If you’re visiting Sanlúcar de Barrameda this year, there’s a good chance your trip will line up with a festival, fair, or celebration. When you’re in Sanlúcar, you’re not just visiting, you’re experiencing rich Andalusian culture and history. From centuries-old traditions and religious processions to flamenco-filled nights, locals know how to turn any season into an event to remember (Sanluqueños do love to celebrate). 😉 Below, you’ll find the biggest dates to add to your calendar the next time you’re in town.
Sanlúcar’s annual fair is right by the beach! (image source)
Winter months: December, January, February
It might be chilly, but that doesn’t deter the people of Sanlúcar from celebrating the holiday season. Streets glow with festive lights, local plazas fill with music, and you’ll feel that warm, community spirit everywhere you go.
- Winter Horse Races – December: Sanlúcar is famous for its carreras de caballos on the beach in summer, but not many people know there are races in winter, too! There’s a semana hípica event (equestrian week) that includes beach races, a long-distance race in the nature park, and a show-jumping competition. All of these events are free and open to the public. If you plan to watch the beach races, just show up and watch from the sand (see video). The socios (members) of the horse racing society set up their own little tents with food and drink, and there’s usually a free concert everyone can enjoy. It’s mostly locals who race and participate in these contests, so the vibe is more casual and laid-back than the summer races.
- Christmas Eve – December 24th: On Nochebuena, the entire town parties in the streets in true Sanluqueño fashion. Friends gather midday to eat lunch, then hang out in the plaza or down in Bajo de Guía all afternoon until it’s time for dinner—at which point they head home to dine with their families and pretend they’re not completely intoxicated. Expect lots of drinking, dancing, and spontaneous singing as people enjoy the afternoon.
- New Year’s Eve – December 31st: On Nochevieja, people also tend to gather in the streets midday and party late into the evening. Keep an eye out for cotillón fin de año options, which are packages offered by bars and restaurants. They can include dinner, drinks, and accessories (like grapes and masks), with everything included. Some places, like the Royal Racing Society Club and Entrebotas, usually have free concerts all afternoon. Sanlúcar’s City Hall hosts the New Year’s ceremony in Plaza de Cabildo beneath the clock tower, typically followed by a concert. After midnight, people return to the streets to keep the party going.
- Epiphany – January 5th: Spain celebrates the Epiphany on January 6th, also known as Three Kings Day (Día de los Reyes Magos), so January 5th is when the kings come to town to deliver gifts to children. A citywide parade features the magical three kings and their helpers. The parade lasts about six hours, and they throw lots of candy and small toys to onlookers. It’s quite a sight to see!
Locals participate in the winter races in Sanlúcar (source)
The crowd trying to catch candy and toys at the Three Kings Parade
Spring months: March, April, May
Spring in Sanlúcar is usually beautiful—expect plenty of sunshine with the occasional shower, and generally less rain than in winter. By mid-May, it’s often warm enough to enjoy the beach too. It’s also the season when some of Sanlúcar’s most iconic traditions and celebrations come to life.
- Carnival – February/March: This year, Sanlúcar’s Carnaval dates are February 26 through March 1, 2026. Keep in mind that Carnaval’s exact dates change slightly every year because they’re aligned with Lent (a Catholic tradition), which begins 46 days before Easter. During Sanlúcar’s the week, you can catch chirigotas performing around town, and you won’t want to miss the cabalgata de Carnaval (parade). Hundreds of locals prepare for the event all year, creating their costumes and building impressive floats for the parade. Parade participants usually perform coordinated dances, with upbeat music blaring from their floats. The city also organizes special events for kids on the Calzada de la Duquesa during the week. Keep an eye on City Hall’s social media accounts for updates.
- Holy Week – March/April: Like many cities around Spain, Semana Santa is a big deal in Sanlúcar. This year, Semana Santa takes place from March 29 through April 5, 2026. Seating is set up along the main avenue for spectators to watch the processions, and locals decorate their balconies in preparation for Easter. Multiple processions take place each day (weather permitting), led by the city’s brotherhoods. It’s one of the most dramatic events of the year, with large marching bands and intricately designed religious floats covered in gold and silver. Don’t forget to try some torrijas (traditional Easter dessert) while you’re here. I also have a very detailed post on Semana Santa that I recommend you check out.
