WHAT IS THE SEVILLE FAIR?

The Seville Fair, also called the April Festival (La Feira de Abril) is a week-long celebration held in Seville exactly two weeks after Semana Santa (celebration of Easter). The fair dates back to 1846 when it was first held for the purchase and sale of livestock. The fair evolved into a celebration centred around socialising with close family and friends. Thousands of people flock to Seville to join the locals dancing cultural flamenco, singing traditional Sevillanos, dining on fine tapas, and talking into the early hours with their family.

DO I NEED AN INVITE?

During the week-long festival, the city is essentially moved to the Los Remedios neighbourhood. The Real de la Feria fairground is lined with over 1000 casetas, colourfully striped tents in varying sizes and colours. Casetas belong to local families, groups of friends, businesses, clubs, trade associations, and political parties. Casetas are equipped with a bar, kitchen, dining tables and in some cases, a stage for hired flamenco professionals to perform.

Majority of casetas are private because the Seville Fair is a joyous occasion to be celebrated with family and friends. If you manage to be invited into a private caseta this is a huge honour! Tourists never fear, there are a number of public casetas open to you. Part of what makes La Feira de Abril so great is the spirited atmosphere shared by the thousands of attendees. Take your time to wander the festival grounds in the afternoon soaking up the laughter and bright colours (try a free walking tour).

WHAT IS A PUBLIC CASETA?

There are at least 8 public casetas open to tourists every year. Caseta Muncipal is one of the largest ceasetas in the fair and is open to everyone, it is run by the city council. There are 6 other casetas run by the city council – one for each district located all across the fairground. The tourist caseta is at the furthest point from the main entrance, the address is always Pascual Marquez 225-229 near the Calle de Infierno funfair and three other free-entry public casetas. The tourist caseta is also where you can access information about the fair or receive help, you can recognise the tent because it will say ‘welcome’ in four different languages.

The Seville Fair can feel very exclusive for foreigners (even to Spaniards not from Seville) and these public casetas provide a place where tourists can join the festivities. Outside of casetas you will not experience much except for watching women in their colourful flamenco dresses and men in their suits ride by in horse-drawn carriages. It is highly recommended to book a table at one of these public casetas in advance. This ensures you have a reservation within public tents that can become overcrowded and squishy later in the evening.

For a full list of public casetas and their locations for 2025, you can head here as soon as this information becomes available.

WHEN AND WHERE IS THE SEVILLE FAIR?

In 2025 La Feira de Abril will take place from the 5th-11th of May. Celebrations begin at midnight on Saturday (12 am on Sunday) and continue until the following Sunday.

The fairground, Real de la Feria, is over 450,000 square metres and is home to 24 blocks of colourful casetas for an entire week. Los Remedios, the suburb the fairground is located in, is only a 30-minute walk from the Seville Cathedral. Other ways to reach the fairground include by local bus (very crowded) or taxi (very expensive). If you don’t know the way to Los Remedios simply follow the girls in pretty dresses!

So, There Are Casetas but what else?

The first official day of the fair on Sunday begins with a parade of carriages. The Paseo de Caballos is an iconic spectacle in which Andalucian locals parade the streets dressed magnificently in colourful flamenco costumes and fine suits. Even the horses were decorated elegantly with ribbons plaited in their tails and flowers pinned to their reigns.

The Seville Fair also marks the beginning of the bullfighting calendar. Bullfights occur every day at the Plaza de Toros, be sure to book your tickets in advance as they will sell out! Interestingly, streets of the Los Remedios fairground are named after famous bullfighters throughout history.

Alongside the bright casetas at Real de la Feira there is also everything you would presume that a regular fair has. Think Ferris wheels, rides, and fairy floss! A perfect way to end your night is to pick up some fried dough treats from the food trucks, like bunuelos or churros with hot chocolate.

WHAT DAY SHOULD I ATTEND THE SEVILLE FAIR?

