Since 1985, during Christmas, Vélez Rubio is the meeting place for numerous, folk music and dance groups who come from all over Spain to celebrate the traditional Encuentro de Cuadrillas. All of this has a clear objective: to keep the traditions alive. Other celebrations in the area include Los Inocentes (Spanish equivalent to April fool?s day), the summer fiestas, and Easter week.

The people of Vélez Rubio have a special way of celebrating the Día de los Inocentes (equivalent to April fool?s day): a group of people take the village and pretend that the mayor and priest have granted them the power to appear in the balcony of the town hall and read out a municipal order by which some locals are sanctioned arbitrarily and sent to prison after having paid a fine. While in prison, the "inmates" are visited by the townsfolk who share food and good wine with them.

Also of interest is the so-called Encuentro de Cuadrillas, a celebration during which groups of traditional singers and dancers from all over the country perform in the town. And it is important to stand out the National Competition of Christmas Dioramas, the only one in Spain, as well as the Exhibitions and Monumental Nativity Scenes situated in the extraordinary buildings of the historical city centre.

CALENDAR

 February

Carnival

 March

Holy Week
19th: San José
Easter Saturday: Entierro de la Sardina

 July

16th: Virgen del Carmen

 August

First week: Summer festivities

  December
Christmas

National Diorama Exhibition, Monumental Nativity Scenes and exhibits.