Estepona hands out free carnations to holidaymakers and adds yoga on Tourist Day this Friday

José María García Urbano, the mayor of Estepona, knows what side his town’s bread is buttered on, and on Friday, August 7, the council will let everyone know when they say a proper thank you with the annual Tourist Day celebrations. You see, Estepona is not Palma de Mallorca. It is not Barcelona. Estepona welcomes its tourists all year round, with love.

Free carnations will be handed out by the queens and maids of the Feria and Fiestas Mayores, while a brand-new morning yoga session with live flamenco guitar sets the tone for a day focused on visitors who keep coming back year after year to the Costa del Sol favourite.

Events all start at 9am on the seafront promenade near the Menina sculpture. For the first time, a free yoga class will take place, mixed with live flamenco guitar music to create a relaxed start under the morning sun. The council is sticking with activities that support both residents’ and visitors’ wellbeing and a healthy lifestyle, setting the tone for a new Estepona, completely distinct from its neighbouring Costa del Sol towns.

Honour for long-time holidaymakers to the town

At midday the ‘Tourist of Honour 2026’ awards go to Pedro Javier Rodríguez Pérez and Paula Medina Denja. Town hall officials say the couple have built a special connection with Estepona stretching back decades, and the recognition marks that lasting bond.

Straight after that presentation, the feria queens and their maids will set off on the traditional flower giveaway. They will walk through the central streets of Real and Terraza, Plaza de las Flores, Plaza Doctor Arce and along the promenade, offering carnations as a simple, cheerful thank-you to anyone who has chosen the town for their break.

Leaflets and local tips at the ready

A temporary outdoor counter will sit beside the Tourism Office in Plaza de las Flores. Staff will hand out free leaflets in several languages covering the full range of cultural, sporting and leisure options available right now in Estepona. Anyone looking for ideas other than the beach can pick up details on walks, museums, events and more.

Tourist Day has become a regular fixture in Estepona’s summer calendar, much like similar gestures in other Costa towns. It sits neatly between the big Feria celebrations earlier in July and the World Ham Contest that fills the promenade from August 7 to 16. Holidaymakers already in town for the feria atmosphere or planning a longer stay will find the day a friendly extra touch.

Local organisers stress the same message year after year: visitors form a big part of what makes the place tick in high season. Whether people are here for a week or have been returning for years, the carnations, the yoga and the official nod to long-time guests are meant as a straightforward welcome.

Anyone wanting more details on current events or maps of the old town can drop by the Tourism Office itself or check the official tourism pages for the latest programme. With the seafront already busy and the central squares in full summer mode, Friday looks set to be a colourful, easy-going way for Estepona to tip its hat to the people who help keep its streets lively.

More reading on related Estepona events is available via Euro Weekly News coverage of the recent Feria and the town’s Foreign Residents’ Day celebrations. Official information and leaflets can also be found on the Estepona tourism website and the Spanish national tourism website.