Saturday (4th May) – the opening night of the feria is ‘sabado de pescaito’ when everyone traditionally eats fish and dining will be held for selected members. At midnight the lights on the Portada, as well as the coloured paper lamps (farolilos) are switched on which. This marks the official opening of the festival called the alumbrao.

Wednesday (7th May) – this is always a public holiday in Seville and is intended for family and friends to spend the entire day socialising surrounded by their loved ones. This is typically the biggest day/ night of the feria as all the locals will attend, coming and going throughout the day.

Friday/ Saturday (9th/10th May) – the final nights of the feira are especially busy as locals from surrounding regions of Spain will journey to the city to attend the festival. Likewise, tourists from other countries will make their way to the fairground in mass numbers too.

FOOD AND DRINK AT THE SEVILLE FESTIVAL

Tapas is the traditional style of cuisine within the Andalucian region in the south of Spain. You can expect a wide variety of food like potatas bravas (essentially Spanish hot chips) to cold tomato soup to dishes starring Iberian ham. Tapas are designed to be eaten slowly and savoured over good conversation and good drink which fits perfectly with the atmosphere of the Feria de Abril!

The traditional drink of the Seville Fair is rebujito, manzanilla (dry sherry) mixed with lemonade. This drink is deceptively fruity and refreshing, if you prefer you can try Fino, another type of dry sherry that is popular. Otherwise, most bars will serve beer, spirits, and sangria to fuel your dancing.

MY EXPERIENCE AT THE SEVILLE FAIR

I attended the Feria de Abril in 2024 by accident, or perhaps it was sheer dumb luck. Seville was abuzz with colour and a lively energy that I couldn’t place. It was so pronounced that I asked someone at my hostel and found out about the Seville Fair. After learning about the festival my friend and I purchased shawls (mantoncillos) and flowers to decorate our hair.

We did our best to blend in at the Feira but still felt helplessly out of place without a flamenco costume. I speak no Spanish and eventually, at 10 pm we navigated towards the tourist caseta. Unfortunately, we were rejected and told to return at midnight (this is why a reservation is great!). However, we entered a public caseta owned by one of the district councils not long after. It was an amazing night! Truly phenomenal to dance traditional flamenco next to girls from all over Spain in gorgeous dresses and guys decked out in their fine suits.

I will not lie to you, the fair was busy! Even on the first day Sunday late at night, it was a challenge to move between casetas and through the sea of bodies. If you are not a fan of huge crowds wandering around in the afternoon is just as pretty but without thousands of people. We took advantage of the empty streets earlier in the day to become familiar with the surroundings and snap a few photos (especially before we decided to try some rebujito).

HELPFUL TIPS FOR TOURISTS

• During the festival hostels and hotels will fill up very quickly and prices will escalate. Make sure you get in quick and book your accommodation early.
• Traditional Sevillanos are folk dances of Seville usually danced with a partner. Attending a Flamenco class and learning one or two dances is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in Spanish culture and maximise your experience.
• Participate in a free walking tour to get yourself accustomed with the layout of the fairgrounds. This is also a great way to learn more about the history of Sevillian culture and the ins and outs of the fair.
• Get dressed up and rent a flamenco costume or a nice suit. Trust me, if you aren’t dressed like the Sevillanos then you feel like you are out of place (personally, I felt as though I had a sign on my back painted ‘tourist’).
• Alongside your accommodation make sure to book your table reservations at the public casetas in advance. These public tents are few and far between yet they’re home to every Sevillano without a private invite, domestic and international tourists.
• Los Remedios is within walking distance of the Seville Cathedral. If you can walking is a more hassle-free way to reach the fairgrounds compared to the bus or taxi.
• Visit the Plaza de Espana while La Feria de Abril is occurring. Many locals dressed in costume will flock to the plaza for pictures before they head to Real de la Feria. Additionally, the Paseo de Caballos parade through the plaza in the early afternoons which makes for great people watching and photo opportunities!
• If you wish to save money it is highly suggested that you eat before attending the festival as prices are heavily inflated. You can grab a snack from the food trucks located at the showgrounds (no alcoholic drinks) yet these will always be set at an increased price too.