Real de Málaga has been offering a free loan service for wheelchairs, scooters, and crutches for people with reduced mobility for years. An initiative by Eurodiscap and the City Council that allows many fairgoers to enjoy the festival without barriers.
The Real, with its 121 booths, food stalls, and amusement area, poses a challenge for those with reduced mobility. For several years now, a free loan service for accessibility equipment has aimed to ensure that no one misses out on enjoying the Feria de Málaga, with wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, and crutches available.
One of the users is Rocío Calvo, who, thanks to an electric wheelchair, can attend with her young son in her arms, dressed for the pilgrimage. "I come to eat something, take a little stroll, and put the child on the rides," Calvo says, particularly appreciating the ability to navigate the venue without tiring.
Almudena González, wearing a polka-dotted gypsy dress and a red flower in her hair, usually uses crutches, but at the fair, she prefers a borrowed scooter. "There is a lot of distance between the booths and the rides; otherwise, I couldn't manage," she reflects. "It's a very large fair, and for those who need it, it's great because it helps you move quickly," Calvo adds.
Alejandro Ruiz, in charge of the loan point, explains that "the key days are busier, but an hour after opening, all the equipment is rented out." The service has 16 scooters, four manual wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches. Many users arrive with their own crutches looking for a "comfortable" electric alternative for the long distances at the Real.
The initiative also attracts visitors from outside. An Argentine family came for the first time with an 80-year-old woman visiting Málaga to see her granddaughter; upon discovering the service, she was surprised and grateful "to make the fair as enjoyable as possible," according to Ruiz.
The staff recommend arriving "a little earlier" at the loan point, although there is an exchange of chairs between those who return home early and those who stay late. Although the service is designed for people with mobility issues, they also assist elderly individuals "with crutches or wheelchairs" who request it.
The mobile point is located next to the main entrance, on Avenida de las Malagueñas, and operates from 20:00 to 2:00 hours. The initiative is by the Eurodiscap association in collaboration with the City Council of Málaga.
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