Fairs and Festivities of Albacete

Location

Fairgrounds or 'Redondeles’.

Other data

For many years the most important part of the Fair was its trade activities, because its origins lie in an old trade and cattle fair, especially dedicated to horses, that took place in the 15th century.

With the incorporation of machinery to farming activity the cattle fair became less important and was relegated, evolving towards the current, commercially oriented and festive activities, which take place within the permanent Fairgrounds that were built in 1783.

As time went by the organisers have enjoyed a greater popular involvement and the Fair has become richer in variety, and currently it has more to offer and people are more involved.

How to get there

Road transport

At the end of August, the Festivals of Albacete start out with the first glimpse of what will be the great local festivity: The Feria, which begins with the election and designation of the woman from La Mancha who will be the queen of the festivities, and the 'Cabalgata de Apertura’, a parade of carriages accompanied by musicians, brass bands and authorities, with the participation of the best groups and carriages of a number of towns in the province and from elsewhere in the region.

The carriages are designed by the different groups and, once the designs are accepted, they are built by a company made up of disabled people who physically carry out the construction of the carriages. There are many different types of carriages, ranging from large constructions made of papier mâché to small decorated trailers and tractors. The motifs range from anything fashionable to allegories of current affairs or simple recreations of a variety of topics, in which those participating seek to be the most eye-catching, original and aesthetic group in the parade.

The parade ends with the inaugural speech of the festivities (read out every year by somebody who has stood out in the fields of politics, culture, etc., sometimes having some relation to the town), which, together with some fireworks, officially signals the beginning of the celebrations: a variety of sports competitions, exhibitions, speeches, conferences, puppet theatres, popular dances, parades, brass bands, bullfights … a little bit of everything and suitable for all.

Dates

From 7 to 17 September

Area

Festivities of National Interest for Tourists