Carnival

The "Chirigota" (groups of singers who make fun of everyone), fancy dress, crowning the Carnival Queen and Nymphs all adorn Olvera during the days of fiesta and fun.

Feast of San José (St Joseph)

19 March

Although devotion to St Joseph has been and still exists in many Olvera homes and it is a confirmed fact that that St Joseph has been Olvera’s Patron Saint for more that 200 years however, whether religious associations dedicated to him still exists remains unknown. It was towards the end of 1990, when the "Ntra. Sra. De los Remedios" Brotherhood was reorganised, and his name was included in its title and acts of worship were organised in his honour during the three days prior to the Feast, ending with a solemn mass on St Joseph’s day. However, the procession of the Saint’s image through the streets of Olvera did not start until 1994. From that date, every 19th Match, whether it be a weekend or not, after celebrating Mass at 6 o’clock in the evening, St Josephs effigy is paraded through the town.

Holy Week

Holy Week in Olvera has acquired many quaint peculiarities with the processions of the Penitents or Silence, The Students, The Captive, Jesus of Nazareth, Next to the Cross, and the Holy Burial Brotherhoods. With good reason, Holy Week in Olvera has been declared a celebration of touristic interest.

Romeria del Lunes e Quasimodo (The Quasimodo Pilgrimage)

A popular pilgrimage, also declared of touristic interest, is celebrated the second Monday after Easter Sunday when the town’s folk meet in the Herria de los Remedios to give thanks to the Virgin. It’s the only one in the Province that is celebrated on a weekday.

The Quasimodo Pilgrimage has its origins in the long drought the village suffered in 1715 and the plea of the villagers to Our Lady of Los Remedios for rain. According to tradition, it rained and in gratitude the villagers go every year in pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Los Remedios on the second Monday after Easter Sunday.

Feria de Ganado (Livestock Fair)

May

Popularly known as the May Fair, it began in 1930 and, the difference between this and the August Fair is that it was authorized by the Town Hall. Because of the political situation at the time, it could not be celebrated until 1935. Since it began and until the 60’s, it has been a livestock fair accompanied by other festivities. Nowadays it is restricted to just livestock, and his held at the same location as the Royal Fair and the Fiesta of St. Agustin and takes place during the 17, 18 and 19th of May.

Corpus Christi

June

The actual fiesta of Corpus Christi dates from the 13th Century although we don not know the exact date when it started in Olvera, it could have been the beginning of the 16th Century when there was a surge in religious belief in the area driven by the Brotherhood of the Holy Sacrament. Over the last few years it has become important to decorate the streets, as well as the balconies, windows and doors and to erect altars along the route of the procession.

Neighbourhood Dances

These are celebrated on Saturday´s during July and August in different areas of the village.

Celebration of Our Lady of the Remedios

This is the celebration of the Patron of Olvera, Our Lady of the Remedios, which coincides with the Holy Day of the Assumption, on the 15th of August. In 1966 the event was also used for her canonization.

During the month of August a “novena” is held in preparation for the fiesta of the Virgin and takes place from the 5th to the 13th August. The 14th of August at 12 o’clock midnight, they hold the first Mass in honour of the Virgin, to the detriment of the 8 o’clock morning Mass on the 15th August. The rest of the Masses that day are 11am, 1pm and 8pm.

Real Feria y Fiesta de San Agustin (Royal Fair and St. Augustin’s Festival)

from 27th – 30th of August

At the end of August, Olvera adorns itself in preparation for its Royal Fair and St Agustin´s Festival from 27th – 30th of August.

The first “Feria” was celebrated in 1710, granted by His Majesty Felipe V as a reward for the services given by the Olvera People in the middle of the Spanish War of the Succession.

Initially the “Feria” was for farmers and businesses. Nowadays the emphasis on farmers and businesses has lost its importance whilst the party atmosphere and fun has increased.

From 1971 until 2008 the “Feria” was held in the Vereda Ancha Street with the feria site extending to Manuel de Fallo Avenue where the Muncipal marquee was situated. But this was only the last of many locations where the “Feria” has been held within the town over the 3 centuries. Nowadays, it has a new “Reinto Ferial” on the outskirts of the town which, has eliminated the disturbance and congestion caused by the celebrations to the neighbourhood. The new site also as a purpose built pavilion for all types of events.