On the other hand, for those who wish to enjoy Torremolinos in its
purest essence, there is the opportunity to participate in the local
customs and festivals of the townspeople, throughout the year.
The Championship Ballroom Dance Contest, The Carnival, The Verdiales
festival, holy Week, Crosses of May, Saint John’s Eve, and Corpus
Christi are some of the most important celebrations, not forgetting
the Fair del Carmen, the day of the tourist and the Romería,
a picnic style event, celebrated the last week in September as a prologue
to the festivities of the Fair of the patron saint, Michael, September
29th.
This Fair attracts more and more tourists from all over the world with
each passing year, gathering in the town’s centre during the day
and continuing into the evening at the Fairgrounds, recently improved
and endowed with unsurpassable infrastructure.
The Festivals in honour of the patron saint include La Romeria de San
Miguel where more than 200.000 persons gather in the pinewoods Los Manantiales
in a festive procession to the Ermita after leaving behind a splendorous
trail of joy and amusement through the town streets.
Joined by numerous carts, many of them drawn by oxen and beautifully
decorated with floral motifs, they file past a Jury that judges the
best decorated.
Another very popular festivity takes place on July 16th when the fishing
village of la Carihuela, pays tribute to its patroness, La Virgen del
Carmen. The virgin’s image is placed onboard a fishing boat and
escorted by numerous craft in a nautical procession.