This post is also available in:
The Feria del Corpus Christi is the undisputed queen of Granada’s festivals. While cities like Seville and Malaga celebrate earlier in spring or summer, Granada’s grand municipal fair takes place in late May or June (governed by the Catholic liturgical calendar, exactly 60 days after Easter Sunday).
For a full week, the entire city lives in celebration mode, split between traditional morning religious and satirical parades in the historic center and all-night dancing, flamenco singing, and tapas at the monumental Almanjáyar Fairground (El Real de la Feria).
1. The Two Halves of Corpus: Day Parade vs. Night Fair
A. The Daytime Parades in the Historic Center
Wednesday and Thursday are the most significant days in the downtown center:
- La Tarasca (Wednesday Morning): One of the most curious and ancient pagan traditions in Spain. A mannequin representing a woman dressed in the secret upcoming fashion trends rides a mythical winged dragon (La Tarasca), accompanied by the Gigantes y Cabezudos (papier-mâché giants and big-heads). Granadinos debate passionately every year about whether her dress designer was a genius or a disaster!
- The Corpus Christi Solemn Procession (Thursday Morning): A deeply reverent Catholic procession where the silver Monstrance (Custodia), escorted by guilds, brotherhoods, civic authorities, and military detachments, passes along streets carpeted with fragrant rosemary, mint, and fresh flower petals.
B. The Fairground at Almanjáyar (El Real de la Feria)
Located in the northern district of the city, the fairground transforms into a magical glowing city of striped marquee tents (casetas), thousands of paper lanterns (farolillos), and horse-drawn carriages:
- Free and Open Casetas: Unlike Seville’s fair (where most casetas are strictly private and locked to members), nearly all traditional casetas in Granada are public and free to enter for everyone. Anyone can walk in, order drinks, and dance sevillanas.
- Traditional Drink & Food: Order a chilled jug of Rebujito (crisp Manzanilla sherry mixed with lemon-lime soda and fresh mint leaves) paired with grilled skewers (pinchos morunos), fried fish, or fresh jamón.
- Calle del Infierno: The colossal amusement park sector with roller coasters, Ferris wheels, bumper cars, and games for kids and thrill-seekers.
2. How to Reach the Fairground
Special 24-hour bus services (Feriabús lines F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6) depart continuously from every district of Granada straight to the fair gates. The Granada Metro also operates continuous nonstop services between Armilla, Downtown, the Train Station, and the fairground stop at Jaén / Estación de Autobuses.
