Pilgrimage of San Barnabe

by Marbella Family
(Marbella)

Every year at the beginning of June, Marbella pays homage to its patron saint San Bernabe with a week long fair. The Marbella Feria includes all the traditional elements of an Andalusian fair: food, drink, dancing, entertainment and of course, the trademark "casetas" that are set up just for the fair.
The actual date of the Marbella fair is determined by San Bernabé Day, which is June 11th. This is always a local holiday and the fair takes place during the first or second week of June depending on where the 11th falls and how the Town Hall thinks it best fits with all the festivities.
In the runup to the Marbella Fair, a contest is held to choose the King and Queen of the festivities. The compitition usually takes place the week before the fair begins at one of the town’s many well equipped hotels, and it is open to the public.
The fair itself generally receives an official inauguration the Sunday before the Monday when all the activity really starts. On Monday night everyone heads for the beach near the emblematic El Fuerte Hotel (one of the oldest in town) to see the fireworks before diving in to a full scale feria frenzy the next day. From there, you can expect the “day fair” to take over the old part of Marbella and the “night fair” (féria de noche) to be held outside of town near the La Cañada shopping centre. Bus service connects the city centre with all the action on the outskirts.