EVENTS

The list of holidays often changes a bit from year to year. If a holiday date falls on a weekend, sometimes the holiday is moved to the Monday. If a holiday falls two days away from a weekend, many Spaniards take the intervening day off too - a practice known as making a puente (bridge).

There are usually nine official Spanish national holidays:
Año Nuevo (New Year's Day) 1 January,
Viernes Santo (Good Friday) 18 April 2003, 9 April 2004,
Fiesta del Trabajo (Labour Day) 1 May,
La Asunción (Feast of the Assumption) 15 August,
Fiesta Nacional de España (National Day) 12 October,
Todos los Santos (All Saints' Day, the traditional day for paying respect to the dead) 1 November,
Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day) 6 December,
La Inmaculada Concepción (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) 8 December,
Navidad (Christmas) 25 December.

In addition, the Andalucía regional government normally sets three holidays and local councils a further two. The three regional holidays are usually:
Epifanía (Epiphany) or Día de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings' Day) on 6 January - children receive presents and, in many towns, Reyes Magos cavalcades (cabalgatas) tour the streets the evening before, tossing out sweets to the crowds;
Día de Andalucía (Andalucía Day) 28 February,
Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday, the day before Good Friday)

Seville's solemn Semana Santa processions, during the week leading up to Easter, and its famously festive Feria de Abril, the fair which follows a week or two later, are two of Spain's most exciting to-dos. Other special events include the Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos in January, featuring a sweet parade of floating floats; Corpus Christi processions from the Catedral in late May/early June; and the biannual Bienal de Flamenco festival in September, held during even-numbered years.

Fairs & Trade

Discap (Feria Global de la Discapacidad)
Accessories & objects for the disabled
This fair hopes to show all the elements necessary for the daily life of a handicapped individual, as well as give a positive and integrated image of the population, showing and strengthening the capacity of each individual. Many exhibitors dedicated to technical assistance are present, as well as those from the education and work fields (special centres for employment and professions), leisure (restaurants, hotels, sporting schools, travel agencies), and other activities (cellular phones, banks, automobiles, etc). Various cultural activities also take place. Admission is EUR 3.

Expoarte (Certamen Nacional de Artesanía)
Arts & crafts trade fair
This established, traditional fair highlights the Sevillian Commonwealth of Muncipalities of Aljarafe, which every year brings the most outstanding and curious items to the show. Visitors will find ceramics, glasswork, nativity scenes, embroidery, flamenco outfits, fans and handicrafts. There is also an important presence from Latin American artisans who come from Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Brazil and Peru to participate. About 15000 people per year attend.

Expocom (Feria del Comercio)
Promotion of local trade & industry
Trade fair organized by the Economic and Tourism Board of the Seville Town Hall, and Aprocom (Businessmen Assocation of Seville), that takes place in December and strives to strengthen the commerical sector and improve cooperation among businessmen and the city's institutions. The fair welcomes all types of sectors, from tailoring to decoration, as well as learning centers, graffic art companies, pastry shops and confectioneries, and the traditional businesses of the province and especially the neighboring townships.
Admission: approx 500 ptas

Exposición de Animales de Compañía
Annual pet show
Western Andalusia's Dog Society has been celebrating this dog show since the late 70s, and since 2000 the exposition has also been open to other pets. The competitions - qualifying for the International Dog Contest - are evaluated by prestigious national and international judges. You can also buy all sort of accessories and products for looking after pets in the commercial area.
Admission: approx 700 ptas (EUR 4.20) Dates: TBA (should be first week in March)

Feria de la Pastelería de Utrera
All the pastries from the province
The sweets from the Seville township of Utrera are famous for their quality and provide one of the principal sources of income for the region. The province of Seville offers some of the bests works of "pastry art": ÿcija, Osuna, Marchena, Carmona, Constantina, and Estepa are all cradle to the best products. The fair strives to be a representative showcase for the typical sweets of the area, with product tasting and expositions during one weekend in February, in one of the most beautiful spots in the province. Call the number above to find out exactly when you can visit.
Dates: TBA

Feria Internacional de la Construcción
Everything for the construction sector
Andalusia's only international construction sector trade fair takes place in Seville every two years. The show attracts between 100 and 130 participating exhibitors and over 20,000 visitors each year. It's main focus is to show off the latest in technological innovations, as well as to promote, stimulate and develop this important industry that provides so much employment in the south of Spain. Admission is EUR 6.
Tentative Dates: 15-18/2004

Festival de las Naciones
Latin American folkore and cuisine
This fair reflects the uniqueness of Latin American countries through their craftsmanship, local music, cuisine, customs and way of life. In October and November a huge tent is set up in a highly-visible part of the city; the tent doors are opened to the smells, tastes, sounds and images of Latin American countries. This celebration of many centuries of Latin American culture and history is free until 1pm; weekends and from 1pm-9pm tickets cost EUR4. Exact 2003 October and November will be published in the fall.

