Spain is a very large and diverse country with about 50 provinces (provincias) under different autonomous communities and each having their own cultural identities. As far as holidays are concerned, there are designated Spanish Bank Holidays that every provinces list along with their own local holidays.

The Costa del Sol region in Andalusia (in southern Spain), which is in the province of Malaga, includes towns named Marbella, San Pedro, Estepona, Torremolinos and Fuengirola. Each town has their own local ferias in addition to several events, so it’s worth checking the local holidays and the dates of ferias before visiting the town.

As far as the resort town of Marbella is concerned, it observes all Spanish national holidays, in addition to holidays like Andalucia Day (Dia de Andalucia) on 28th February and the Marbella Feria de San Bernabe in the second week in June (June 11).

Here is the list of holidays which will give you an account

1^st January – New Year’s Day (Ano Nuevo)

5th January – Twelfth Night (Three Kings Procession)

6^th January – Three Kings Day (Epiphany)

28^th February – Andalucia Day (Dia de Andalucia)

19^th March – San José (Spanish Father’s Day)

21^st April – Maundy Thursday

22^nd April – Good Friday

1^st May – Labour Day

15^th August – Feast of the Assumption

12^th October – Spanish National Day

1^st November – All Saints Day

6^th December – Day of the Constitution

8^th December – Immaculate Conception (beginning of Christmas season)

25^th December – Christmas Day

26^th December – St Stephen’s Day – Public holiday in Andalucia

Local Holidays for 2011

17^th January – St Anton’s Day in Alhaurin el Grande and St Antonio Abad in Malaga

3^rd May – Malaga Crosses of May celebrations

15^th May – Setenil in Cadiz, Estepona and Malaga

3^rd June – Corpus Christi – holidays in some regions

5^th June – Torremolinos Day of the Fish

11^th June – Marbella Feria de San Bernabe

16^th July – Festival in honour of La Virgen del Carmen – protectress of seamen

8^th September – Mijas Virgin of the Rock holiday

In addition to the above mentioned holidays most of which are followed by each  Costa del Sol towns, here are few Spanish ferias that are based on the local culture and hold much importance in the daily life of people living in the particular region.

Holidays in Ferias/Fiestas

Marbella – second week in June

Estepona – first week in July

Benalmadena – second week in August

Malaga – third week in August

Mijas – second week in September

Torremolinos – last week in September

Fuengirola – first week in October

San Pedro – third week in October