Vélez-Málaga celebrates its Book Fair with the presence of a Planeta Prize winner

The municipality of Vélez-Málaga will host a new edition of its Book Fair from May 7 to 16, a well-established cultural event that will once again make the town a meeting point for readers, authors, and bookstores, with a program that combines literature, music, and activities and will also feature a visit from Espido Freire, the youngest woman to win a Planeta Prize.

Organized by the Department of Culture, the fair will offer a wide range of activities including panel discussions, book presentations, theatrical performances, children's activities, and live music, with the goal of promoting reading habits and bringing culture closer to the citizens.

In addition to Freire, the event will feature the presence of philosopher José Antonio Marina, essayist Javier Gomá, and popular science writer J. J. Benítez, who will participate in open discussions with the public.

The Plaza de las Carmelitas will be the epicenter of the fair, where booths dedicated to second-hand books and spaces for local bookstores will be set up, allowing them to display and sell their offerings. Additionally, for the second consecutive year, a specific booth for local authors will be available, where more than thirty writers from Vélez-Málaga will be able to present and sign their works.

The program also includes notable events such as the II Meeting of Reading Clubs of the Region, which will take place on May 16 at the Exile Center, or performances like “The Universe of Lorca,” which will combine music, poetry, and audiovisual content in tribute to the Granada-born author.

Throughout the ten days of the fair, the organization has also planned live musical activities, theatrical performances, poetry recitals, and free distribution of books, as well as specific programming aimed at children with storytelling, workshops, and shows designed for schoolchildren and families.

The councilor for Culture, Alicia Ramírez, has highlighted the participatory nature of this edition, conceived as an “interactive” fair, where the involvement of both authors and readers is sought. In this sense, the event will also serve as a tribute to figures linked to local culture, such as writer Margarita García Galán, as well as to highlight the literary legacy of authors like Salvador Rueda.

With this new edition, the capital of Axarquía reinforces its commitment to culture, offering a space where big names in literature coexist with local creators and activities designed for all audiences.