Comares celebrates its fair from August 27 to 30 with verdiales, ribbon races, choir meetings, and a procession in honour of San Hilario de Poitiers.
The Axarquía municipality of Comares is preparing to experience four days of fair starting this coming Thursday, August 27, with a programme that combines traditions such as verdiales, ribbon races, and religious events in honour of the patron, San Hilario de Poitiers, alongside concerts and activities for all ages.
The event was presented this Monday by provincial deputy Luis Rodríguez (PP), along with the mayor of Comares, José Miguel Ruiz (PSOE), and the first deputy mayor, Emiliani Jiménez (PP). The Diputación de Málaga has framed the celebration within its support for the festivals and cultural activities promoted by the smaller municipalities in the province.
Rodríguez highlighted in a statement that the fair represents "a magnificent opportunity" to engage with the traditions, gastronomy, and culture of this inland municipality in the Axarquía, known as the 'Balcony of the Axarquía' and particularly linked to the verdiales, one of the most characteristic musical expressions of the region.
"August is a month in which many municipalities in the province, such as Comares, celebrate festivals taking advantage of the fact that many locals and family members return to the village for holidays"
the deputy explained, emphasising the sentimental aspect of these dates. "This fair also represents every year for many people a return to their roots," he added.
For his part, the mayor defended that the programme has been designed with proposals for different audiences and with a prominent presence of the verdiales as a local hallmark. The Diputación also considers that this type of celebration contributes not only to preserving customs and cultural heritage but also to promoting tourism and economically revitalising small towns.
The programme will kick off on Thursday at 10:00 PM with a choir meeting featuring the municipal rociero choir of Árchez, La Blanca Paloma de Corumbela, the municipal choir of Cútar from El Salto del Negro, the municipal rondalla of Sayalonga, and the Balcón de la Axarquía choir of Comares. At midnight, the group Aire Flamenco will take over.
On Friday, one of the classic elements of the festivities, the bicycle ribbon races, will take place. The day will also feature a strong musical presence with the verdiales group from El Borge in the plaza de Los Verdiales, the Moonlight Orchestra, the show Legado, a tribute to El Barrio, and DJ Toulalan. That night, the election of the queen and mister of the festivities will also take place in the children's and youth categories.
Saturday, the 29th, will start early at 9:30 AM with a floral wake-up call accompanied by the Benamocarra music band. At noon, a rociero mass will be held in honour of San Hilario de Poitiers with the Balcón de la Axarquía choir, before giving way to the daytime fair, enlivened by 'El Mole', 'Maragatas Comares and pedanías', and 'Arrejuntaos'.
The activities will continue in the afternoon with the motorcycle ribbon races and, at night, with the 1st verdiales group of Comares, the Moonlight Orchestra, Nolasco, and again DJ Toulalan. It will be one of the most intense days of a fair in which the Town Hall aims to maintain the prominence of traditional expressions alongside more contemporary musical proposals.
Sunday, the 30th, will bring the festivities to a close with horse ribbon races, the performance of the Arroyo Conca group, and the procession of San Hilario de Poitiers through the streets of the municipality. The Moonlight Orchestra and Leyenda Eterna will be responsible for closing the musical programme and bidding farewell to four days in which Comares will once again turn its traditions into one of the main attractions at the end of summer in the interior of the Axarquía.
