January:
Feast of Saint Sebastian
This festival has a very local flavour. On the Saturday before the actual feast day – January 20th – the statue of Saint Sebastian is taken from its shrine, situated at the top of the Algarrobo pueblo, to the parish church of Santa Ana. During the journey, people light up cartwheels of fireworks.
There is outdoor dancing, during which time the town hall invites locals and visitors to try typical dishes accompanied by local wine.
In the evening, after the dances, the statue of the patron saint is taken in procession back to its shrine, accompanied by fireworks. The festivities end with the arrival of the statue at the shrine. This is a very busy day in Algarrobo as the beauty of the procession attracts many visitors from neighbouring towns.
Some say the festival is a commemoration of the Christian reconquest of the area, and dates back to the expulsion of the Moors.
August:
Summer feria
Algarrobo’s August feria is always quite a grand one, lasting for up to four fun-packed days, with the last day always finishing on a Sunday.
On the main stage there are choirs and dances performed not only by local artists and groups, but others invited from nearby towns and villages. All the entertainment is free both to residents and visitors.
There’s also the usual mix of sports competitions, children’s parties, and even traditional ribbon-cutting races – but not on horseback, on bikes and motorbikes.
The week after the celebrations finish in Algarrobo, the feria then moves to the little neighbouring village of Mezquitilla, which is actually also part of Algarrobo municipality. Obviously, what goes on there is very similar, apart from that on the beach there is a large ‘moraga’ – a party where massive quantities of sardines are roasted, and offered with beers and other refreshments.
In order to encourage locals to come to the feria (and discourage drinking and driving) the council puts on a free bus service shuttle on the Saturday and Sunday nights. It make stops in Mezquitilla, Algarrobo Costa, Trayamar and Algarrobo Pueblo, and runs from 11.30 at night to 4.00 in the morning.
September:
Flamenco Night
Takes place during the 1st weekend in September.
Algarrobo’s Noche Flamenca has been going for years, and 2018 will be its 21st edition. Every year different flamenco shows are put on with the aim to promote this indigenous art among the general public.
This popular evening, which usually coincides with Candelarias day, attracts a large number of lovers of flamenco and Spanish copla.
The event takes place in the Escalerilla Park and entrance is free and both locals and visitors can enjoy an evening in which different flamenco artists take to the stage.
October:
Oktoberfest
For a number of years along the Paseo Maritimo in Algarrobo Costa there has been a festival of ‘beer and sausage’ in October.
Paying homage to the large quantity of (mostly) German residents that live in Algarrobo Costa throughout the year, the Oktoberfest is designed to promote German culture on the Costa del Sol.
There are musical displays put on by German choirs, often residents themselves, singing in German, English and Spanish, featuring typical folk songs of that country. 
There are also parades in typical Teutonic costumes.
As well as plenty of typical German lagers on offer, there are culinary specialties from the south of Germany, such as weisswurst, sauerkraut, scheweinebraten and knödel.
Many of the bars and restaurants also join in and offer typical German food and drink at discounted prices.
[Photos by Carmen Ocaña (www.malagapuebloapueblo.com)]
Algarrobo pages guide
