Best Region:
Northern Spain (Cantabria & Asturias), but don't forget to make your way to Valencia for the Tomatina Tomato Fight on the fourth Wednesday of the month.
Exact Dates:
Entire month
Why?:
Santander is home to a month of classical music concerts in August and would really have to be your base for your time here. From there it’s a short trip to Arriondas, where there are canoe races to Ribadesella on the first or second weekend of the month. The last week of the month sees fireworks and people being thrown in the river at Luarca, for reasons I’m not quite sure of!
Highlight of the Month:
Why, the Tomatina Tomato Fight, of course! Read my Essential Tomatina Tomato Fight Guide for all the details, including some great photos.
Other Festivities in August:
- First half of August - horse racing on the beach at Sanlucar de Barrameda, Andalusia.
- Throughout month - drama festival in Valencia de Alcantara, Extremadura.
- First Saturday - New Year's Eve in August, Bérchules, Granada.
- First Tuesday - Fiesta de Martes Mayor, a small festival in Plascencia, Extremadura.
- August 3-6 - Somontano Wine festival, Barbastro.
- August 4 - Fiesta del Cristo de la Salud, El Palmar, Valencia (the home of Paella).
- August 4-9 - Fiesta de la Virgen Blanca, a festival of bullfighting and fireworks in Vitoria, Basque Country. Gigantones, a style of band peculiar to the region, will be out in force.
- August 5 - midnight pilgrimage starting in Trevelez, Andalusia.
- August 6-15 - local festivities around Madrid, in particular La Latina & Lavapies.
- August 11-20 Feria de Malaga.
- August 14 - partying in Ondarroa, Basque Country.
- August 15 - Plenty of dancing at the Ascension of the Virgin festival in Vejer, Andalusia.
- August 15 - Noche del Vino wine festival in Competa, Malaga.
- August 15 - festivities in La Alberca and Coca, Castilla y Leon.
- August 15 - bullrunning in Chinchon, near Madrid to celebrate the Virgen del Sagrario.
- August 16 - small San Roque day festival in El Burgo de Osma, Castilla y Leon.
- Third week - big parties in Toledo.
- Third week - week of celebrations throughout the Basque country for Semana Grande or Aste Nagusia, with spectacular fireworks in San Sebastian and a Herri Kirolak strong man competition in Bilbao!
- Last week - Giant puppet displays in Alcala de Henares.
- Last week - "fountain of wine" at Toro, Castilla y Leon.
- August 23-25 - festival to go with the horse racing at Sanlucar de Barrameda.
- August 24-25 - Partying at any church called San Bartolome in Ibiza
- August 25 sees festivities in La Granja, near Segovia.
- August 28 - bullrunning in Cuellar, near Madrid
- Fourth Wednesday of August - the Tomatina Tomato Fight (see above).
