Nerja’s neighbourhood festival turns 15 this year and everyone is invited to celebrate

Grab your dancing shoes and join a small Nerja neighbourhood for their three-night party this week

What exactly is the Veladilla de San Miguel?

Las Protegidas is a residential district of Nerja that gathers every September to honour its patron saint, Michael the Archangel, with the Veladilla de San Miguel. Unlike a big-city fair, this is a homegrown neighbourhood knees-up. Organisers describe it as an event that unites residents and keeps the district’s customs alive, and 2026 marks 15 years since the festival was reorganised into its current form.

Dates and location for 2026

Festivities begin on Thursday, September 17 and run through to Saturday, September 19, with most of the action taking place on the Friday and Saturday evenings in and around Plaza de Andalucia.

Thursday opens quietly with a flamenco-bag craft workshop, capped at 50 participants, followed by judges touring the neighbourhood for the 14th “Fachadas y Casas Puertas Jose Alaminos” competition, which rewards the best-decorated house fronts and doorways.

Friday brings the festival’s main events, with dance performances, speeches, music and the official switching on of the lights.

Saturday shifts to the main square from mid-morning, with sign-ups for the children’s and youth “Queen and King” titles, a parade, a concert from Nerja’s local town hall band, and a homemade desserts contest open to entrants aged 14 and over, plus a junior category for three and four-year-olds. Afternoon and evening bring flamenco, folklore and fandango performances, a balloon release, a floral tribute to Saint Michael, Catholic Mass, prize-giving and a raffle, before a closing concert brings the fiesta to an end around 11:30pm

Worth a little visit

Anyone who fancies swapping the usual restaurant terrace for something with a bit more tradition will find plenty to enjoy here: live music, home-baked goods, traditional choirs, dancing, and a warm welcome from residents proud to share their heritage. No booking just show up, for more information visit the Nerja Town Hall website.