The main festivities in
Conil are:
January: Procession of the Three Kings
and San Sebastian Pilgrimage
February: Carnivals and Andalucia Day 28/02
March/April: Easter Week
May: Crosses of May
June: El Colorado Spring Fair, Almadabra
Tuna Route and San Juan Bonfires
July: Virgin Mary
September: Fair in honour of Our Lady of
The Virtues
December: Christmas
The most popular are the following:
CONIL CARNIVALS
Conil is no exception to the huge pleasure
that the carnival invokes in the province
of Cadiz and has one of the loveliest celebrations
in the whole area, inheriting the tradition
typical of Cadiz of street performers and
groups.
The local carnival performances are at
the centre of the festivities, which begin
with a “tortilla” (an omelette banquet).
After the opening address, which is generally
made by a local or provincial celebrity,
new performances begin and the king and
queen of the festivities are elected and
who, in Conil, are called the main “Jabiguero”
(king) and “Jabiguera” (queen).
The carnival reaches its zenith with a
fancy dress procession, after which a fancy
dress competition is held with cash prizes.
The festivities end with a children’s party
and with star performances of groups from
the Cadiz capital or other areas of the
province.
The Conil carnival is held either in February
or March, depending on the year. In 2006
it was celebrated from 19th February to
12th March.
Carmen Festivities
Conil, as a traditional maritime village,
has a long tradition of venerating the Virgin
Carmen. The culmination of this seafaring
cult is in the middle of July each year.
The Conil Town Council takes advantage
of these festivities and the increased tourist
affluence to organize parallel activities
of cultural interest, such as exhibitions,
patio decoration competitions or conferences
on local topics.
After the opening address the religious
ceremony is held which consists of a mass,
the transfer of the Virgin to the boat which
is to carry her on the sea, the return to
the port and the procession through the
streets of the town. Once the Virgin has
been returned to her See, the festivities
end with many other activities such as competitions,
tastings of local specialities and fireworks.
Conil Fair
The Conil fair is held at the beginning
of September (in 2006 it began on the 7th)
in honour of Our Lady of the Virtues. The
system is that of typical Andalucian fairs,
with a fairground and stalls, rides and
folk atmosphere.
With the election of the queen of the fair
and her ladies, the festivities begin which
have a special moment with the Inauguration
of the Fairground and Switching On the Lights
by the Mayor, the Queen and her Ladies,
Association Authorities and Presidents.
With a programme packed with musical performances
and cultural activities, the festivities
peak with the procession of the Virgin through
the streets of Conil.
The festivities continue until the early
hours of the morning with food, drink and
various performances. There are also parties
for children and the elderly. The festivities
end with a Great Procession, dancing and
a final fireworks display.
The Tuna Route
The tuna route is held every year around
the middle of June and is an event of great
interest for both the tourism and culture
of Conil.
The Tuna Route is a gastronomic and cultural
route totally dedicated to tuna fishery.
The Almadabra (tuna fish netting) is a sustainable,
thousand year old fishing tradition carried
out on the coast of Conil. It is like a
labyrinth of nets, close to the coast, which
the tuna swim into, heading to the Mediterranean,
called the “departure”. It takes three months
to install it (as it consists of hundreds
of anchors), three months for the fishing,
and three months to collect it again.
The wild red tuna, which is what is fished
here, is a product of the highest quality,
providing exquisite cuisine, very much appreciated
on a national and international level, excellent
source of proteins, rich in vitamins A,
B and D, and minerals. With the advantage
that it is low in saturated fats, and has
a high Omega 3 content (anti-cholesterol).
Every year the main restaurants in Conil
take part in these gastronomic events, with
various exquisite dishes, of both traditional
and innovative cuisine, with gastronomic
competitions and tastings.
