Speakers are being plugged in and locals are grabbing their dancing shoes, for a night of boogying and singing by the water for Party in the Square September 2026.

A free night of music beside the boats

Saturday, September 19, brings back Party in the Square, one of Manilva’s favourite nights out. Festivities run from 7pm through to midnight, taking over the small square at the heart of the port. Live music comes courtesy of local favourite Rocking Johnny, a performer who has been keeping Costa del Sol crowds on their feet for more than two decades, with good tunes and good company promised until the small hours.

Raising money for Fundacion Aprona as local businesses rally round

Behind the festivities there sits a genuine cause. Every euro collected on the night goes to Fundacion Aprona, an Estepona-based charity delivering occupational therapy, specialist education, residential care and early childhood support for people with additional needs. Organisers have named it their chosen cause for this edition.

None of it comes together without support from the port’s own traders. Ryders, Corner Flag, Shandies, The Bar, Tobacconist and Morgan Hair Design have all put their names behind the September fundraiser, helping keep entry free for everyone who fancies popping down.

A rare full house for live music

Manilva has had a bumpy few months on the music front. A council cap limiting bars to a handful of licensed live music nights across the summer left several gigs in Duquesa cancelled or scaled back, much to the frustration of performers and venue owners who depend on the season for income. Rocking Johnny himself has been vocal about the toll, warning that elderly residents in particular rely on these nights for company and routine.

Getting there and what to expect

No tickets, no fuss — just turn up and party. Grab a drink from one of the surrounding bars, find a spot beneath the string lights and let the night carry you through to closing time. Families, regulars and first-time visitors are all welcome, the perfect way to close out the summer season.