Salamanca's Ferias y Fiestas 2015

Welcome September! Let's start this month with all the news about the Salamanca's Ferias y Fiestas 2015 in honor of Santa María de la Vega.
From the 7th to the 15th of september, thanks to the Salamanca Ciudad de Cultura y Saberes Foundation, there will be many activities for all.

Almost all for free, the program offers musical, scenic and enterteinment exhibitions. A total of twenty music bands will play during the ten planned concerts, with salmantinos and international artists, of whome you could view more at this link.

The city will be the very stage of the 9th edition of the International Festival of Art in the Street, that will take place from the 10th to the 13th of september, in the Parque de la Alamedilla, Plaza de Anaya and Plaza del Liceo, with a total of 28 passes and 15 different exhibitions, thaks to the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte and the Concejalía de Juventud. This one partecipates to this Festival with its 8 exhibitions performed by as much Salamanca's companies. There will be 13 companies, of which 7 are from Salamanca while the others are from Brazil, Madrid, Catalonia, Aragon, Castilla and Leon, Andalusia. The 14 exhibitions are going to be about theatre, circus, storytelle and music.

There will be nine activities in the Scenic Arts and Music Centre and also a Medieval Market in the Vaguada de la Palma and the “Salamarket”, a Vintage Market in the Museo de Historia de la Automoción. Furthermore there will be a total of 15 sport activities and fireworks and many other activities.

Let's see what they have planned day by day:

Monday, 7th

12:30 pm. Inauguration of the photography exhibition about Salamanca at the beginning of the 21st Century. Palacio de Garcigrande (Plaza de los Bandos).
6:00 pm. Cabezudos and charangas. From the Parque de La Alamedilla to the parque de los Jesuítas.
7:00 pm. Flower offering to the Virgen de la Vega. From the Iglesia nueva del Arrabal del Puente to the Cathedral. Passing by Puente Romano, Rector Esperabé, Veracruz, Libreros, Compañía, Meléndez, Corrillo, Plaza Mayor, Quintana, Rúa Mayor and Plaza de Anaya.
9:00 pm. Musical The Hole. CAEM. An exhibition for adult audience, “The Hole” mixes on the stage cabaret, teathre, circus, music and humour, in a fun and provocative tone. The exhibition is presented by a Master of Ceremonies, an host, representing a millionaire character.
9:00 pm. Casetas regionales. Campo de San Francisco. Asociación Cultural Tresbolillo.
10:00 pm. Fireworks. Puente Romano.
11:00 pm. Noche Flamenca Concert: India Martínez. Plaza Mayor.
12:00 am. Floral enclosure lighting. La Aldehuela.

Tuesday, 8th

12:00 pm. Mass in honour of Santa María de la Vega. Cathedral.
1:45 pm. Announcement by Esther Vaquero and chupinazo. Plaza Mayor.
2:00 pm. V Custom Bike-Day. Plaza Mayor.
6:00 pm. Cabezudos and charangas. From Parque de La Alamedilla to parque de los Jesuítas.
7:00 pm. Musical The Hole. CAEM.
9:00 pm. Hechizo Andaluz. Campo de San Francisco.
9:30 pm. Noche + Joven Concert: Abraham Mateo. Plaza Mayor.
10:30 pm. Musical The Hole. CAEM.

Wednesday, 9th

10:00 am. Children Activity Grupo Antena 3 Media. Plaza de la Concordia.
1:00 pm. Municipal Band Concert. Plaza Mayor.
6:00 pm. Cabezudos and charangas. From Parque de La Alamedilla to parque de los Jesuítas.
7:30 pm. Gala de los mayores. Multiusos Sánchez Paraíso.
8:00 pm. 2nd  sevillanas. Campo de San Francisco.
9:00 pm. Noche Folk Concert: Raúl Díaz de Dios y Gabriel Calvo y La Fabulosa Retahíla. Plaza Mayor.

