Sevilla's April Fair brings colour, music, fun and 'flamenco' to the streets for a week

SEVILLA'S famous April Fair kicks off today (Saturday) with over a week of all that's stereotypical about Spain: castañets, red polka-dot dresses, flamenco and sevillana dancing, cantaores, bailaores, hand-clapping and gypsy guitars.

The southern city's biggest tourist attraction after its Semana Santa or Easter parades, the Feria de Abril – something of a misnomer, given that all bar the first two days of it takes place in May – sees the streets lined with colourful stalls selling food, drink and crafts, plus live music, typical local dishes for tasting, on-street entertainment, fireworks, parades and horses.

Millions of visitors from every continent descend on Sevilla for April Fair week, a feel-good festival that brings to life all the urban myths about Spain in full colour, life, cheesiness and fun.

Not to be missed by anyone in or heading for the Andalucía region between now and May 6 inclusive – when the midnight fireworks will mark the end of the fiesta – this year's Feria de Abril will see 1,051 stalls on the streets, although in practice all bar 18 of them are privately-run and only open to guests and festival club members.

The public stalls are normally open from around noon until about 03.00 in the morning.

Mayor Juan Espadas (PSOE, or socialists) wants to increase activities for tourists and 'ordinary' residents in the 'public' stalls, in order to 'do away with the pre-conceived idea' that the April Fair is 'just for in-groups'.

These activities include tours and late-night concerts and discos, and none of the stalls – which each occupy a sizeable enclosure – are allowed to charge for entry.

This year's Feria de Abril is expected to attract more tourists than ever because it coincides with the May Day bank holiday, and this is right after a weekend so workers can get away for up to three days without needing time off.

And May Day in Spain and the rest of Europe also coincides with the first UK May bank holiday, as this always falls on the first Monday of that month irrespective of the date, unlike in Spain where it is always on May 1.

Madrid celebrates May 2 as a bank holiday for its patron saint, San Isidro, meaning extra tourists from the capital are hoped to spend up to four days in Sevilla at the festival.

 

Extra security this year

Although Jihad terrorism has not been seen in Spain since the Madrid train bombing in March 2004, its presence elsewhere in Europe means Spain remains on Level 4 terror alert – one below the maximum of 5, which would mean the Armed Forces in the streets – so security at the April Fair will be extremely tight.

The Level 4 terror alert is purely in place as a tool to allow increased security in public areas, not an indication of risk.

For this reason, extra police will be on duty from today to May 6 in Sevilla, and random checks with portable metal detectors will be carried out.