Torrevieja May Fair

Whilst it could not claim to be as large or famous as Seville’s famous May Fair, the Torrevieja May Fair is a very important event in the town’s calendar.

To give you an idea of it’s stature, here is how the 2011 event was announced.

Torrevieja’s May Fair from May 11 through 15

27 HOUSES PARTICIPATING FAIR MAY 2011

Valderrama, Manu Tenorio, Pastora Soler, Raquel Morey y Chaskío are the star acts for this years Feria de Mayo, the May Fair, which will take place from Wednesday 11 to Sunday 15 May. This year, Torrevieja celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary and along with the star names Torrevieja’s Schools of Dance, who have been involved since its inception, will also be part of this year’s edition.

New for this year is the Final of the first Competition Copla “City of Torrevieja”. The final will be held on Friday May 13 at 21:00-hrs, the finalists being Angels Baeza (Murcia), Irene Martinez (Jaén), Maribel Castillo (Murcia), José Rafael Ruiz (Cordoba) and Triana Muñoz (Spain). Contest prizes are €2,500 euros for the winner, €1,250 for and €600 for third. On Saturday and Sunday, visitors will again be enchanted by the participation of about 300 horse riders and carriages, who will circle the area.

On Wednesday, May 11 at 21:00 hours, the opening presentation and switching on of the May Fair lights will take place by Mayor, Pedro Hernandez Mateo in one of his final acts as Mayor of the city followed by music and dance from the Municipal School of Dance directed by Nuria Girona and the School of Dance “Paya’s” flamenco group. At 23:00 hrs the first ‘act’ will be on stage, Chaskío.

On Thursday May 12, the Fair offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy uninterrupted time for dancing Sevillanas and eating in one of the 27 booths that are participating in the Fair. At 23:00 hrs the second major performance of the May Fair with be presented with a concert by popular Andalusian singer Pastora Soler.

Friday’s performances start at 21:00 pm with a great evening of dance performances from the Agustina Esteve Academy of Dance, directed by Rosi Sancho. At 22:00 hrs there will be the final music competition followed at 23:00 hrs by Valderrama.

On Saturday 14 May at noon, Archpriest of the Church Immaculate, will present the traditional Rociera Mass, sung by a choir and followed by an estimated parade of 300 horses and carriages from the Fairground in the Harbour to the doors of the Church and return back to the Exhibition Centre where you can admire the beauty of horses with different riders and carriages until 16:00-hrs. At 21:00 hrs there is a performance of Lola Morales Dance Academy followed at 23:00-hrs by Spanish singer Manu Tenorio.

On Sunday 15 May, the last day of the Fair, at 10:00 hrs features a concentration of horses in the fairgrounds and a parade through the downtown streets of Torrevieja and in the fairgrounds. At 21:00 hrs last major concert of the May Fair will feature Raquel Morey and at 22:00-hrs Flamenco Dance from Manu Tenorio. Later, at about 23:00 closing of the fair will be celebrated by the mayor, Pedro Hernández Mateo

© Keith Nicol 2011

Email Keith Nicol for further information.