Thursday, 10th

10:00 am. Visiting Day: Casa Consistorial, Ieronimus (Torre de la Catedral), Scala Coeli (Towers of the Clerecía), Centro de Interpretación del Patrimonio Urbano Monumental Salmanticae (Iglesia de San Millán), Centro de Arte Contemporáneo (DA2), Museo del Comercio, Museo Taurino, Museo de Historia de la Automoción, Museo de Art Nouveau y Art Decó (Casa Lis), Edificio histórico de la Universidad de Salamanca, Colegio Arzobispo Fonseca, Casa Museo Unamuno, Dependencias de la Policía Local and Parque de Bomberos.
1:00 pm. Municipal Band Concert. Plaza Mayor.
5:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Unpuntocurioso. Parque de La Alamedilla.
5:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Animarts. Plaza de Anaya.
6:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. El niño lápiz. Parque de La Alamedilla.
6:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Compañía Pai. Plaza de Anaya.
6:30 pm - 11:00 pm. Medieval Market. Vaguada de la Palma.
7:15 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Animarts. Plaza de Anaya.
8:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Compañía Pai. Plaza de Anaya.
9:00 pm. Gaitas de Galicia Band. Campo de San Francisco.
9:00 pm. Musical The Hole. CAEM.
9:00 pm. Noche Indie Concert: Sidonie y Hugo Mati’s Band.

Friday, 11th

12:00 pm - 11:00 pm. Medieval Market. Vaguada de la Palma.
1:00 pm. Municipal Band Concert. Plaza Mayor.
5:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Unpuntocurioso. Parque de La Alamedilla.
5:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Sin Fin. Plaza de Anaya.
5:30 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Compañía Pai. Plaza de Anaya.
6:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. El niño lápiz. Parque de La Alamedilla.
7:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Sin Fin. Plaza de Anaya.
7:00 pm. Musical The Hole. CAEM.
8:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Compañía Pai. Plaza de Anaya.
9:00 pm. Sones Trianeros. Campo de San Francisco.
9:30 pm. Noche Rock Concert: Rosendo + La Banda.
10:30 pm. Musical The Hole. CAEM.

Saturday, 12th

12:00 pm. Acordeonistas. Plaza de Carmelitas.
12:00 pm - 9:30 pm. Salamarket. Museo de Historia de la Automoción.
12:00 pm - 11:00 pm. Medieval Market. Vaguada de la Palma.
1:00 pm. Circo Holiday Parade. Plaza de la Concordia.
1:00 pm. Municipal Band Concert. Plaza Mayor.
5:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Elegants. Plaza de Anaya.
5:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Habichuela. Parque de La Alamedilla.
6:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Circopitanga. Plaza de Anaya.
6:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. A tu ritmo. Parque de La Alamedilla.
7:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Elegants. Plaza de Anaya.
7:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Mago Oski. Parque de La Alamedilla.
7:00 pm. Musical The Hole. CAEM.
8:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Circopitanga. Plaza de Anaya.
8:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Jes Martin’s. Plaza de Anaya.
9:00 pm. Company Yllana The Gagfather. Teatro Liceo.
9:00 pm. María del Alba. Casetas regionales. Campo de San Francisco.
10:00 pm. Noche de los 80 Concert: Los Secretos + Ariel Rot. Plaza Mayor.
10:30 pm. Musical The Hole. CAEM.

Sunday, 13th

11:00 am. Photography Rally. Plaza del Hotel Monterrey.
11:00 am - 2:15 pm. 1st Vintage Car Urban Raid. Iglesia nueva del Arrabal.
11:00 am. Drummer Day. From Puerta Zamora to Plaza Mayor.
12:00 pm - 9:30 pm. Salamarket. Museo de Historia de la Automoción.
12:00 pm - 11:00 pm. Medieval Market. Vaguada de la Palma.
5:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Tiritirantes. Plaza de Anaya.
5:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Habichuela. Parque de La Alamedilla.
6:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Tresperté. Plaza de Anaya.
6:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. A tu ritmo. Parque de La Alamedilla.
7:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Tiritirantes. Plaza de Anaya.
7:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Mago Oski. Parque de La Alamedilla.
7:00 pm. Musical The Hole. CAEM.
7:00 pm. Wild Way Festival Country Charro con Freeborn Brothers (Polonia), Country Hell (Rusia), Jace Everett (Estados Unidos), In Blauk y Carbayo.
8:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Tresperté. Plaza de Anaya.
8:00 pm. International Festival of Art in the Street. Jes Martin’s. Plaza de Anaya.
9:00 pm. Casetas regionales. Campo de San Francisco.
10:00 pm. Pablo Alborán Concert. Multiusos Sánchez Paraíso.

