The festival in Alanís de la Sierra kicked off the season of medieval fairs and events that herald the arrival of fall getaways. Just over 30 minutes from the city of Seville, the town of Los Molares is preparing to take a trip back in time on October 3 and 4. The town is celebrating its iconic Silk Fair, a historical reenactment event that brings back the splendor of its ancient 16th-century markets.
Throughout the weekend, its cobblestone streets and the area surrounding its monumental 14th-century fortress will be transformed into a living medieval setting . This marks the seventh edition of this event, which commemorates the town’s original market charter granted in 1465.
A historic market with the scent of silk and spices
The origins of this festival date back to the Middle Ages and the early modern period, when Los Molares hosted one of Andalusia’s most important trade fairs for cloth, textiles, and silk.
To commemorate that golden age, this year’s festival will focus on traditional trades and crafts.
Dozens of period stalls will line the historic district, offering artisanal products, local cuisine, soap-making, weaving, and pottery.
Knights, bagpipes, and castle tours
The atmosphere will be brought to life by a full program of activities designed for the whole family.
Parades and live music featuring bagpipers, stilt walkers, and fantastical characters will wind through the market all day long. These will be complemented by demonstrations of knightly combat, period encampments, and live craft demonstrations.
In addition, Los Molares Castle will open its doors for guided tours of its ramparts and historic halls.
And as night falls, the main square will come alive with circus performances, acrobats, and fire jugglers.
Schedule for the Los Molares Silk Fair
- 12:00 p.m.: Market opening, procession, and fair inauguration (starting at Calle Real). Grand parade: Titan Maximus (Elephants and their army of white shadows), “The Giant Count-Duke,” musical parade by Grupo Treefolk, and the “Jugglers and Stilt Walkers” parade.
- 1:00 p.m.: circus and acrobatics performance “The Wizard of the Golden Route” on Calle Duque de Alcalá, followed by the “Jesters and Troubadours” parade.
- 1:30 p.m.: Musical parade by Grupo Treefolk and the “El gigante Conde-Duque” parade.
- 4:30 p.m.: Musical theater performance “Quixote” (puppets, dance, and music) at the Castillo Auditorium, along with a musical parade by Grupo Treefolk.
- 5:00 p.m.: “Jesters and Troubadours” parade.
- 5:30 p.m.: “Thamur” grand parade.
- 6:00 p.m.: Parade “The Fakir Loquillo and His Knives.”
- 6:30 p.m.: Procession of ladies and knights for the tournament (departing from Calle Real), musical parade by Grupo Treefolk, and street theater performance “The Plague in the Golden Age.”
- 7:00 p.m.: “Carrera de Cintas” horseback tournament on Calle Duque de Alcalá and the concert “Una fiesta barroca” by Cuarteto Súbito in Plaza Alcalde-Poeta Esteban Pérez Ruiz.
- 8:00 p.m.: Musical parade by Grupo Treefolk, street theater performance “The Plague in the Golden Age,” and street show “La Homa” (aerial acrobatics) at the Church Porch.
- 8:30 p.m.: “Arte sonoro” concert featuring Emilio Villalba and Sara Marina in Plaza Alcalde-Poeta Esteban Pérez Ruiz.
- 9:30 p.m.: “La secta” masked parade and the grand “Drakon’s” parade (Dragons and Tamer).
- 10:30 p.m.: “Subumbra” grand parade.
Sunday, October 4
- 11:00 a.m.: Market opens.
- 12:00 p.m.: Musical parade by Grupo Treefolk, “17th-Century Dance” parade, and “Jugglers and Stilt Walkers” parade.
- 12:30 p.m.: Circus and acrobatics show “The Wizard of the Golden Route” on Calle Real.
- 1:00 p.m.: “Jesters and Troubadours” parade.
- 1:30 p.m.: Musical parade by the Treefolk Group and the “17th-Century Dance” parade.
- 4:30 p.m.: Children’s play “My Friend, The Little Prince” (Lunatika Atarazana Theater Company) in Plaza Alcalde-Poeta Esteban Pérez Ruiz, followed by a musical parade featuring Grupo Treefolk.
- 5:00 p.m.: “Jesters and Troubadours” parade.
- 6:00 p.m.: Period costume contest (registration at the Silk Fair Association booth in Plaza Alcalde-Poeta Esteban Pérez Ruiz) and parade featuring “The Juggler and the Giant Plant Man.”
- 6:30 p.m.: Procession of ladies and knights for the tournament (departing from Calle Real), musical parade by Grupo Treefolk, and street theater performance “Soldiers of the Tercios on Horseback.”
- 7:00 p.m.: “Carrera de Cintas” horseback tournament on Calle Duque de Alcalá.
- 8:00 p.m.: Concert by the band The Groggy Dogs, “Two Centuries of Sailors’ Dances and Pirates,” in Plaza Alcalde-Poeta Esteban Pérez Ruiz; street theater performance “Soldiers of the Tercios on Horseback”; and street show “Jarana” at the Church Portico.
- 8:30 p.m.: Musical parade by the Treefolk Group.
- 9:00 p.m.: “Ánimas amordazadas” nighttime parade.
- 9:30 p.m.: “Errantes” grand parade.
- 10:00 p.m.: Closing ceremony of the fair and fireworks.
