If you've never been to the Seville April Fair I'd tell you it's one of those things that you must live at least once in your life. Why? For the fun it entails, for the closeness of its people, for learning to dance Sevillanas if you don't know yet and because for a few days you evade everything and just enjoy yourself.
Sevillians really enjoy this party so much of theirs and together with Holy Week (just past) I would dare to say that they are the two great things to enjoy and live in Seville.
Dates and a bit of its history
This year the Seville April Fair has its start date Tuesday, April 12 with the lighting test which will start at 00:00 hours. It is from then on when we can start the fair. Thousands of bulbs are lit in this lighting that illuminate the entrance and the streets of the enclosure (over 350.000 bulbs). It ends on Sunday April 17 at 24:00 with the launch of fireworks (typical in almost all fairs and pilgrimages). The same night that the lighting is produced, it is known there as "The night of the little fish."
The Seville April Fair was held in order to encourage the Sevillians of the year 1842. At the end of that year, a hurricane left Seville devastated. The Sevillians were not walking at that time for many joys and they were in great need of a revulsive that would make them let go of so many accumulated sadness (the city was also in economic crisis for a long time). It was then that two councilors of the municipality came up with this great idea: to recover the two typical fairs of Seville, this one in April and another that took place in September, already granted by law back in the year 1254 by King Alfonso X El Sabio. .
And that is how the first April Fair of modern times was born. It was approved by the City Council on September 18, 1846 and was inaugurated on April 18, 1847 in the San Sebastián meadow, with a total of 19 booths.
The success was such that year after year, the fair could not be missed. In fact, Seville, which, as we have said before, was in an economic crisis, was in its own April Fair where it found the solution: business, glasses of chamomile, songs, dances, joy, etc. An attractive offer to attract people!
The most typical of the fair it is without a doubt the large number of booths (more than 1.040) that we can find where both food and drink (its famous rebujito and its famous chamomile) meet the tastes of both Sevillians and tourists who are accommodated there. Eating and drinking are the two greatest pleasures of this typical fair.
Posters and general plan of the Fair
Then you can find the general plane from the Fair where you can locate both booths and the amusement park.
We also present you the official poster of the April Fair of this year, 2016.
Basic tips to experience the April Fair
Yes, to live the April Fair well and that you do not miss what is really worth it, we bring you a series of basic tips that you should remember when you are submerged or submerged between sevillanas and «fried fish»:
- Know a little about its history (You have already accomplished this thanks to us, eh?).
- There are Free entry booths and entry booths by invitation. The free entry tickets are 16 in total that you can see their location in the general map that we have provided before.
- There are two environments well differentiated: the day fair and night fair. During the day you can find their beautiful horses on which you can walk around the fairgrounds (they are there until 20:00 p.m.) and at night, the attendance of young people increases.
- Carries Comfortable shoes to walk and stomp and that you do not mind that it gets dirty with dirt. The fairground is in Albero.
- The best option to go to and from the fair is the public transport since during those dates there is a special service. Parking near the enclosure can be a real madness, not to say an "almost impossible" mission.
- If you can and want, visit the site with a nice gypsy costume, It's traditional. Although if you can't, don't worry, you can go as you want.
- All the attractions in Seville, as well as in the rest of Andalusia, they are known as «Little gadgets«. These are located in the famous "Street of Hell" (name they gave him for the high volume of his music).
- In some booths you can buy your food and drinks with cash but in others they are necessary "Vouchers".
- La typical food that you cannot stop asking yourself is the Spanish potato omlette , as a drink the rebujito, very refreshing blend of chamomile with lemon.
- All the two key dates they are both the beginning and the end of the fair. One for its famous lighting and another for its fireworks.
And with that said, one last tip: Enjoy!