We drove to Fuengirola to meet up with some friends and had no idea what was waiting for us. By pure luck, our visit happened to land right during the
Feria de Abril. The XXVII Feria Internacional de los Países (FIP) ran from Thursday, April 27 to Monday, May 1, 2023.
For anyone who doesn’t know, Feria de Abril is a traditional Spanish fair, originally from Seville, celebrating Andalusian culture with music, dance, food, and colorful tents. Many cities now host international versions, and Fuengirola’s is one of the liveliest.
The feria area is packed with tents — 32 countries participating, each bringing their music, food, and culture. The Jamaican tent is alive with good live music, the Peruvian corner has dancers moving to the rhythms of their homeland, and the Mexican section is full of art and colors. Belgium has an amazing tiny Smurf village that’s oddly charming and fun to explore.
Walking through it all feels like jumping between countries in a few minutes. Every corner has something new to taste, hear, or watch — and somehow, it all works together in one huge, vibrant celebration.
We
highly recommend anyone visiting next year to join in, try the foods, enjoy the music, and have a really good time.
