Having seen the beautiful village of Moclín on BBC TV’s ‘Amanda and Alan’s Spanish Job’ (now on BBC iPlayer), you may feel inspired to come and visit over the summer, and in this blog post we will look at some of things that will be taking place this year. Also, if you are thinking about buying a house in the area, then spending a little time exploring before you buy is a great idea, and these events will give you some of the best insights into life in the area.

Our own rental property, Esperanza 9, is now almost fully booked until the end of November (bar one or two short breaks that have become available due to cancellations; contact us if you want to double-check availability), but we have listed all the alternative accommodation providers in an earlier blog post, so book a stay and then enjoy a fabulous, cultural and party-filled summer in Moclín.

If you’d like a truly immersive Moclín experience, there is still time to book a week on one of our Cultural and Creative Course holidays during which you will be inspired by the beautiful landscapes, the art, food, music and people of the area.

Creating Mosaic Art, 20th - 27th May 2025.

This is such a lovely week of creating personal pieces of mosaic art and adding to a permanent mosaic frieze in one of the village’s squares - a lasting reminder of your creative contribution! No experience is necessary and everyone is welcome.

“I’ve just spent the most amazing week on this mosaic course, and I am already longing to go back!
The whole experience was just lovely - a stunning location, great accommodation with fantastic views from my room, wonderful food prepared and cooked for us by our lovely hosts Ian and Andrew, who were kind, welcoming and attentive - nothing was too much trouble.
We were taken for several trips including a visit to Granada for tapas and an evening walk, and to local villages to see craft markets and a guitar concert. Ian and Andrew happily shared their knowledge of the history and local culture, enthusiastically conveying their love of the place.
The mosaic course itself was wonderful - thanks to my fellow students, and our wonderful teacher Linda who was kind, patient, funny, talented and hardworking. In addition to creating a small mosaic to take home, we also created a group mosaic which is now permanently installed on a wall in the village as a contribution to the local community.
It was nice that the course was running concurrently with an acrylic landscape painting course, so we were able to share our experiences with others.
I would highly recommend - a truly magical, relaxing , creative week with lovely people in a beautiful place - thanks to everyone involved!” Jane

Acrylic painting and Mosaic exhibition in the village.

Flamenco: Dance, Music and History, 17th - 24th June 2025.

Viewers of ‘Amanda and Alan’s Spanish Job’ will have seen snippets of our Flamenco course in episode 4 of the programme as Alan and Amanda joined us and our guests on stage at the end of the performance. This is a week that truly gets under the skin of Andalucian culture, as the sounds of guitar, clapping and percussive feet drift across the surrounding landscapes and up towards the castle. You do not have to have any experience at all, and this is a course that is life-affirming fun for men and women! Andrew and I both learned Flamenco with Natalie for our wedding and I have 2 left feet! The course is not just about learning some dance steps: it is a detailed and fascinating look into the history and the rhythms of this most emotive of art forms and we love it. So do our guests:

Amanda and Alan on Stage with our flamenco course guests.

“Without doubt, the Flamenco Dancing, History & Music course has been the best authentic travel and dancing experience I've ever had (and I've been dancing and travelling for many years!). Everything was unbelievable - it's hard to know how to begin describing the experience.

I'll start with the stunning town of Moclin - what an absolute gem hidden high up the mountain. The tiny village has the most incredible views and is steeped with history, with the Moclin castle ruins serving as a backdrop to the accommodation where the course was held. How can one not be inspired by such surroundings?

The course content, teachers and lessons far exceeded my expectations - it was a truly immersive experience. Jacob and Natalie were both very knowledgeable, passionate and true Flamenco masters. They helped me to understand that Flamenco is so much more than just how the steps are danced. On this course, I learnt about WHY it is danced, from authentic Flamenco tutors - an experience I feel is invaluable.

Ian and Andrew (and Alfie the dog #selfiewithalfie) are the reason this experience is so fantastic. I cannot express how grateful I am to have had them as our hosts. From the utterly delicious food they made, to the unique and interesting tours they took us on, to the fabulous conversations around the lunch and dinner table, they are the consummate hosts. They clearly have a love for what they do, as well as for Moclin, and it shows in every detail of the course.

