Fiestas in Andalucia mean PARTY TIME. Whatever the reason behind the event, be it religious or otherwise, the end result is always the same - lots of music and dancing, drinking and eating and general fun and frolics usually until dawn over a period of several days to a week. Over 3,000 fiestas are celebrated every year in Andalucia including fairs, carnivals, degustacions, passion plays, pilgrimages and processions. Every village, no matter how small, holds at least one fiesta a year.

Carnival is celebrated before the 40 days of Lent each year, centred around Shrove Tuesday (February 24th 2004, February 8th 2005 & February 28th 2006). Most towns hold a parade with floats and a Carnival Queen contest, either the weekend before or after, and large towns have festivities lasting all week.