What’s on in the Almanzora Valley this weekend: the Albox fair, Noche en Negro and haunted walk-throughs
Albox postpones its fair’s opening speech (pregón) to Sunday because of the official mourning; in Tíjola, Serón and Zurgena, haunted walk-throughs for the All Saints’ long weekend.
Automatic translation: this article was translated with artificial intelligence from the original in Spanish. Read the original
A fair in Albox, scares in Tíjola, Serón and Zurgena, and a Monday holiday. The All Saints’ long weekend is here: as 1 November falls on a Sunday, in Andalusia the holiday moves to Monday 2, and the weekend gets longer.
It will, however, be a weekend of official mourning: the Spanish government has decreed it throughout Spain until midnight on Saturday because of the rail accident in Urda (Toledo), which has left dozens dead, and the Andalusian regional government (Junta de Andalucía) has declared three days of mourning in Andalusia. Mourning does not in itself call off events, and each organiser decides: the city of Almería has called off its Noche en Negro and Albox has postponed its fair’s opening speech (pregón) and crowning ceremony to Sunday. As of this Thursday afternoon, the rest of the town councils in the Valley had not announced any changes, but it is best to check before going out.
AEMET, Spain’s state weather agency, has no active warnings for the district and forecasts highs of 23 to 25 degrees in Albox and lows of 11 to 13, although some light rain is very likely on Saturday afternoon: if you go out, take an umbrella.
Albox: All Saints’ Fair (Feria de Todos los Santos), until Tuesday 3
- Changes due to the mourning. Albox Town Council has called off the official events at this Thursday’s opening and has postponed the opening speech by the CD Villa de Albox football club and the crowning of the queens and maids of honour to Sunday 1, at 19:00, in the Carpa Municipal (municipal tent) at the fairground. The Feria del Mediodía (midday fair) and the casetas (fair marquees) are going ahead, as the mayor, María del Mar Alfonso, explained on Cadena SER radio.
- Thursday 29. The Feria del Mediodía opens at 14:00, with music in the Caseta de las Cofradías, and at midnight the Caseta Joven (youth marquee), this year’s new addition, opens for the first time.
- Friday 30. Rumba Kimbao, at 18:00, and Siempre Así, at 22:00, in the Caseta de las Cofradías.
- Saturday 31. In the morning, ronda, pétanque and darts tournaments and the opening of the 44th Feria del Pájaro de Perdiz, a partridge fair (10:00). In the afternoon, sevillanas by the Virgen del Saliente folk group (18:00), dance bands and, at 22:00, comedy from Manolo Sarria in the Caseta Municipal.
- Sunday 1. 23rd Concentración Motera y de Coches Clásicos, a motorbike and classic car rally (10:00, Las Ventas pavilion, on Avenida Lepanto), the Feria del Ganado (livestock fair) from 11:00, a ribbon race on horseback (corrida de cintas) in La Rambla (16:00), Los Bigardos in the Caseta de las Cofradías (18:00) and, at 19:00, the opening speech and crowning postponed from Thursday.
- Monday 2, Children’s Day. Rides at reduced prices and, from 19:00 to 22:00, inclusive hours with steady lighting and low sound. For older people, a free afternoon snack (18:00) and copla (Spanish song) with Jairo Cuevas (20:00) in the Caseta Municipal.
- Tuesday 3, Older People’s Day. Communal paella and sweets at 14:00 in the Caseta Municipal.
- Play centre (ludoteca) next to the Caseta Municipal, from Friday to Monday, from 16:00 to 22:00.
Tíjola
- Saturday 31, from 17:30. 7th Noche en Negro (Night in Black): a street market, inflatables, a diabolical train and fancy dress competitions; a haunted walk-through from 18:30 to 22:00 in the town hall’s underground car park (€5, or free with the shopping trail card, the rutero de compras; recommended for over-8s), and a concert by Bajo Cero at 20:00 in the Plaza Nueva.
Serón
- Friday 30, from 18:00. Haunted walk-through for Halloween, part of Serón Town Council’s Otoño Cultural (Cultural Autumn); the council has not given details of the venue.
Zurgena
- Saturday 31, 21:00. Haunted walk-through by Zurgena Town Council. Tickets cost €2 and are sold at the town hall itself; places are limited.
Across the district
- Bacares is still full of scarecrows: the autumn trail, which is free, can be walked until 29 November.
- Last weekend of the 4th Ruta de Sabores Almanzora (Almanzora Flavours Route), which ends on Saturday 31, at 39 bars and restaurants in 20 towns.