Thank you Ian and Andrew for giving me this experience - I will never forget it and this will always be a very special memory for me. I'll see you again next year.” Amber

Other main events taking place in the area this summer:

31st May 2025. A Medieval Day in Moclín. ‘Moclín Escudo de Granada - Jornada Medieval’

Moclín is steeped in history dating back 23,000. This new day-long event will re-enact scenes from the time when the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel and Fernando, finally captured Moclín Castle where they then stayed for 6 years until the conquest of Granada in 1492. Come and join the entire municipality for a day of history, food, dance, music and theatre.

17th - 20th July 2025. Etnosur Festival, Alcalá las Real.

Last year, we went to Etnosur for the first time and we were absolutely blown away! I am not quite sure why it took us so long to discover this well-established music, art and food festival, and we went with no preconceptions. However, we lingered into the evening to witness some of the live performances and they were incredible. The atmosphere is wonderful, and the whole town is wrapped up in the spirit of the festival, and there is something here for everyone. Don’t miss it!

First Weekend of August 2025. Fusión Velillos. The first weekend of August is always full of life in Moclín as it is the village’s Cultural Week. Fusión Velillos, now in its 17th year, always falls on the first weekend of August and it is a rock festival spanning 2 nights: a real mix of some of the best Spanish rock music. Summer at its height, and these long, languid weekends are always full of music in the bars, fiestas in the villages, culture, and fun for all the family. Moclín’s Cultural Week also sees the theatre group put on their annual stage performance, and you may well see me in it. Throughout the summer, each village in the municipality has their own Cultural Week, so you are sure to find something to enjoy, in whichever village you are staying.

5th October 2025. Cristo del Paño. This is by far the biggest fiesta in the village and it attracts an average of 12,000 people. Early October is a lovely time to visit Moclín as it still very warm, with clear blue skies and plenty of sunshine, but the evenings are a little cooler and more comfortable. If you want to see a village in full swing over the course of several days, come and witness one of the most important classical religious festivals in Andalucia, designated an official event of Touristic Interest.

The villages in the municipality have their fiestas to coincide with their Patron Saints, and over the corresponding dates you will find the villages filled with music, dancing, food, drink and lots of great spirit and the warmest of welcomes.

13th June - San Antonio, Olivares.
16th July - Día del Carmen, Gumiel. For a tiny village, this fiesta manages to pack a punch!
24th September - Día Virgen de las Mercedes, Tiena.
29th September - San Miguel, Limones.

FURTHER AFIELD

3rd - 7th June 2025 - Milnoff Festival of Flamenco, Granada.

This is a relatively new addition to the Granada festival calendar and it was established to celebrate Granada’s undoubted position in the world of Flamenco. The festival brings together the finest exponents of this art form in a passionate whirlwind of dance, music and duende.

14th - 21st June - Corpus Christi and the Feria de Granada.

This visual feast of an event is where Alan Carr met our mayor, Marco, for a day at the Fair and you can follow in their footsteps!

Corpus in Granada is the city’s biggest fiesta with its origins dating back over 500 years to the time when the move was to Christianise the city following the advent of the Catholic Monarchs. The city comes alive with music and dance, and the people turn out in all their finery. This festival marks the opening of the long summer season of cultural events and it runs alongside the traditional feria, located on the outskirts of the city - all funfair, flamenco dresses, dancing, horses and endless bars!

19th June - 13th July - Granada International Festival of Music and Dance.

This is, possibly, our favourite festival of the year in Granada as it brings together such en eclectic blend of the finest music and dance from all over the world. We often get asked if we miss the theatre and concerts of London, but when this festival brings in the London Symphony Orchestra, the choir The Sixteen, Tenebrae, Daniel Barenboim, Riccardo Chailly, The Mariinsky Ballet, Ute Lemper and many more, performing in the most stunning locations, then it is hard to think of anything more special. For the main events, book tickets early!

End of July to Beginning of August - Granada Guitar Festival.

Twice we have been to opening concerts of this wonderful festival and the events were free to attend, located in the square in front of the enormous cathedral and we were both transported into an exquisite other world! The music, the dance, the setting: all quite magical. If you love Spanish classical and flamenco guitar, do not miss this festival. Dates for 2025 to be confirmed.

August; dates to be confirmed - Lorca y Granada en los Jardines del Generalife.

Federico García Lorca is Granada’s most famous son and he is hugely revered in the City and the Province. This annual festival takes an aspect of or theme inspired by a part of Lorca’s life and transposes it into a celebration of music and dance in its many forms. The location for the festival is the open-air theatre in the gardens of the Generalife in the Alhambra and there is little to compare with watching this show beneath the stars on a warm summer’s night. Dates for 2025 to be confirmed.