The Rota Feria de Primavera (Spring Fair) just ended. Usually held first May weekend and often…read morecoincides with MotoGP races in nearby Jerez de la Frontera. Unlike huge Jerez or Sevilla Ferias, Rota reflects the smaller town flavor that attracts so many people from neighboring cities and towns. Casetas line the streets offering visitors a view within of tables of people eating, others dancing sevillanas and just having a good time. Amusement rides and other attractions abound in a different part of the feria to offer something for every and anyone. I have noticed this year there is NO private caseta, meaning unlike bigger city ferias which have many casetas are private and only admit members of a club, society or a company, anyone can enter the Rota Feria casetas to eat, drink and dance, and I strongly recommend all visitors to do! Not a USA-state fair, but a traditional Andalucia event which is celebrated all over Andalucia during the summer months, starting in April/May till October. These ferias do NOT close at midnight every night but stay open ALL NIGHT and you'll probably see people walking home, or at least trying to walk... from the feria at 6, 7 or even 8 in the next morning!! Typically surprising many americans, are the high number of teens and/or younger kids with their friends of the same age at the feria past midnight till the wee-hours before the sun comes up; yet another culture shock! ;)
Food: At the casetas you can order anything on the menu which usually includes a lot of seafood, though many other items are available. Drinks are usually wines and sodas. There are many other non-caseta eateries throughout the feria making available to all who visit anything from jamon serrano, potato chips cut and fried right before your eyes, churros depending on what time of day it is (usually sold before noon), hamburgers for those who really need to have a burger instead of great local spanish foods, and more. Spanish families and friends typically come out to eat at lunch (remember you're in Andalucia and lunch is usually at about 2-3pm) and may stay for the rest of the day. Bring small bills.
Dress: I recommend visitors who haven't been to a Feria before to wear a collared shirt, and women to wear a nice dress unless you're wearing a flamenco dress ;) It'll be hot so be sure to bring a bottle of water, also available from the many casetas and other stands too. Don't forget a small hand fan to keep the heat off your beautifully dressed up partner. The streets are usually washed down several times a day (as in all ferias) so don't worry - it's just to keep the clay ground dust down. Wear a hat if able to, depending on how you're dressed, to keep the sun off your head.
Day-time activities: The are contests for horse-drawn carriages and horse-riders held at the stables & grounds just past the feria area and across the street. Just follow your nose ;) Usually during the day at about noon till about 6 to 7 in the late afternoon (remember that in Spain, it's not considered night till the sol disappears!!), are the horse carriages at the feria. You can ride the carriages around the feria - many are great carriages and very old. Watch where you step. Once the carriages are off the streets, street-cleaners come to clean away any horse mess that dropped on the street.
How to get there: Rota blue buses that run through town will drop you off at the Feria main entrance. Fare this year was 1,80€. Lines B and A were the bus lines making the feria runs. You can also drive there and walk of course. It's just past the Hotel Playa de la Luz BUT only buses and taxis are allowed the last mile or so on the coastal avenida; if coming by car you must drive/detour to Avenida de los Principles de España in order to reach the many parking areas by car and pay the uniformed attendants at each parking site. Where to catch the buses: at the silver sculptures of the hands in front of the electrical appliances store, or downtown just acrss the street from the gas station. Feria buses are marked in front and at the main doors. Drivers make change but bring small bills; exact change is always best.
Photo OPS: Bring your camera to record the great times you'll have at the feria! Remember that usually the sol will be high, hot and HOTTER. Use a low ISO to keep your picture image grain low, and don't forget - if you're inside a caseta - to ask others who are dancing sevillanas, if it's okay to snap them while dancing. It's the nice thing to do in this too virtual impersonal world we now live in. Bring a cleaning cloth to clean your lens in case dust or wine gets on your lens glass (I'm serious!!!).
Above all: Have a fabulous time at the Rota Feria anytime and everyti
