Horse fair in Jerez (Andalucía)

Jerez is celebrating its most popular festivity, the horse week or know as the horse fair. All locals are waiting for this week during all year. On this fair locals and tourist enjoy an unique and unrepeatable athmosphere in a city full of «casetas» of Jerez character.

The horse fair, declared of International Tourist Interest,  which in 2018 is celebrated from May 5 to 12, and which offers the visitor the opportunity of enjoying wines of the land, the magic of flamenco, the spectacular walk of horses and the joy that during a week transforms Jerez and highlights the uniqueness of our city and its enormous tourist attraction.

The Jerez Horse Fair consists of joy, fun and purebred animals. The nobility of the horses you can see during the event has made it internationally famous.

From ancient origins (1284), it was originally a livestock market. Over the years it evolved into today’s conglomerate of festivities. Among the different events, mention should be made of the equestrian contests and competitions, and of the marquees set up in González de Hontoria park, adorning its avenues and paths with flowers and garlands over the course of the fair.

There are all kinds of horse-related activities during this festive week, such as international show-jumping competitions, dressage, horse rally, select livestock exhibitions and auctions. Furthermore, during the day, González de Hontoria park fills with hundreds of male and female riders, and carriages that drive through the streets of the show ground in a majestic spectacle well worth seeing. This is where the brotherhoods and associations set up their marquees, whose decoration centres on a different theme each year. Prizes are awarded to the best. Inside the marquees there is fino wine (sherry) and regional produce to sample. People dance Sevillanas until the early hours of the morning with an incredible, enjoyable atmosphere that seems to transform the park into one big flamenco hall. There are also food and drinks stands and children’s attractions. Bullfights, Sevillana dance competitions and fireworks are other festive activities that complete the programme of the Fair.