Horses and Sherry: Spain’s Feria De Jerez
DATING BACK TO MEDIEVAL TIMES, THIS MOST CELEBRATED FESTIVAL HAS NOT LOST ITS APPEAL AND ALLURE
Dating back to medieval times, this most celebrated festival has not lost its appeal and allure
GROWING UP IN SPAIN made me fully aware that there are numerous celebrations in every part of the country that are rich in culture and traditions and which we are still living up to this day. I’ve always wanted to travel and taste what each city and town has to offer. Most festivals originated centuries ago and some have been known only through textbooks. Being invited by Gonzalez Byass (“Tio Pepe”), famous for their sherry wines, to experience one of the most talked about celebrations in the country got me excited.
Feria de Jerez
Dubbed as the most important festival in the city of Jerez de la Frontera, this horse fair dates back to medieval times when farmers bought and sold their animals. They closed the deal by sharing drinks, which is the main attraction of our itinerary. This is a must-see if you are planning a trip in that region.
Seeing the Feria de Jerez poster with these Zorro and The Adventures of Indiana Jones vibes made it quite interesting.
The moment we arrived at our destination, I saw how their culture was so vibrant! There are so many things to explore and look at, I did not even know where to start.
The place is so huge that it is divided into two parts: the Casetas, a small pop-up village lined up with restaurants and bars, and a theme park where kids and kids-at-heart can have fun and enjoy rides like roller coaster, bumper cars, etc.
Countless light bulbs
We were welcomed with a long and huge display of hundreds of thousands unlighted bulbs and once lighted, you just knew things would get real and wigs could get snatched. Very fascinating! These bulbs are arranged in an artsy manner that it is almost impos
sible not to notice once you reach the city. This is what they call the Gateway. It is magnificent. You are awed, the same feeling you have when you appreciate an art piece in a museum.
Horses everywhere
And these are not just horses, but fashionable horses. Don’t mind the heat of the sun burning your precious arms, face, and nape. Every horse is worth taking a selfie with. Also, look at how nice the carriage looks!
The typical horse-drawn carriage for rent goes around la Feria. There are different designs and sizes pulled by two to four horses that can accommodate four to six people. A 20-minute ride within the compound costs around 25 to 30 Euros. It is actually a very nice way to get an idea of the magnitude of the event.
Fashion and sophistication
These two are what made my head turn every time I saw women riding in a horse-drawn carriage or even riding a horse. Letting women perform the same activities that men do is a good start at breaking stereotypes. Also, who says polka dots are so 2016 when in fact they can still pull it off today? It’s nice to see people enjoying the festive vibe of the event to the point that I enjoyed watching them.
‘Hola, Tio Pepe!’
Feria de Jerez cannot be completely pulled off without a good gulp of sherry. Amazed by the celebration, we directed our way to Caseta Tio Pepe, whose first barrels of sherry were exported to London in 1844. Since then it has been regarded as the golden standard of sherry production and even the #1 seller of fino sherry in the world! They had the biggest Caseta in the feria.
The winery Bodegas Tio Pepe is an architectonic masterpiece of Alexandre- Gustave Eiffel who landscaped the structure with gazillions of geranios, a typical Spanish flower used by many to decorate their gardens. As you must know, Eiffel is also the man behind the famous Eiffel Tower in France and the Statue of Liberty in the USA.
As much as I want to extend my stay in the city to roam around and learn new things, I had to go back to my hometown to share my takeaways with my family and friends. Spain has so much to offer and so many untapped and unexposed potentials that I wish the rest of the world can witness it. As someone who has seen the joy and excitement of Feria de Jerez, trust me when I say: You would never want to miss this.
Feria de Jerez is open to public at no charge.