Fuengirola fair week: open casetas, €10 concerts and a bus home at 4am

Fuengirola’s spectacular Rosario fair opens tomorrow night and runs until Monday, October 12. Stroll, laugh, dance and sing along. Residents who want more than a poster of names will find a procession, horses at the Real, Casetas that say they are open to everyone, and a Line 1 bus home until 4am.

Anyone who only knows the spring international fair should treat this as a different week. This one honours the Virgen del Rosario Coronada, the town’s patron. An earlier EWN preview had the dates. The official programme now confirms the times.

What you can walk into

Tuesday, October 6, starts at 9.30pm with the pregon (opening announcement) by local dancer Juani Guerrero at the Palacio de la Paz, at the fairground at Avenida de Nuestro Padre Jesus Cautivo. Entry is free, and there are chairs. Once she finishes, the council switches on the fair lights on the main facade, and the town band plays the national anthem.

Wednesday, October 7 is the day to be in the centre, not only at the fairground. A flamenco mass starts at 10am in Plaza de la Constitucion, then the Virgin goes out with bands from Fuengirola and Almogia. The route runs Condes de San Isidro, Marconi, Palangreros, Calle Larga and Calle Espana, back to the church, with a hoped-for finish around 2.30pm. Riders join near Palangreros at about 12.45pm. Women are invited to wear a mantilla, a flamenco dress or local dress. That night, 10pm, is the 48th Jabegote Juan de la Loma flamenco festival, with Israel Fernandez, Paqui Corpas, Jose Garcia “Jose El Petro” and guitarist Diego del Morao.

Local peñas groups run the casetas and bars, and the new president of the federation, Manuel Espinosa Barroso, has asked every one of them to keep the doors open for everyone. Music, food, a drink and a toast are the point of a wander round the real and celebrate life in Fuengirola.

Horses and carriages, one of the highlights for many at the fair, have their own rules for the fairground this week. They were already out for Fuengirola a Caballo in September, so give them the road.

Afternoons have a quieter option in the Caseta de la Tercera Edad. Paco y Llina, “Duo Cenachero”, Araceli Gonzalez, dance schools and Orquesta Punto y Aparte fill slots from 5pm across the week, with a presentation of regional dance workshops on Sunday at 5pm.

Who is on after dark

Friday, October 9, is one of Spain’s biggest stars, David Bustamante at 10pm. Saturday, October 10, is Antonio Jose’s same time. Monday, October 12, Spain’s national day, has Sondesoto in Plaza de la Constitucion at 12.30pm, then the massively popular, Marta Sanchez, at the Palacio de la Paz at 10pm. Seats are €10, boxes €15. Sunday, October 11 is free: Los 40 Session, with DJ Nano and San Bernardino, at 10pm, until the hall is full.

Tickets can be got from entradas.fuengirola.es and the Miramar information desk, weekdays from 10am to 12.30pm and 3pm to 6pm. Leftovers, if any, are sold at the box office two hours before the show, card only.

Line 1 bus runs a special service from October 6 to 12 until 4am, linking Miramar, Carvajal and the fairground. Departures from Miramar include 11.30pm, 12.10am, 12.50am, 1.30am, 2.10am, 2.50am, 3.30am and 4.10am. Full times are on transportefuengirola.com (952 737 444). Ordinary buses are a separate story.

Thursday, October 8, is the family add-on if you are taking children. Cantajuegos is on at 6pm, at €5 for a seat and €10 for a box, and children’s rides are half price. Most of the week belongs to the casetas, the procession and the 10pm shows.