Grab your dancing shoes, and an empty stomach, because something sweet, spicy, savoury and fun is about to fill the streets of Rincon de la Victoria.

Streets full of food and family fun

For the second year running Rincon de la Victoria is bringing back its Gastrolatino Festival from August 13 to 16, transforming the Plaza Al-Andalus into a lively, bustling meeting point of food, music and culture for four flavour filled evenings. Organised by the town’s Department of Culture, Fairs and Festivals, the free-entry event is bringing the local area a taste of Latin America.

Each day kicks off at 6.30pm with ambient music and children’s entertainment, before the main musical acts and animation shows take over from 8pm onwards. Every evening will close with a tribute concert. Festivities will wrap up at midnight on Sunday, 16 August, following a tribute performance dedicated to Colombian star Carlos Vives.

Food, drink and entertainment on offer

Visitors can take a proper culinary journey without leaving the Malaga province. According to Rafa Urquiza, the event’s producer, attendees will be able to sample delicious Colombian arepas, juicy Chilean sandwiches and flavour filled Argentinian cuts of meat, with sweet treats including artisan ice cream and buñuelos rounding off the menu for those with a sweet tooth. A dedicated tropical cocktail area and a foodtruck zone will complement the stalls, giving festival-goers plenty of reasons to linger well into the night.

Dance fans will not be short of options either, with salsa, bachata, merengue and vallenato rhythms ready to fill the square across the four days.

Entry to the Gastrolatino Festival is free throughout. Whether you are a local resident or a holiday maker, make sure to wear your stretchy trousers and drop by the Plaza Al-Andalus to eat, drink, dance and sample what the town has to offer.

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.