One of the things that characterises the city is always the locals’ cheerfulness, the good vibes, the laughter, the singing and the fun, as well as the warmth of the people themselves, and I think that’s passed down from generation to generation.
And August is when one of the greatest expressions of these characteristics of the people of Málaga takes place: the August fair, which this year ran from the 15th to the 22nd of the month.
In previous years I’ve visited the fair, enjoyed the verdiales, various shows held on the famous Calle Larios and, above all, enjoyed the stalls selling traditional items such as fans, shawls, flowers, hats and much more.
I have also visited the part of the fair held at the fairground once, which is quite a long way from the city centre, but this part is completely different from the one in the centre, with a variety of marquees offering restaurants, dance venues, concerts and an amusement park for children.
This year has been very different from other years in terms of the heat; it has been much hotter than usual for the city, with intense humidity, which meant I had to cut short many of my walks, as it really affected my blood pressure, causing it to drop too low, to the point where I felt dizzy. So, whilst I was able to go to the fair, I avoided the hours of intense heat to protect my health.
So my walk began around six in the evening, and there were still plenty of people about, even though the verdiales and singing had finished. People were still enjoying themselves and buying things from the stalls. Above all, the fair is a major attraction for tourists, and Calle Larios was packed with people everywhere.
Women dressed in traditional flamenco dress, both young and elderly, and there were even groups all wearing the same outfit. Another characteristic of the festival is the wine drunk there: Cartojal, which is a sweet white wine. I don’t drink alcohol, but everyone else was having a drink.
I took a leisurely stroll, mainly enjoying the stalls and what I like looking at most: the fans and shawls. Although these shawls aren’t handmade but mass produced, they’re very beautiful, with a variety of floral patterns. My friend told me that a handmade shawl can be very expensive, too expensive, in fact, because of the craftsmanship involved.
I particularly like looking at hand-painted fans, especially the rarer and more unusual ones. There were plenty of those, and I loved stopping mid stroll to admire them.
But of course, I couldn’t help but notice the decorations on the buildings, as the exquisite architecture blends with the different shawls hanging from the balconies. Furthermore, in the centre of the street, when you look up, it’s magnificent to see how everything is so stylish, whilst also providing a bit of shelter from the sun during the hottest part of the day.
Concerts and a variety of music take place in Square Constitución, but there are always groups singing and dancing flamenco in different corners of the historic centre.
Another thing I particularly enjoyed about the walk was reaching near the end and seeing that, after three years with the same display, they’d changed the entrance to the street with all its colour and those giant, brightly coloured fans.
It was a brilliant walk; I enjoyed it immensely. The fair has now come to an end, but the joy and that positive energy are still very much present amongst the people of Málaga.
Thank you very much for joining me today; I send you my warmest regards. See you soon. Amonet.
All photographs are my own.
