Following is a very basic calendar of fiesta highlights . For more detailed information, consult local tourist offices. Outsiders are always welcome at fiestas JANUARY
16-17: San Antoni's day is preceded by bonfires and processions, especially on the Balearic Islands .
FEBRUARY
Carnaval (the week preceding Ash Wednesday and Lent) is an excuse for wild partying and masques, most riotous in Cádiz (Andalucía), Sitges (Catalunya), and Águilas (Valencia). MARCH 12-19 Las Fallas in Valencia is the biggest of the bonfire festivals held for San José, climaxing on the Night of Fire when enormous caricatures are burnt and firecrackers take over the streets.
Easter (March/April) Semana Santa (Holy Week) is celebrated across Spain with religious processions, at their most theatrical in the cities of Sevilla, Málaga, Murcia and Valladolid , where pasos - huge floats of religious scenes - are carried down the streets, accompanied by hooded penitents atoning for the year's misdeeds. Good Friday sees the biggest processions. APRIL
22-24: Moros y Cristianos - mock battle between Moors and Christians - in Alcoy, Valencia. (Similar events take place throughout the year all around Spain.
23: San Jordi - Catalunya's patron saint's day is a big party across the region and is also celebrated on National Book Day throughout Spain.
Last week: Feria de Abril - spectacular week-long fair at Sevilla. MAY
Early May: Horse Fair at Jerez (Andalucía).
7-22: San Isidro - Madrid's patron saint (15th) - is a signal for parades, free concerts, and the start of the bullfight season.
Pentecost (Whitsun:7th Sunday after Easter): the great pilgrimage to El Rocío, near Huelva (Andalucía).
Corpus Christi (Thursday after Trinity; May/June) is a focus for religious processions, accompanied by floats and penitents, notably in Toledo, Granada and Valencia. Many town fiestas also take place, including the spectacular costumed events of the Festa de la Patum (Catalunya). JUNE
23-24: San Juan and midsummer's eve is celebrated with bonfires all over Spain - particularly in San Juan de Alicante, where a local version of Las Fallas takes place.
29: San Pedro - patron of fishermen - is honoured by flotillas of boats, and partying all along the coast. JULY
7-14: San Fermin - the famed running of the bulls at Pamplona .
25: Santiago - Spain's patron saint, St James - is honoured at Santiago de Compostela, with fireworks and bonfires. AUGUST
10-11 : Elche (Valencia) hosts mock battles between Christians and Moors, ending with a centuries-old mystery play.
First/second week : Mass canoe races down the Río Sella in Asturias.
Third week: Toledo's main fiesta, climaxing in amazing fireworks at the weekend.
Last week: Gigantones (giant puppets) are paraded in Alcalá de Henares (Castile).
Last Wed (usually): La Tomatina in Buñol, near Valencia: the country's craziest fiesta, a two-hour tomato fight. SEPTEMBER
First week: Vendimia (grape harvest) celebrations at Valdepeñas (New Castile), Jerez (Andalucía) and other wine towns.
21: Rioja wine harvest celebrated in Logroño (Old Castile). OCTOBER
1: San Miguel Villages across the country celebrate their patron saint's day
12: La Virgen del Pilar - the patron saint of Aragón - is an excuse for bullfights and jota dancing at Zaragoza and elsewhere. DECEMBER
31: Nochevieja New year is celebrated by eating a grape for every stroke of the clock in Plaza del Sol in Madrid. | 