Monday, 14th

1:00 pm. Municipal Band Concert. Plaza Mayor.
9:00 pm. Noche de los cantautores Concert: Ángel Stanich and Fernando Maés. Plaza Mayor.

Tuesday, 15th

1:00 pm. Municipal Band Concert. Plaza Mayor.
9:00 pm. Noche Soul Concert: Freedonia and Sfunk. Plaza Mayor.


Tía Tula, Colegio de Español is going to include some of these events in our extracurricular activities; you can go by yourself at the other.

Take a look to 10 cosas que no te puedes perder de las Ferias y Fiestas de Salamanca to enjoy all the activities and see where are going to be all the casetas.

Tou could read this post about ferias written byJoe, a traineer in our school.

We hope you'll enjoy a lot these Salamanca's Ferias y Fiestas 2015!

Ferias y Fiestas 2014

This weekend one of the biggest festivals of the year in Salamanca kicks off on Sunday. This week is a week full of parties, music and great food, with the first day of festivities being dedicated to 'Virgen de la Vega' (Our Lady of the Valley) one of the Salamanca's' patron saints. On the first say of the festival (Sunday 7th September) almost everyone in the city flocks to the Old Cathedral, where a bronze statue of the saint is placed in front of the alter. After a floral offering there is a procession through the city to celebrate the Saint and the start of the week of festivities.

After this first religious day, the people of Salamanca spend the rest of the week generally celebrating being from Salamanca, with things going on day and night through the whole week. You can find traditional and modern concerts spread about the squares of the city, and the Plaza mayor sees a constant string of performances throughout the day. During the days you can find loads of food and drink stalls selling authentic and traditional Spanish fair. There are parades almost every day and bullfights take place in the bullring every afternoon. If you head down to the river you'll find small artisan stalls selling local goods, or the San Francisco park in which you can sample different types of food from all over Spain. If you're looking to try some traditional Spanish wines, head to the Plaza de los Bandos for some wine tasting events.

In the evenings the festivities move up a couple of notches. Together with general street parties, live music fills the streets from almost every corner, and fireworks light up the night sky. They also have a traditional style fair, complete with Ferris wheel and an array of fairground games to try your luck at. The festivities draw people in from other parts of Spain, as well as tourists, so you can bank on there being lots of full bars and plenty of people about!

The fair started as an agricultural and livestock fair down by the Roman bridge. At the time Salamanca's economy was heavily based around these two sectors, and farmers from around the area used to come to buy and sell produce here. As time went on and the importance of agriculture began to die down, the fair became more of an occasion for the entire city to get together and celebrate. As I'm sure you'll know, the Spanish love an excuse for a party!

The festival was originally a pagan celebration, though as Spain quickly became heavily catholic over the years, many festivals ended up with a religious figure or saint added to their name. 'Our Lady of the Valley' was declared Salamanca's patron saint in 1618, though the celebration did not take on its religious undertones until 1706, when allegedly the Virgin de la Vega helped protect the city against the attack of an invading army. Now the first day of the festival is dedicated to the saint in order to help welcome the week of eating, drinking and entertainment that follows.

So if you are here in Salamanca for the week between the 7th and 15th of September, you are bound to come across some elements of the festival! Why not check out some of the stalls and try some traditional Spanish food and drink, or head to the Plaza Mayor each night for concerts from both local and national bands! For a programme of what's going on and when, click here.