Dates for your diary

The Spanish are a nation of passionate and often flamboyant people. If ever there's an excuse to throw a good party, they'll find one - and many of them are not to be missed. These are some of the fiestas, special events and public holidays.

January

• 17 Jan – St Anthony’s Day. There are fiestas and processions in many regions of Spain to celebrate this saint’s day. Some of the best are in Barcelona, Ibiza and Menorca.
• 19-20 Jan – Tamborrada Drum Parade. The people of San Sebastian hit the streets to celebrate their city’s patron saint’s day with a lively and loud 24 hours of drumming.
• 29 Jan to 2 Feb – Caja Madrid Flamenco Festival. Spain’s capital hosts its most important festival of traditional dancing, music and singing at the Teatro Albeniz.

February

• 1-10 Feb – Carnival of Santa Cruz de La Palma. This Canary Island town ends its unique festival with an enormous talcum powder fight!
• 4 Feb – Vila de Cruces Chorizo Festival. The small Galician town of Vila de Cruces pays homage to the spicy sausage of Spain.
• 13-18 Feb – Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair. Culture vultures from around the world descend on Madrid for its renowned art spectacular.

March

• 2 Mar – Barcelona Marathon. Now in its 31st year, this race attracts runners in their thousands to the picturesque Catalan city.
• 4 Mar – UEFA Champions League. Andalucia plays host to the knockout stages of the football competition as Sevilla take on Turkish side Fenerbahce.
• 12-16 Mar – Madrid Boat Show. Got that Spanish property by the sea? Why not treat yourself to a gin palace at this important nautical showcase.
• 23 Mar – Running of the Bulls. The small town of Gaucin in Andalucia celebrates Easter with its version of the bullrun.

April

• Apr – Holy Week. The week before Easter sees the whole of Spain participating in spectacular fiestas, full of pageant, music and a bewildering array of costumes.
• Apr-May – Ribeiro Wine Festival. A lengthy celebration of the grape held in the Galician town of Ribadavia.
• 14-17 Apr – International Gourmet Fair. The Pabellon de Cristal in Madrid plays host to hundreds of exhibitors from around Spain and the world to delight foodies.
• 25-27 Apr – Spanish Grand Prix. Formula One motor racing comes to Barcelona, at the famous Catalunya circuit.

May

• 1-4 May – Open de Espana. The PGA European Tour reaches the Real Club de Golf in Seville.
• 19 May – Bilbao Opera Season. Lovers of classical music should start booking now – the festival began in September 2007 and ends today!
• 30 May-1 Jun – Barcelona Bridal Week. A wealth of exhibitors gather in Catalonia to show brides-to-be the very latest wedding trends.
• May – Baby-Jumping Colacho Festival. One of the bizarre traditional fiestas for which Spain is famous, taking place in Castrillo de Murcia.

June

• 5 Jun – Fried Fish Day. More culinary treats in store in Torremolinos as the locals give away squid, sardines, anchovies and other goodies to hungry revellers.
• 9 and 12 Jun – Moors and Christians Festival. Re-enactment of historic battles and dialogues between the religions – plus lots to eat and drink - in San Blas, Alicante.
• Jun – Corpus Christi. One of Spain’s major religious festivals is celebrated country-wide. Why not enjoy the pageantry in Cadiz, Sitges or Tenerife?