An evening of live entertainment, affordable food and family-friendly celebrations will once again bring the local community together.

Patron saint celebration returns

Velez-Malaga will once again come together celebrate its patron saint with the II Verbena de la Patrona (Patron Saint Festival), taking place on Saturday, August 15, at the Explanada del Cerro in the historic town centre. Organisers confirms a full evening of entertainment, with performances beginning at 8.30pm and continuing in true Spanish style until well after midnight. Put together by the local religious brotherhood, the cheery annual event gives attendees a chance to relax, eat, drunk and socialise while fundraising at the same time.

Evening programme packed with music and dance

Opening the event at 8.30pm will be the Elsa Guerra Dance Academy, followed at 9.30pm by performances from the Cristina Gallardo Dance Academy. Live music will begin at 10.30pm with the talented singer Benito Garcia, before Spanish group Ñ Clan headline the celebrations from midnight. Keeping your feet tapping throughout the evening will be DJ Palomares providing the tunes into the early hours.

Food, drink and scratch-and-win prizes

Visitors will also find a bar serving food and drinks at affordable prices, Another attraction will be the popular “Rasca y Gana” scratch-and-win raffle, where hundreds of prizes donated by local businesses will be available.

Organisers say more than 50 local companies, shops and commercial sponsors have contributed to this year’s festival. Their support has helped make the event possible and reflects strong backing from the wider Velez-Malaga business community.

Community support at the centre of the festivities

Much more than a night of entertainment, the festival serves as a fundraising and social event for the religious brotherhood responsible for organising celebrations connected to the town’s patron saint. Scheduled for August 15, on a public holiday and major religious feast day across Spain, the II Verbena de la Patrona is a wonderful opportunity for residents to support local traditions.

Firefighters across Murcia’s north-west have been put through their paces today, battling three separate blazes in Moratalla, Cehegin, and Caravaca de la Cruz. Heavy smoke and strong wind gusts have made for an extremely tough shift on the frontline, with regional authorities pulling out all the stops to prevent widespread destruction.

Emergency callers rang 112 at around 3.50pm after spotting flames rising near Cortijo de Jabanas, right by the forest track connecting Inazares and La Rogativa in Moratalla. Local residents quickly alerted authorities about the fast-moving wall of fire, triggering a massive multi-agency response.

Regional President Fernando Lopez Miras officially activated the regional emergency Plan Infomur, calling in extra help to tackle the growing inferno. Over 100 forestry personnel and 11 aircraft were rapidly scrambled to the scene, including water-dropping helicopters from Murcia’s public safety department, ministry aircraft, and reinforcement teams sent across border lines from neighbouring Castilla-La Mancha.

¡Puf! Un kilómetro de frente de llama. Esta tarde (08/08/2026), se acaba de declarar un #incendio en el término municipal de #Moratalla (#Murcia), entre Puerto Hondo e Inazares. Los medios de extinción ya están trabajando para contener el avance del fuego. Vídeo: @Plan_INFOCAM. pic.twitter.com/2w4EXhgePr

— MeteOrihuela (@MeteOrihuela) August 8, 2026

High winds complicate firefighting efforts in Moratalla

Strong wind gusts exceeding 35 km/h have made air support operations tricky, blowing hot embers across dry terrain and feeding the flames. Ground crews consisting of 14 forest brigades have been working non-stop to cut firebreaks and surround the active front. Emergency coordinators have not yet given an official figure for total burnt land or declared the perimeter contained, meaning teams face a long night ahead on ground duty.

Cehegin and Caravaca extinguished after snap action

Efectivos del #Plan Infomur combaten un incendio forestal en #Moratalla

Intervienen:

✅@defensaforeMUR
✅@aamm_murcia
✅@dgsce_RM
✅@mitecogob
✅@gobjccmhttps://t.co/tfK7ZKGEIK pic.twitter.com/6faGQ7CPZb

— 112 Región de Murcia (@112rmurcia) August 8, 2026

Earlier during the day, crews had already dealt with two separate fire outbreaks in neighbouring districts. Emergency services received urgent calls at 12.38pm regarding an agricultural fire at La Pollera in Cehegin. Heliborne brigades and regional fire units rushed to the scene, successfully putting out the flames before they could spread beyond a 12,000-square-metre patch of farmland.

