The fairs of Jerez have their origins in the late 15th century, in which numerous foreigners from several different places would come to buy in the available markets. In the end these fairs ended up being established in April and in September.
The first official fair took place in the street known today as the fair street, and back then the neighbours would illuminate their doors so that the fair had lights during the night. Another one of the rules was that they could not seize any of the fair-men’s properties during the festivity, the aim of this was to attract this way a maximum number of fair-men possible.
The horse had an important role in the fair of Jerez, many years ago they celebrated bull games that gave fame to this celebration.
Already in the early 20th century they gave permission to the locals to build their own permanent fair hut. In the middle of this century the fairground was modified when they added the ‘Paseo Nuevo’ and in 1970 they added new streets that divide the areas situated between the ‘Paseo Nuevo’ and the ‘Real’.
This fair is perhaps the most important fair of Jerez de la Frontera in Cadiz, also declared of tourist interest, it originated due to the commerce of horses during the middle ages.
Today the fair of the horse is celebrated a week after the fair of April in Seville, that goes on for 7 days, and we’ll be able to enjoy the horse parades through the main streets of Jerez.
The fair is situated in the Gonzalez Hontoria Park, that has fair huts with different atmospheres, some offer gastronomic specialities of the area and are a good place to stop for something to eat. There is also a tapas and decoration contest that’s worth mentioning in which each year the majority of the fair huts present in the fair compete against each other (around 250 in total).
There are many people that use the typical costumes during the fair, the flamenco dress for the women and the short suit for those who ride on the horses.
The typical drink of Jerez is the 'Rebujito' which is made with sherry mixed with lime. Amongst the food we’ll find there is the fried fish and other typical dishes of this town like the ox tail and the typical seafood from Cadiz.
The fair of Jerez has a calendar available until the year 2016:
2016: from the 24th of April to the 1st of May.
2015: from the 3rd to the 10th of May.
2014: from the 11th to the 18th of May.
We recommend a visit to the Santa Maria Port, at a short distance away, where the quality of the fish and seafood is famous in its fried fish bars.
To get to Jerez we must take the Mediterranean highway, passing by San Roque we’ll head north crossing through the natural park of Los Alcornocales along the A-361 until we reach Cadiz, we follow the indications until we get to Jerez de la Frontera.
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