Hostelequip
The big hotel trade fair
Since 1992, about 200 companies representing the more than 400 brands of general equipment, food products, and services for the hotel industry come together in Seville from all over Spain, France, Portugal, and Italy. From February 13-15 2001, the various sectors (kitchen, bar, cafeteria, restaurant & hotel equipment, hygiene, housewares, textiles, computerized systems, decoration, maintenance, open-air hotelkeeping, etc) will exhibit their products and several contests (waitressing, etc) and conferences (such as those dedicated to hotel-keeping Technology) will take place.

Mobiliaria
The largest selection of Seville comfort
This biennial show is dedicated exclusively to furniture made in Andalusia and to the lighting sector. The trade fair, next celebrated February 2001 in the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos (Seville's trade fair pavilion), is a faithful reflection of the furniture sector, both in Andalusia and in Spain as a whole, and also internationally since exhibitors come from South Portugal and North Africa as well.

Retromóvil (Salón Internacional del Automóvil de ÿpoca, Clásico y Deportivo)
Antique cars on show and on sale
This motor show, celebrated since 1999, is dedicated to lovers of historic vehicles and antique cars and motorcycles. Here private automobile and motorcycle collectors, buyers, and sellers come together, as well as discover everything related to any given vehicle or brand: lubricants, models, books, and toys from other times are all part of the infinite selection available at the show. The support of those who fight to keep this tradition alive is recompensed by the awarding of trophies, such as the award for the best sports car or the best motorcycle, or the Silver Retromóvil Medal, given to the entity or individual that most stands out for its work in the automotive world.

Salón del Automóvil
Car and motorcycle show
Every November, you have the opportunity to attend one of Spain's best annual motor shows to see all of the latest models and technological gadgets in the automotive world. You can participate in numerous exciting activities like go-kart races for adults and children, speed through the mini-motorcycle track and rough it on the four-wheel-drive trails. Your ticket also enables you to cast a vote towards electing Andalusia's "Car of the Year." Admission is EUR6.01.

Salón Nacional de Antigüedades
National antique-dealing fair
For nine days in April, this fair will open its doors to exhibitors from all over Spain dedicated to antique dealing. During this festival special interest is paid to antique furnishings. The country's most prestigious antique dealers display here some of the most indisputable jewells of their collections. The mere exhibition of some pieces, without intention of sale to the public, as well as traditional auctions, form part of the attractions of this well known fair.

Sevilla de Boda
All you need for the big day
If you're going to get married in the near future, make this bride's fair a date in your diary. You'll find everything you need for the big day. The best bridal dress designers show their latest outfits on the catwalk, confectioners display their cakes, shops advertise their wedding lists, travel agents offer special honeymoon packages and jewellers sell rings. In addition, you can make contact with florists and restaurants for the reception arrangements. Admission is EUR3. 4-8/12/2003

Sicab
Horses on show and on sale
In this annual fair organized jointly by FIBES (Ibero-American Trade Fair of Seville) and ANCCE (National Association of Spanish Horse Breeders), about 150 exhibitors participate, including harness makers, horseshoers, traders, saddlemakers, hitchings, rustic furniture makers and more. During the event, the Annual Championship of Pure Spanish Race Horses of Spain is held, where the finest examples of each herd meet to compete for the most important prize of the year. Admission is EUR6 and tickets with a show are EUR9.01.

Tecnimóvil
Automobile maintenance and equipment
This fair brings together professionals whose main objective is to expand the car repair industry and produce and distribute lubricants, accesories, and spare parts for cars. They exhibit the latest tendencies in machinery, bearings, electronic equipment, bodywork, painting, forms of cleaning and oiling, service stations, heating and air-conditioning, connections, electricity, and more. This is a national trade show in which the Andalusian presence is especially noteworthy, as well as that from the south of Portugal and Extremadura.

Todo Música
Record and music business trade fair
This musical event blends diverse elements of the music business and the general public. Guests mix with singers, bands, songwriters, composers, fans and music entrepreneurs, all sharing their ideas and experiences. The focus is on opening up the market to exciting new African and Latin American sounds. Groups that would not normally play together on the same stage jam at this event, where there are seminars, conferences and exhibitions, in addition to a collector's fair, exclusive previews of pop videos, shops and restaurants. Admission is EUR6. Dates: TBA