There's no denying that the Seville April Fair has become one of Spain's most iconic events. After the traditional “Semana Santa” processions come to a close, the people of Seville waste no time diving headfirst, day and night, into meticulously preparing every detail of the fair. And when Sevillians, especially the fairgoers, set their minds to something, they do it with genuine care. They're perfectionists, meticulous, and they adore the beautiful things in life above all else. You can see all of this year after year at their legendary April Fair in Seville.

Are you heading to the Seville fair in 2024? It's such an intense event that it completely envelops you. But to do things right and not miss out on anything, you need to have all the information. Let's dive into all the details of the Seville fair.

The origin of the Seville April Fair

The Seville April Fair originated in 1847, thanks to the initiative of two Sevillian councilors, José María Ybarra and Narciso Bonaplata. Inspired by the tradition of Sevillian fairs since the 13th century, they proposed to the City Council to revive these events. Once the proposal was approved by the City Council, the annual April Fair was established, inaugurated on April 18, 1847, at the Prado de San Sebastián.

Initially commercial, over time it became a festival deeply rooted in Sevillian culture, characterized by its colorful and joyful atmosphere, enjoyed by both locals and visitors for six days every year.

When is the Seville April Fair 2024 celebrated?

This festival, which lasts for six full days, practically halts the life of all Sevillians. The date of the Seville Fair depends each year on the dates of “Semana Santa”. But traditionally, it is celebrated two weeks after. This year, “Semana Santa” 2024 took place from Sunday, March 24th, to Sunday, March 31st.

Mark it on your calendar and start planning your best outfits: in 2024, the Seville April Fair will begin on Sunday, April 14th at midnight and conclude on Saturday, April 20th.

The schedule of the Seville April Fair

Depending on the day you choose to attend, here's a brief summary of what happens at the fairgrounds. This is how the Seville April Fair will be:

• Saturday, April 13th: Members gather in the booths, and a dinner known as “El pescaíto” takes place.
• Sunday, April 14th: It's opening day! At midnight, the mayor turns on the lights, including the iconic entrance known as the “Portada” and thousands of lanterns of all colors. This ceremony is known as the “Alumbrado” (lighting). Since it's the first day and falls on a weekend, be warned that it's usually the busiest day.
• Monday, April 15th: Typically, the number of people decreases significantly, and this year, the second day of the fair falls on Monday. The party continues in the booths! The lights stay on until 3:00.
• Tuesday, April 16th: This day is when most lunches and dinners for friends, families, and companies are organized. The lights go out at 4:00.
• Wednesday, April 17th: It's the main day of the fair since it's usually a public holiday. Plus, you'll see more horses and carriages parading around. The fair stays lit up until 5:00.
• Thursday, April 18th: With the arrival of the weekend, the influx of visitors increases, and you'll have the opportunity to see many celebrities, bullfighters, even members of the nobility and politicians. On this day, up to a million people can attend. It's madness!
• Friday, April 19th: Typically, this is the second busiest day. The lights stay on until 6:00.
• Saturday, April 20th: The last day of the fair is usually dedicated to bullfights (although there are bullfights every day of the fair). Among Sevillians, it's very typical to go to the bullfights and then to the Real de la Feria with their horse-drawn carriages. This year, the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza hosts its famous bullfight with the Miura livestock on April 21st, known for its large-sized beasts. At midnight on the same Saturday, April 20th, the Seville Fair celebrates the closing ceremony with an impressive fireworks display by the Guadalquivir river.

Enjoy the inaugural lighting of the Seville Fair

One of the most spectacular and anticipated experiences offered by the Seville April Fair is the inaugural lighting.

The lighting, also locally known as “El Alumbrao” marks the official start of the Seville April Fair. This event takes place on Sunday, April 14th, 2024, at midnight.

At that moment, the mayor of the city turns on more than 220,000 light bulbs that illuminate the Fair Entrance and the 15 streets of the Fairground. From that moment on, for 6 full days, fun, laughter, and dancing are guaranteed.

What's the best place to see El Alumbrao?

There are several places from which you can enjoy the lighting of the Seville Fair:

• The Fair Entrance (the main gate): Head to the corner of Avenida Presidente Adolfo Suárez and Calle Asunción to get the top view of the Entrance when it lights up. But, keep in mind that the area will be extremely crowded.
• Calle Asunción: This street also offers a good perspective of the Lighting since it leads directly to the Entrance.
• The boundary with Calle del Infierno. Head to Calle de Alfonso de Borbón and Orléans, if possible, in front of Calle Joselito El Gallo or Calle Juan Belmonte. Although it's not as popular or as impressive as the Entrance, it's also nice to see all these streets light up.

The best day to go to the Seville fair 2024

It all depends on what you're looking for. Wednesday of the fair week is a public holiday in Seville, so it tends to be busier, as locals can enjoy the event during the day.

On Friday and Saturday, many people from nearby towns or other communities come to Seville to experience the April Fair. Locals, on the other hand, usually go to the fair after work. Plus, children go to school on Monday and Tuesday. Therefore, the first two working days, Monday and Tuesday, could be the most recommended to visit if you don't want to find an event crowded with people everywhere. Sevillians typically enjoy the fair from Monday to Thursday, heading to the beach over the weekend to enjoy the good weather that the Andalusian coast usually offers.

How to watch the fireworks at the Seville April Fair

Traditionally, the fireworks display takes place at the pier of the Guadalquivir river, near the Paseo de las Delicias. So, here are some of the best places to enjoy them:

• Puente de las Delicias: This is undoubtedly one of the best places to watch the show. However, it tends to be very crowded.
• Puente de Los Remedios: Although a bit further away, it also offers a good view.
• Puente de San Telmo: Although it's a bit farther away, it can be a good option if the other bridges are crowded. Plus, it's only about 20 minutes away from our Ocean Drive Sevilla hotel, which although it doesn't coincide with the fair's opening (May 1st) this year, next year they will be more than prepared to offer you all the tips and tricks so that you can enjoy the fair under the best conditions. “Muelle de la Sal” or Calle Betis are also other places where you can watch the fireworks.

Another very cool area to watch the fireworks is the entire Torre del Oro area, and in fact, it's usually a popular spot among Sevillians during this special night. However, make sure to arrive early and get a good spot because it usually fills up with people.

We hope all this information has been useful to you! And long live the April Fair!