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What's on in Spain: August 2015

The Local Spain
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What's on in Spain: August 2015
San Sebastian has a week of festivities in August. Photo: Donostiako Festak / Flickr

It's holiday season and towns and cities are preparing to host some of the best parties of the year. The Local gives you a round up of all the most interesting events around the country in August.

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Culture

Semana Grande, San Sebastian (August 8th - 15th) 

San Sebastián’s “big week” offers a wide range of activities for children and adults. Besides bullfighting and live music (rock, pop, jazz, classical), the event is largely known for its International firework contest - the main attraction of the week.

Fiesta mayor de Gràcia, Barcelona, (August 15th - 21st) 

Barcelona’s biggest neighbourhood festival takes place every summer in the streets of Gràcia, with local residents competing for the best decorated street. Live music stages are set up and at night, the whole barrio welcomes a mix crowd of families, students, artists and intellectuals for some lively summer nights.

Moors and Christians festival, Ontinyent, Valencia (Aug 16th - Aug 22nd)


Photo: Esther Sánchez/ Chocolatisimo.com/ Flickr

The town of Ontinyent in Valencia has celebrated the Christian conquest of the town from Muslim troops since 1860. The entire town gets involved in a vivid and colourful dramatisation of the conquest of the town by Jaime I in the 13th century. 

Aste Nagusia (Big Week in Basque), Bilbao, (August 22nd–30th)

Similar to San Sebastián’s event, Bilbao’s nine-day festival offers dancing, fireworks, concerts and bullfights. It also holds a hilarious “ugly competition” where participants are asked to pull the ugliest face possible. Check out some of last year's best performances: 

La Tomatina Tomato Fight, Buñol, Valencia, (August 26th)


Photo: AFP

The small town of Buñol, 40km from Valencia, probably offers one of Spain’s funniest festivals. Each summer, 40,000 people take part in the world’s biggest food fight, throwing tomatoes at each other. Participants are told to squish the tomatoes beforehand to reduce the impact, take a look at the (messy) result:

Individual tickets are sold out but you can still buy tickets including camping packs and concerts or get some tickets through tour operators.

Fiestas

Fiesta de la Virgin de la Paloma, Madrid (August 15th) 

Many towns and cities have fiestas throughout August, one being the celebration of Our Lady of the Paloma, centred around the La Latina neighbourhood in Madrid, renowned for being the centre of the city’s tapas culture. The day is celebrated with street parties stemming off the central Calle de Toledo. 

Cuéllar bull run, Cuéllar (August 30th - September 3rd)


Photo: fgp / Flickr

Considered the oldest running of the bulls in Spain, the bull run in the town of Cuéllar, near Segovia, has been declared of special national tourist interest by the Spanish government. 

Music 

Festival Internacional de Santander (1st–29th August)

Every summer, the elegant city of Santander on Spain's north coast welcomes one of Spain’s oldest music festivals, including opera, ballet and theatre companies. Churches and parks in Santander will host dance, music or theatre performances until the end of August.

Starlite Festival Marbella - 31st July - 22nd August


Photo: starlitemarbella.com

This year the likes of Enrique Iglesias and Anastasia will perform alongside Andrea Bocelli and the Village People. 

Sport

King's Cup Regatta, Palma de Mallorca (August 1st - August 8th) 

Held in Palma de Mallorca bay on the Balearic island of Mallorca, this popular sailing competition is now a fixture on the international circuit. 

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