Having fun at the carnaval parade (source)
Holy Week processions in Sanlúcar
Summer months: June, July, August
Summer in Sanlúcar is the liveliest time of year—especially because some of the city’s most fun and exciting take place at this time! The population nearly doubles, jumping from around 70,000 residents to roughly 140,000 people at the peak in July and August. Most visitors are Spaniards escaping the intense inland heat of cities like Madrid and Seville, though I’ll be honest: it gets hot here, too. Expect daytime temperatures around 26°C to 31°C (79°F to 87°F), and sometimes higher. If you want the best of both worlds, June is one of my favorite times to visit: you’ll get true summer weather, a buzzing atmosphere, and noticeably fewer crowds.
- Fair of the Manzanilla – May/June: Cities across Spain host their annual fair, but the Feria de la Manzanilla in Sanlúcar is one of the best, in my completely biased opinion. 😏It’s unique because it takes place in the center of town (on the Calzada), which makes attending super convenient. This year, Sanlúcar’s feria is happening from June 2–7, 2026. During feria, there are numerous casetas set up with brightly colored exteriors; casetas are temporary structures or tents (similar to a small bar) where people gather to drink, eat, and dance. Schools and offices close so everyone can attend, and you’ll see women dressed in beautiful flamenco dresses everywhere. I have a detailed post all about feria in Sanlúcar so you’ll know what to expect.
- Horse Races – August: Sanlúcar is known throughout Spain for its iconic Carreras de Caballos, which take place every summer. Sanlúcar claims the races are one of Europe’s oldest equestrian contests. There are two race cycles during the month of August, and each one lasts three days. The cycles take place when the tide is lowest, typically at the beginning and end of the month. There are usually four to five races per day, for a total of 12–15 races each cycle. Check out this blog post to learn how to attend, what to wear, and how to bet!
- Our Lady of Charity – August 15th: The Virgen de la Caridad (Virgin of Charity) is Sanlúcar de Barrameda’s patron virgin, so the town goes all out on her special day. The night before, a giant salt carpet is laid out on the Calle Ancha (main street) and in areas of Barrio Alto (uptown) to honor her. I’d recommend attending the carpet ceremony—kids from all over the city bring their own buckets and shovels to arrange the salt into beautiful designs. The next day (August 15th), the virgin is carried in her stunning silver shrine in a religious procession over the salt carpets. The vibe is similar to Semana Santa if you don’t have the chance to visit in spring.
Horse races on the beach in summer
Casetas at Sanlúcar’s fair (image source)
Fall months: September, October, November
September and November are my favorite months to be in Sanlúcar—the weather is usually sunny and warm, the summer crowds are gone, and the town feels like it belongs to locals again. There’s a relaxed, lived-in energy as everyone settles back into their routines, with that quiet buzz of anticipation for the holidays starting to build. It’s the perfect time for long lunches, seaside walks, and golden-hour sunsets without fighting for a table.
- Mosto Route – November/December: Sanlúcar’s Ruta de Mosto usually kicks off in November and continues through December. Note that it doesn’t really start until the weather gets cold, which is usually toward the end of November (nobody likes drinking mosto when it’s hot). Mosto is a young white wine native to the area. Don’t expect to drink mosto using a typical wine glass—it’s usually served straight out of an oak barrel, in small jarritas (pitchers) and accompanied by shot glasses. I would not recommend drinking this wine like a shot however, it contains 12% – 15% alcohol so pace yourself accordingly. I have a few favorite venues I like to visit along the route, so check out the post linked above. Apart from enjoying the great food and cheap wine, you can also catch zambomba concerts at establishments around town, which are like flamenco-style Christmas carols.
Locals packed into one of my favorite stops on the ruta: El Rincón del Abuelo Enrique
Mosto served with boiled potatoes ~ so simple, yet so good!
Let me know about any other local events you think should be added to the list in the comments below!
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