These are the five towns in Málaga where 24 June will be a public holiday to mark the feast of St John

The province of Málaga is preparing for one of the most eagerly awaited nights at the start of summer. From the evening of Tuesday 23 June into the early hours of Wednesday 24 June, beaches and public spaces across numerous municipalities will host concerts, popular celebrations, bonfires and the traditional burning of the ‘júas’ effigies.

However, after a long night of San Juan celebrations, most residents across Málaga will have to return to their usual routines. The 24th of June is not a province-wide public holiday, meaning shops, businesses and services will operate as normal throughout much of the province.

The situation will be different in five municipalities that have included Saint John the Baptist’s Day among their local public holidays. Residents of these towns will be able to enjoy the celebrations at a more relaxed pace, as the date will be an official holiday in their respective municipalities.

The five municipalities in Málaga where San Juan will be a public holiday

The five municipalities in the province of Málaga that will celebrate 24 June as a local public holiday are:

• Nerja
• Benalmádena
• Alhaurín de la Torre
• Cuevas Bajas
• Humilladero

Two of them, Nerja and Benalmádena, are located on the Costa del Sol. Alhaurín de la Torre lies in the Guadalhorce Valley, Cuevas Bajas is situated in the north-eastern area of the province, while Humilladero forms part of the Antequera Plain.

Why is 24 June a public holiday in these towns?

The choice of this date is linked to the celebration of Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint of all five municipalities. In addition to the traditional bonfires and activities held during the Night of San Juan, these towns organise a range of religious, cultural and festive events around 24 June.

In some cases, the celebration is also one of the main dates in the municipalities’ annual fairs and patron saint festivities. For this reason, their local councils have designated Saint John the Baptist’s Day as one of their official local public holidays.

Andalusia’s official calendar of non-working days lists 24 June as a local public holiday in Nerja, Benalmádena, Alhaurín de la Torre, Cuevas Bajas and Humilladero.

Business as usual across the rest of the province

Outside these five municipalities, Wednesday 24 June will generally be a normal working day. Supermarkets, shops, businesses and other services are expected to operate according to their usual opening hours, although individual establishments may introduce changes due to the San Juan celebrations.

Anyone planning to travel, go shopping or visit a particular establishment is therefore advised to check its specific opening hours, especially in coastal towns where events will continue throughout the night.

Source: La Opinión de Málaga