1. La Feria de abril
Seville’s April Fair
By Abigail and Eleanor
2. This is a week long festival in April that
attracts millions of people!
3. Background Information!
During this week, people gather to flamenco dance, sing, eat
and drink together
It started at a cattle market where tents were set up so people
could sell their animals
Today there are as many as 1000 tents at this festival
The festival officially starts at midnight on Monday, normally two
weeks after Semana Santa (the holy week)
It opens with el alumbrado (the lighting) where half a million
little lanterns are lit at once
5. The History
The origins of the Fair can be traced back to a cattle fair which took place on
the grounds of the Prado de Sebastian in 1847. The people of Seville have
never been afraid of a good party so the following year three marquees
appeared at this same event where local dignitaries were able to socialise.
These tent structures are known as ‘casetas’ growing in numbers year after
year until the 1920s when the Feria de Abril had grown into the city’s biggest
annual fiesta. In 1973 the event moved venue to its current location opposite
the Parque de María Luisa in Barrio de los Remedios. This fairground is known
as ‘Real de la Feria’, it is an enormous site located between Los Remedios
and Tablada which for this one week becomes a city in its own right. At last
year’s event it was reported that around 1,050 temporary ‘casetas’ were set
up to allow ‘Los Sevillanos’ to celebrate their beloved April Fair. Located
right next to the ‘Real de la Feria’ in Calle del Infierno a huge fairground is
set up with lots of the typical rides and attractions together with a circus
show.