More than 1,000 personnel from the three Spanish armed forces will take part in various exhibitions organised in Malaga from Friday 27th May. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía will be attending the event on Sunday as will the Minister of Defence, Carme Chacón, and other dignitaries. There will be various exhibitions and displays, starting today Friday with an exhibition on the Heredia wharf.
On Saturday morning there is a display by all three armed forces simulating a rescue of kidnapped civilians. This will take place on the Malagueta beach. After the simulation will come an aerobatic display by the Patrulla Águila, and the Navy aircraft carrier, Príncipe de Asturias, will be open to visitors.
The main event is scheduled for Sunday, 29th May at around midday in the Plaza del General Torrijos. King Juan Carlos will be presiding over the ‘Homenaje a la Bandera’ (Homage to the Flag) and the ‘Caídos’ (The Fallen) ceremonies.
After the formalities King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia will be hosting a reception for the dignitaries at the La Concepción Botanical gardens.
Although hotels in the centre of Malaga have reported that more than ninety per cent of their rooms are booked not everyone is as pleased. Around 200 people attended a demonstration in Malaga on Tuesday against the Dia de las Fuerzas Armadas saying that it was an unnecessary expense in a time of economic crisis.
The fiesta officially begins at midnight on Monday with the “lighting test”, the illumination of the thousands of multi-coloured light bulbs in the fairground and adorning the main gateway, which is almost 50 metres high and has a different motif every year. Once inside the gate you come to the “casetas”, and it is here where you really experience the fair. These tents belong to groups of friends and associates, and are a family space where acquaintances, relations and guests are welcomed in and plied with delicious food and wine; there is singing, good conversation and of course, "sevillanas", the local version of flamenco dancing. The lively and festive atmosphere spills over into the area outside the tents: people usually dance in the street, and the friendly personality of the Sevillian people will entice passers-by into the celebration. You should bear in mind that most of the stalls are privately owned and can be entered only by invitation from the members or their friends. There are however public tents which are open to all. The information office at the entrance to the fair will tell you which they are.
The Vatican has hosted its biggest event in years - the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II.
