1. Las Peñas
Every year, each town in spain, whether it be a city, a mountain town or a beach peninsula, the youthful populations of the town take part in a week long celebration of their patron saint. Having different themes every year, the youth take to the streets till the sun rises, partying in the outdoors whilst intricately detailed and designed carriages pass through the town. Each pueblo has their own reason to celebrate and groups of teenagers dress up in various costumes coinciding with the theme. For example, in the small town of Azuqueca de Henares nearby to Madrid, the theme for this years’ peña is Las Vegas where groups of teens have dressed up as playing cards - the festivities are still undergoing till Monday!
2. La Tomatina- 26th August 2015, Valencia
The streets of the town of Buñol are stained red each year with the annual celebration of la Tomatina, a very special party involving a special war of tomatoes. Held at the end of August, millions of people gather to what is basically, the festival of throwing tomatoes at each other! Various trucks filled with tons of tomatoes fill the streets before the festivities begin. The week-long festival features music, parades, dancing, and fireworks. On the night before the tomato fight, participants of the festival compete in a paella cooking contest.The festival is in honor of the town's patron saints, Luis Bertran and the Mare de Deu dels Desemparats (Mother of God of the Defenseless), a title of the Virgin Mary.
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3. Festival Internacional de Benicàssim- 16th till 19th July 2015
Commonly abbreviated to simply FIB, is an annual music festival which takes place in the town of Benicàssim, Spain. It focuses mainly on pop, rock and electronica artists, as well as having other elements including short films, fashion shows and art. Benicassim has a reputation as being among the best on the international festival circuit.FIB is notable for being located in close proximity to several beaches, having bands play later in the day (5pm - 8am) and attracting a young, party-orientated crowd.The festival begins on the second Monday of July when the camping grounds open, although music only officially commences during Thursday afternoon.
4. Fesitval de San Fermin- 6th till 14th July 2015
In the city of Pamplona, is a deeply rooted celebration held annually from 12:00, 6 July, when the opening of the party is marked by setting off the pyrotechnic chupinazo, to midnight 14 July, with the singing of the Pobre de Mí. While its most famous event is the encierro, or the running of the bulls, which happens at 8:00 am from 7 July to 14 July, the week long celebration involves many other traditional and folkloric events. It has become probably the most internationally renowned fiesta in Spain. Over 1,000,000 people come to participate in this festival. This of course, is rather dangerous, having a whole herd of bulls chasing men!
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5. Castellers de Vilafranca- January 2015
This is a cultural and sporting association whose main objective is to build ‘castells’ (human towers). It has the status of a public-interest association. Nowadays, the Castellers de Vilafranca have about 400 active human tower building members of all ages, with no discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, sex or social status. The Castellers de Vilafranca have been one most international human tower group performing all over the world!
6. La Verbena de la Paloma- 15th August 2015
Taking place in Madrid every year, the great feast of the Paloma is the 15th of August, but from dates before the temple grounds, where you pick up the painting of the Virgin, are already living the festivities in his honour. The most central neighborhoods of the city, such as La Latina and Lavapiés, will be filled of "chulapos" and "chulapas", outdoor bars and also what is of interest to you all: the free activities. The surroundings are taken by thousands of people drinking amongst outdoor bars and activities. 7. Kayaking in Galicia- August/September 2015
This spectacle, which I was very fortunate to witness this year, many young and old take to the water, to kayak along the river bank. Witness by many families on picnics in the lush forest and riverbanks of Galicia, in the North of Spain, no one it is a favourite destination for adventure holidays. There you will find a section of the Miño River that is well known amongst white water rafting enthusiasts: the one that passes through Arbo, in the province of Pontevedra.
8. Descenso Internacional del Sella- August 2015
The Sella is held the first Saturday after August 2nd of that month between Arriondas and Ribadesella ( Asturias - Spain ), with a distance of 15 km along the river Sella .The test is organized by the Spanish Canoe Federation as delegated by the Organizing Committee of the Sella and the Federation of Canoeing in the Principality of Asturias 9. Fiesta de Santiago- 25th July 2015
Known as Saint James, in English, is the Patron Saint of Spain. The annual Feast of Saint James (Dia de Santiago) takes places in Santiago de Compostela on 25th July and is a public holiday in Galicia. The city is one of the most emblematic in Spain and, whenever you visit, you can be sure to see many pilgrims – the religiously devout as well as those simply enjoying the scenic journey – who have taken the Camino de Santiago.
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10. Moros y Cristianos Festival- 22nd till 24th April 2015
This is a peculiar celebration which is held in different cities along the Spanish coast. This festival acts out a part of Spanish history demonstrating the battles between the Arabs and the Christians that took place in the region centuries ago. One of the best places to see this fiesta is Alcoy, in Alicante. The mood is festive as Alcoy sends her armies off to war.
