The Spring Fair celebrated in Sevilla is popularly named “la Feria de Abril” and it dates back to 1846. It originated as a cattle market and the idea came from two business men; a basque, Jose María de Ybarra and a catalan, Narciso Bonaplata.
At the very beginning, this fair had lasted three days and a few years later, it increased its popularity attracting merchants and livestock entrepreneurs , sellers and buyers. All of them gathered together to celebrate a good business, dancing, drinking and eating. So it switched from a business market into a recreational festive event. Parties took place in an improvised marquees tents, called “casetas” and it still exists nowadays.
Eventually, it was declared a Major Festival by the City Council in 1910.
Today April fair is celebrated always one or two weeks after the celebration of Easter. The fair lasts one week and it is officially inaugurated on Monday night with the famous “Alumbrao” ( switching on lights ). Thousands of bulbs are lit and these are covered by a paper lamp called “farolillos”. The fair is then officially inaugurated and it celebrated eating fried fish “pescaito” ( a popular dish in Seville).
The fair is very colourful and the ambience is festive, joyful and relaxing. More than a thousand “casetas” are placed on a vast area of a 1.000.000 m2. This “casetas ”work like small clubs, as these tents belong either to families, friends, associations or political parties.
People like eating and drinking “fine wine” or something called “rebujito” a mix of white wine and fizzy lemon drink served chilled with a lot of ice. The dancing is called “sevillanas” ( a light version of flamenco). Women wear the typical flamenco dress with lots of frills and a flower on the hair and riders wear the flamenco suit called “traje corto” and consists of a short vest and tight trousers with tall boots and a wide trimmed hat.
Do you want to discover Seville April Fair with an official guide? Book in www.sevillavisita.com
Basic things that you should consider before stepping into Seville April Fair.
- The Fair has either private or public casetas ( red and green and white striped marquee tents). The public ones is free entrance. There are 16 public “casetas” in the Fair. Ask in the tourist information located at the main gateway.
- It is recommended to visit the Fair in the morning and early afternoon. It will be less crowded. From 8 o´clock pm, horses and carriages stop their parade and then the fair will get crowded with young people.
- Wear light and comfortable shoes. They will get dirty even if you don´t want. The streets are covered with a dusty soil called “albero”.
- Don´t dare to use you own rented car, you won´t find any parking nearby the fair site. Use public transport; public buses, metro or taxi. There is a special bus that connects the Fair to the Prado de San Sebastian, near the historical neighbourhood.
Tussam (urban bus): Transportes urbanos de Sevilla – 902 459 954
City Council information: 010
Police, firemens and emergency: 112
Tent for lost children (Caseta niños perdidos) c/Gitanillo de Triana, 122 – 954 459 189
- If you feel a little bit “out of place” as you are not wearing the flamenco dress, don´t worry! , usually women put a flower on the hair and earing matching and maybe a “mantoncillo” (little shawl with fringes) to give a touch of flamenco to your ourfit.
- If you are travelling with children to forget to visit the famous “Calle del Infierno”, a place reserved in the Feria for rides and attractions. Be patient and arrange a meeting place visible to meet up as it´s easy to get lost.
- Bring cash to the Feria if you want to eat and drink either in the “casetas” or buying ice-cream or candies in improvised stalls. They won´t accept visa cards.
- In the “casetas” you can pay in cash or you may need to buy tickets that they will change them for food or drinks.
- Don´t miss, if you are already in Seville, “the alumbrao” on Monday morning which is the inauguration of the Fair and the fireworks that marks the end of it.
- The site where the fair is situated is very vast, it´s easy to get lost, find a place to arrange a meeting point and fix a time, in case you get lost from your family or group of friends. Lost of the streets look like each other. They are named after famous matadors. Ask for a map in the main gate (“La Portada”) in the tourist information post.
Do you want to discover Seville April Fair with an official guide? Book in www.sevillavisita.com