Almuñecar gets ready for traditional horse-ribbon race

Horse riders will take to the Rambla de Torrecuevas in Almuñecar on Sunday, October 11, as part of the annual celebrations in this popular Costa Tropical area.

The traditional horse-ribbon race, known in Spanish as a carrera de cintas a caballo, is scheduled to start at 6.15pm and will form part of the celebrations taking place in Torrecuevas. The event offers visitors the chance to see a traditional equestrian spectacle in a setting closely linked to Almuñecar’s agricultural heritage.

A traditional part of the Torrecuevas celebrations

Despite sometimes being described simply as a horse race, a carrera de cintas a caballo is different from a conventional race.

Riders on horseback attempt to collect ribbons suspended from a structure as they pass underneath at speed. The event requires riders to combine control of their horses with accuracy and timing, making it as much a test of skill as speed.

The format has featured in previous editions of the Torrecuevas festivities, with horse-related activities forming an established part of the local celebrations. Previous programmes have included a carrera de cintas a caballo at the Rambla, as well as other equestrian activities involving local riding associations.

Sunday evening event in Torrecuevas

The 2026 celebrations in Torrecuevas are being held from October 9 to October 12, with activities centred around the local community and the traditional festivities honouring the Virgen Madre.

The October celebrations are also closely connected with the area’s agricultural traditions and its production of subtropical fruit, including the famous “chirimoya” or custard apple.

For residents and holidaymakers looking for something different yet, extremely traditional and at the heart of the local culture, on the Costa Tropical that Sunday, the horse-ribbon event provides an opportunity to see a traditional local spectacle. The carrera de cintas a caballo begins at 6.15pm on Sunday, October 11, at the Rambla de Torrecuevas.