The year's festivals, saints' days and town ferias along the Granada coast, starting from this month — what happens, where and when. Movable dates (Carnaval, Holy Week) shift each year, so check locally before you travel.
Patron of fishermen and sailors. Her image is carried onto decorated boats for a procession out to sea, followed by fireworks over the water — the signature summer fiesta of the coastal towns.
Almuñécar's main summer fair, with daytime casetas, live music, funfair rides and nightly fireworks. Held around the town's patron feast in mid-August; check exact dates locally.
Motril's feria y fiestas fill the fairground with casetas, concerts and rides for a week each August. Exact dates vary year to year.
Salobreña celebrates its patron, the Virgen del Rosario, with processions, music and its autumn feria as the season winds down.
Christmas lights, hand-built nativity scenes (belenes) and markets fill the town squares and churches throughout December, up to the Reyes parade on 5 January.
On the eve of Epiphany the Three Kings parade through every town on floats, showering children with sweets — the biggest children's night of the Spanish festive season.
In the weeks before Lent, costumes, satirical singing troupes (chirigotas) and street parties take over the towns. Dates move with the church calendar each year.
Solemn processions carry ornate floats (pasos) through the old quarters, most elaborately in Motril. Falls the week before Easter, so the dates shift every year.
Neighbourhoods raise crosses decorated with flowers and gather around them with food, drink and music. Traditionally held around 3 May.
The shortest night of the year is marked with bonfires along every beach, midnight swims and fireworks — one of the coast's biggest nights out.