The Seville Fair (officially and in , 'Seville April Fair') is held in the Andalusian capital of Seville, Spain. The fair generally begins two weeks after the , or Easter Holy Week.

The fair officially begins at midnight on Monday, and runs six days, ending on the following Sunday. Each day the fiesta begins with the parade of carriages and riders, at midday, carrying Seville's leading citizens which make their way to the bullring, , where the bullfighters and breeders meet.

For the duration of the fair, the fairgrounds and a vast area on the far bank of the Guadalquivir River are totally covered in rows of (individual decorated marquee tents which are temporarily built on the fairground). These usually belong to prominent families of Seville, groups of friends, clubs, trade associations and political parties. From around nine at night until six or seven the following morning, at first in the streets and later only within each , there are crowds partying and dancing , drinking sherry, or , and eating tapas. This fair also has an amusement park that comes with it and has many games to play along with rollercoasters to ride.

History

thumb|left|Seville Fair in the 19th century

The Fair dates back to 1846 when it was originally organized as a livestock fair by two councillors born in Northern Spain, Basque José María Ybarra and Catalan Narciso Bonaplata. Queen Isabel II agreed to the proposal, and on 18 April 1847 the first fair was held at the Prado de San Sebastián, on the outskirts of the city.

It took only one year before an air of festivity began to transform the fair, due mainly to the emergence of the first three casetas, belonging to the Duke and Duchess of Montpensier, the Town Hall, and the Casino of Seville. During the 1920s, the fair reached its peak and became the spectacle that it is today.

Location

Since 1973, Feria de Abril takes place at the Real de la Feria, an area of 24 blocks (450,000 m<sup>2</sup>) which is located between Los Remedios and Tablada. In 2012 there were 1048 casetas.

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File:Ride at the Seville Fair.jpg|Amusement ride at the 2007 Seville Fair

File:SevillaFeriaAbril2007Farolillos.jpg|Lanterns in the 2007 Seville Fair

File:Portadadeferia2010.JPG|Main entrance to the Seville April Fair, 2010

File:Caseta de Radio Sevilla en la Feria de Abril.JPG|Exterior of a caseta

File:Interior caseta feria abril 2009.jpg|Inside a caseta

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References

  • Feria de Abril 2010
  • The 2006 Feria de Abril (April Fair)
  • Feria de Abril
  • Andalucia.com
  • Exploreseville "Feria de Abril"
  • "Photos and Videos, Sevilla Fair 2007 and 2008. Feria de Abril de Sevilla"
  • Photos Seville Fair 2008 "Feria de Abril"
  • Seville Fair 2008 video in YouTube