Meanwhile, another small outbreak flared up near El Moral in Caravaca de la Cruz. Firefighters assisted by a ministry helicopter based in La Alberquilla quickly tackled the incident, locking down the burn area to just 120 square metres.

Lightning strikes from heavy storms the day before have left forestry officers on high alert across the entire region. Rapid intervention teams remain stationed around Caravaca de la Cruz to watch for hidden embers that could ignite under the summer heat.

Imágenes y video que @defensaforeMUR nos manda del incendio de #Moratalla pic.twitter.com/Va9qMpGLMQ

— 112 Región de Murcia (@112rmurcia) August 8, 2026

If you’re looking for authentic Thai cuisine on the Costa del Sol, Thai Garden Fuengirola continues to raise the bar.

Since opening, their mission has been simple: to bring the genuine flavours of Thailand to the heart of Fuengirola. Every dish is freshly prepared by a Thai family using traditional recipes, quality ingredients and authentic cooking techniques. As their reputation has grown, so has their menu.

Keeping you cool

Summer in Fuengirola is wonderful, but it can also be hot. That’s why they’ve installed brand-new sunshades across their terrace, making Thai Garden one of the coolest and shadiest places to relax on one of the town’s sunniest streets. Whether you’re joining them for lunch, dinner or simply a refreshing drink, you can now enjoy authentic Thai cuisine in complete comfort while watching the world go by.

Discover authentic Thailand

Thai Garden’s menu continues to expand with regional dishes that are rarely found outside Thailand.

One of their newest specialities is Khao Soi, the legendary curry noodle soup from Northern Thailand. Rich coconut curry, tender meat, egg noodles, crispy noodles and traditional pickles combine to create one of Thailand’s most celebrated regional dishes. Outside Thailand, authentic Khao Soi is surprisingly rare. At Thai Garden you can enjoy the real taste of Northern Thailand, without having to fly to Thailand. No jet lag, just authentic Thai food.

They’ve also introduced their homemade spicy Thai sausage, traditional Thai Fish Cakes, and our Fall-Off-The-Bone Pork Ribs, slow-cooked until beautifully tender before being finished with their own Thai-style glaze.

To finish your meal, don’t miss their incredible Mango Sticky Rice, one of Thailand’s most iconic desserts and a favourite with their guests.

Summer sunshine salads

Perfect for warm Mediterranean days, their colourful Summer Sunshine Salads have become one of this season’s biggest hits. Choose from refreshing Mandarin, Grapefruit, Green Mango, Pineapple or Watermelon salads, all bursting with fresh herbs, vibrant Thai flavours and priced at just €12. Add tofu, chicken, pork, duck or prawns to make the perfect light lunch or evening meal.

Vegan & gluten-free choices

At Thai Garden Fuengirola they believe everyone should be able to enjoy authentic Thai food. That’s why they offer a wide range of clearly marked vegan and gluten-free dishes, prepared with the same care and authentic flavours as the rest of their menu. Whether you have dietary requirements or simply prefer plant-based food, you’ll find plenty of delicious choices.

Hawkstone Served Here

Thai Garden Fuengirola are proud to serve Hawkstone Lager and Hawkstone Cider, the award-winning drinks from Jeremy Clarkson’s farming team. Whether you prefer an ice-cold premium lager or a crisp refreshing cider, Hawkstone is the perfect accompaniment to authentic Thai cuisine.

Outstanding Value

Their popular 3-course lunch menu is still just €16, including a starter, main course and a drink, making it one of Fuengirola’s best lunchtime offers.

Can’t make it to the restaurant? Thai Garden is available through Glovo and Uber Eats, bringing authentic Thai flavours straight to your door.

They’re now open seven days a week from 1pm until late.

Thai Garden Fuengirola are also incredibly proud to be averaging one new 5-star review for every day they’ve been open, a wonderful reflection of the support they’ve received from local residents and visitors.

Whether you’re discovering Thai Garden Fuengirola for the first time or returning to try their latest dishes, they will extend a warm welcome to you.

Experience the real taste of Thailand… without the flight.

THAI GARDEN FUENGIROLA

• Authentic Thai Cuisine
• Calle del Castillo 12, Fuengirola
• 61 40 40 420
• Open 7 Days a Week • 1pm Until Late
• New Shaded Terrace • Summer Sunshine Salads • Vegan & Gluten-Free Options • €16 Lunch Menu • Hawkstone Served • Glovo & Uber Eats