Malaga Fair: Family-run stalls from generation to generation

During the Feria de Málaga, thousands of people roam the streets of the center, brimming with music, laughter, and a great atmosphere. For this reason, many decide to take home a souvenir to remember a festival full of folklore and tradition.

In this context, vendor stalls appear along the streets. Magnets, sunglasses, wine glasses, but there is something that stands out above the rest, becoming a best seller during the Fair days. "What usually sells the most are flowers and fans. In Málaga it's terribly hot, especially during these Fair days. The best thing to combat this heat is a fan," explains Juan Manuel Rosa, a 27-year-old who has been running a stall at Plaza de la Marina for over ten years.

"The stall is my father's. It used to belong to my grandfather, then passed to my father, and now I am working with him, who is at another stall on calle Larios. It's a family business; my father, my cousin, my uncle, my sister also work, as in any business of this type," he adds. "We also work at football and basketball games. There we sell soft drinks, sunflower seeds, and sweets. At village fairs, we also sell cubalitros and drinks."

"The best part of working here is that it's very lively. You see the atmosphere, the verdiales performing, the malagueñas, all this exudes art. I entertain myself for a while as I come to help my father at his stall," comments María Teresa González de Luna while restocking her stall with blue flowers on Calle Larios.

"My grandfather was a fairground worker, and we decided to continue the tradition," says Miriam Doblas, who is 20 years old and has worked a couple of fairs alongside her father. "Now we have another type of buyers. There are more tourists, so now the merchandise is more oriented towards this audience. We have fans and bags with the name of Málaga designed for tourists who want to take home a gift or a souvenir. Earrings and brooches are also sold," she explains.

"What I like most about working at the Fair is the contact with people. They always come to have fun and enjoy themselves. They are very happy and content, and that happiness eventually transmits while you work. We are at a party to have a good time, and in the end, that's what counts," adds Doblas.

"It seems that there is less work each time. It seems that there is less atmosphere than in the Real," adds Rosa, noting that there are more and more tourists. "The first day is always a big hit, but from there it goes downhill. Although there are not as many stalls in the center, I think it is something with a historical value in Málaga and I believe it should be cared for a bit more," he concludes.

More than just simple vendor stalls, the businesses in the center of Málaga reflect a family tradition and are part of the Fair's landscape. With each purchase at these establishments, one not only supports a local business but also backs a legacy of generations that have made a festivity part of their life. Thus, among flavors, colors, and polka dots, these stalls remind us that tradition can also be inherited.