The festival of San Juan is central to the Feria which kicks off at midnight on Thursday down on the beach, when the "chicos" jump through large fires and then plunge into the sea to prove their manhood, and are accompanied by the adoring "chicas". The evening closes with a really spectacular fireworks display (you cant set your watch by when it starts, but it will probably fire up just as you are walking off thinking that I made it all up)
UPDATE This year I have been a little more sober and checked the watch, so for future reference if you want to stay young you should be bathing your face in the sea at the stroke of midnight on the 23rd. To prove your manhood and macho side you should spend most of the night after midnight jumping across fires on the beach. The firework display actually started at exactly 1.00 am and was superb lasting 15 minutes without respite, although it seemed much longer. Click here to see some pictures I took of the firework display before they were fired More info Click here
We made a night of it this year and had a wonderful meal in "Las Brisas", one of the spanish restaurantes on the Playa Santa Ana and had this delightful young lady (Grace, on holiday from Liverpool)keeping us company at the next table.
The day of San Juan (this Friday) is a public holiday in Benalmadena and is when the Feria proper starts. The funfair part of it is much the same as funfairs anywhere, but there is so much else going on that over the next few weeks your are sure to bump in to something that takes your fancy. If you are holidaying make sure that you come up into Arroyo to see what it is all about.
UPDATE
We ate at around 10 pm before going down to the Recinto Feria (fair ground), because being spain, nothing starts early. We were however too early, although the rides and side stalls were open they had not really got going. The mayor eventually turned the lights on after 11.pm (They will be on earlier for the rest of the Feria, which finishes on wednesday) and they are also throughout the town. If you fancy catching one of the free concerts they start at 1 am. Next year we will not make the mistake of eating first as some of the food on sale was mouth watering and reasonably priced. Click here for some pictures that give the feel of the feria.*
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