberally to the spectators crowding the pavements. Following the floats and looking quite spectacular are the horse riders again dressed in traditional costume with the ladies riding ‘side-saddle’ with remarkable ease. The procession starts from the Church Square and takes about an hour (this is an hour in Spanish time so it could start late and take longer!) The procession finishes back at the church where there is a religious service in honour of the patron saint.
On the same evening at 22.00hrs take a walk down to the beach (it’s about 15 minutes but if you choose to drive down there are plenty parking spaces) where there will be an impressive firework display (weather permitting) which lasts for about 20-30 minutes. Hundreds of people from babies and toddlers, teenagers to grandparents gather on the maritimo and gaze out to sea. They sit on the walls alongside the beach, on the seats next to the palm trees or just stand in groups patiently waiting for the show to begin.
One can’t help but compare it to ‘gatherings’ in the UK where firework displays are few and far between because of the numerous possible ‘health and safety’ hazards. Our friends from the UK were very impressed by the friendly atmosphere between all age groups and the seemingly lack of a police presence despite the large crowd.

After this most people take a leisurely walk back up to the town to visit the many bars or go to the Feria ground and listen to the band as the Municipal Caseta is formerly opened. There will be many shows, local musicians, competitions and dances taking place in the Caseta all week.
The main pedestrian street in San Pedro is Marques del Duero and during Feria week it is packed with tented outside bars selling all the usual drinks and in many instances tapas and raciones too. Kebabs, Salchichon, Jamon Serrano, Hamburgers, Pulpo and other delicacies are all available throughout the evenings until well into the early hours of the following morning.

At the Feria ground there are all the usual scary rides – those that whiz you up and down at amazing speeds until you don’t know which way is up accompanied by the screaming, laughing and sometimes look of horror as the young ones and indeed some ‘oldies’ hang on for all they are worth.
The little kiddies are catered for as well with numerous gentler rides that lift and lower as well as go round and round. They too laugh and giggle but have faces showing pure joy.

Throughout the week there are activities for young children starting at 13.00hrs and 17.00hrs mostly taking place in the church square. These include traditional games, workshops for painting and crafts including balloon modelling. There are also actors and clowns providing entertainment either in the church square or in the Municipal Caseta at the Feria ground.
17.00hrs on Wednesday 17th is designated as ‘the day for the children’ which means all the rides at the Feria ground are half price. If you venture to the fairground at this time be ready for the onslaught of an unbelievable level of noise!

At midnight on Wednesday there is a talent competition based on the TV ‘X- Factor’ in the Municipal Caseta and entry is free.
Every night at 22.00 hrs in the Caseta de Juventud there will be performances by local groups and activities for teenagers and the young at heart! For the slightly older Pedrianos there is dancing with a live orchestra in the Municipal Caseta. These are always crowded, happy and noisy events.
It is impossible to list all the programme details in this article.

The Feria continues everyday until Sunday October 21st when the dancing and celebrations will continue late into the night.
By late Monday morning the road sweepers and cleaning lorries will be out in force, the rides will be dismantled, people will be back at work albeit with a hangover and a somewhat tired demeanour but all exclaiming that this was the best Feria ever.
Wait a week and the plans for 2008 will begin!