Spain Events Calendar 2009

Every year in the wonderful cultural city of Barcelona the Guitar Festival takes place, this year’s edition is already at its 20th edition! The organization of the festival make sure that visitors can see a variety of music styles; from Jazz to Classical Music you can enjoy different concerts showcasing famous guitar players such as Amaral, David Byrne and many more. The festival will be take place at various locations throughout Barcelona such as Palau de la Musica, Luz de gaz and many more.

Each year, various parishes and organisations enter a competition for the best-decorated cross. The size of each cross is large and the theme is generally floral and elaborate. The cross is erected in the historical centre of the city’s main square. In the true spirit of Spanish fiestas a temporary bar is built in the same square as the cross. This is where the locals congregate each evening for a few drinks and tapas which inevitably lead to spontaneous Flamenco style dancing into the early hours.

If you enjoy endurance sports then Ironman Lanzarote is the event for you. The course includes two mountain climbs and intense cycling, followed by a challenging run. Although this is fundamentally a one-day event, the activities last for a few days, with registration and fun runs in the week leading up to the event itself, and parties and award ceremonies following.

The Castile and Leon International Arts Festival has been held every year in Salamanca since it began in 2005. This multidisciplinary event combines a variety of shows including theatre-dance, electronic multimedia, theatre music, dance performances, indoor theatre, graffiti and much more. Companies from different countries come together at this event which invites the public to open their minds to new experiences and to take part around the city.

Every year Marbella pays homage to its patron saint, San Bernabé, with a week of festivities, music, dancing and general fun. Marbella locals gather to honour the saint with casitas or tents, which are set up along the streets and everyone socializes, eats traditional Andalusian dishes and parties until dawn. The festival also includes a procession of Saint Bernabe`s image through the main streets, flamenco dancing, a street parade of horsemen and lots of music and spontaneous dancing.

Vodafone Transiberico Rally offers four days of exciting racing competition! The world cross country event has been adapted to relate to the ongoing financial situation. The ACP has decided to shorten the usual programme by one day, proposing four instead of five days intense competition, with around 1,300 km of stages over four legs.

It is one of the most important art festivals in the world and takes place near Barcelona's Olympic Stadium in a Greek-style amphitheatre - the Theatre Grec as well as other locations in the city. Following hot on the heels of the Fiesta de San Juan, the event injects theatre, dance and music into Barcelona life, with a strong focus on contemporary culture.

The running of the bulls in Pamplona was immortalised in Ernest Hemingway’s novel “The Sun Also Rises”. Since then, tourists from around the world have flocked to the town every June to sing, dance, drink, and run down the town’s cobbled streets - followed by a herd of angry bulls. The Pamplona Bull run isn’t the only thing to see or do during the weeks celebrations. Other events during the week include live music, nightly fireworks and daily bullfights.

San Sebastian plays host to Spain's top Jazz Festival which attracts many performers from around the world. The event attracts many visitors including people on their way home from the Pamplona bull running and top bands arrange rock concerts to coincide with the festival.

The Tomatina tomato fight which takes place in Valencia on the 4th August is the world’s biggest food fight. How these huge tomato fights began is unknown however it is known that they first started in 1940. There is an abundance of theories as to why they first began such the repercussions of a street brawl or a practical joke that got out of hand. Nevertheless this event is certainly a popular one as it attracts people from around the world for some messy fun!

Over 100,000 visitors help the population of Bilbao to celebrate its heritage with a lively fiesta. Semana Grandeincludes firework displays and strongman games. Music plays a huge part in the celebrations too and there are a variety of live performances on many stages and churches throughout the city. All of these performances are free to watch! The festival runs over a period of 9 days and nights, however if you are planning a shopping trip at the same time as the event be warned as many stores are closed over this period.

With a lovely blend of music, modern and traditional local cuisines as well as the main spectacle of the tasty local wines this event is more relaxing than some of the other events listed above. Wine tourism is well developed in Somotano; several top winemakers have added their wineries to the region of Somotano. One of many reasons to visit Somotano.