What to Do on the Costa del Sol This Weekend: Eight Plans from 11 to 13 September

Eight Things to Do This Weekend

The second weekend of September offers something for almost everyone. Málaga city, Vélez-Málaga, Rincón de la Victoria, Fuengirola, Ojén, Guaro and Estepona will host cultural, sporting and food-related events.

Many activities are free, although some performances and sporting events require tickets or have limited capacity.

Watch La Vuelta Depart from Vélez-Málaga

Stage 19 of La Vuelta a España will begin in Vélez-Málaga on Friday 11 September. The neutralised start is scheduled for 11:50 a.m., followed by the official racing start at 12:06 p.m.

The riders will pass through Vélez-Málaga before continuing towards Almayate, Benajarafe, Rincón de la Victoria, Málaga, the Serranía de Ronda, San Pedro Alcántara and Estepona.

The finish at Peñas Blancas is expected at approximately 5:14 p.m., although the precise time will depend on the speed of the race. Watching from the roadside is free, but road closures and parking restrictions will be in place.

Date: Friday 11 September.
Location: departure from Calle Blas Infante in Vélez-Málaga and finish at Peñas Blancas, Estepona.
Time: neutralised start at 11:50 a.m.; estimated finish at 5:14 p.m.
Price: free.

The full route is available from the official La Vuelta website and Vélez-Málaga Town Hall.

Enjoy a Free Video Game and Geek Culture Party

Rosaleda Shopping Centre will host Freak Party On Tour, a family event dedicated to gaming, board games and popular culture.

The programme includes Nintendo Switch and PlayStation gaming areas, potion and craft workshops, dance activities, themed displays and photocalls inspired by films and television series.

Dates: Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September.
Location: Rosaleda Shopping Centre, Avenida Simón Bolívar, Málaga.
Times: Friday from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Price: free admission.

Updates can be checked through the official Rosaleda Shopping Centre channels.

Walk Through Candlelit Guaro

The Luna Mora Festival will transform Guaro’s old town on Friday and Saturday evening. Thousands of candles will illuminate streets filled with culture, music, crafts and food.

An Andalusian-inspired market will feature artisan products, pastries, tea and local specialities. Street entertainment, workshops and family activities also form part of the celebrations.

Dates: Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September.
Location: Guaro old town.
Price: general admission is free; some performances inside dedicated venues may require tickets.

Further information is available from the official Costa del Sol tourism website.

Taste Free Anchovies in Rincón de la Victoria

The Victorian Anchovy Festival will conclude with the Sabor a Málaga food fair in Plaza Al-Ándalus. Producers will offer Málaga wines, cheeses, olive oils, bread, honey, chocolate, cured meats and other regional products.

The fair will open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Friday’s programme includes a live cooking demonstration at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, Iván Zea will perform at 2:00 p.m. and Miranda Cuenca at 8:00 p.m. Sunday will feature a children’s puppet show at noon and music from Señor Mirinda at 7:00 p.m.

A total of 67 local venues will also serve free portions of fried or marinated anchovies during lunch, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., and dinner, from 8:30 to 10:00 p.m., while supplies last.

Dates: Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September.
Main location: Plaza Al-Ándalus, Rincón de la Victoria.
Price: free fair, entertainment and tastings; market products are sold separately.

The full programme and restaurant list are available from the official Rincón de la Victoria tourism website.

Free Traditional Soup, Classic Cars and Jazz in Ojén

Ojén will combine three events on Saturday 12 September. A free tasting of traditional sopa ojeneta will begin at 2:00 p.m. in Plaza de Andalucía.

The town will also hold its first classic car gathering. At 8:00 p.m., the 11th Ojén Jazz Festival will begin with performances by Masha Ocean 4tet and Valentín Murillo Grupo.

Date: Saturday 12 September.
Location: Plaza de Andalucía and surrounding streets, Ojén.
Times: soup tasting from 2:00 p.m.; jazz from 8:00 p.m.
Price: free.

No overall finishing time or advance booking requirement has been announced. Updates are available from Ojén Town Hall.

Watch Unicaja Play Real Madrid

The 15th Costa del Sol Basketball Tournament will conclude on Saturday with Unicaja against Real Madrid at Málaga’s Martín Carpena arena.

The match starts at 7:00 p.m. and general tickets cost €8. Very few seats remained available when the latest official information was published, so availability should be checked before travelling.

Tickets for Friday’s Real Madrid versus La Laguna Tenerife game in San Pedro Alcántara have already sold out.

Date: Saturday 12 September.
Location: José María Martín Carpena Sports Palace, Málaga.
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Price: €8, subject to availability.

Remaining tickets can be checked through the official Unicaja Basketball website.

Experience West End Musicals in Fuengirola

Mike Sterling will return to Fuengirola’s Salón Varietés with The Wonderful West End, an English-language show featuring songs from famous musicals.

The programme draws on productions including The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Evita, Wicked, West Side Story, Hamilton, Jesus Christ Superstar and We Will Rock You.

Dates: Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September.
Location: Salón Varietés Theatre, 30 Calle Emancipación, Fuengirola.
Time: 7:30 p.m. on both evenings.
Price: ticketed event; advance booking is recommended.

Tickets and availability can be checked directly with the Salón Varietés Theatre.

A Charitable Ham Event and ABBA Tribute in Estepona

Estepona’s Plaza del Ajedrez will host its first Charitable Ham Carvers Gathering on Sunday. Around 40 professionals will take part in an event featuring music, raffles and tastings.

The gathering will run from noon to 6:00 p.m. Plates of ham will cost €5, with proceeds going to the Spanish Association Against Cancer in Estepona.

The day can continue at 7:00 p.m. at the Felipe VI Theatre Auditorium, where Generation ABBA will present a two-hour tribute featuring live music, projections and costume changes.

Date: Sunday 13 September.
Locations: Plaza del Ajedrez and Felipe VI Theatre Auditorium, Estepona.
Times: charitable gathering from noon to 6:00 p.m.; concert at 7:00 p.m.
Price: free entry to the gathering, with ham plates costing €5; the concert is ticketed.

Estepona Town Hall provides further information about the charitable gathering and the Generation ABBA show.

Times, capacity limits and ticket availability may change. Visitors should check each organiser’s official channels before travelling.