Program

The Jódar Fair was granted by Royal Decree of Isabel II in 1837. As in Jódar there was no scheduled date for merchants and ranchers to meet to sell and discuss all genres, it was decided that on days two, three and four of September the aforementioned fair was held. The fair was mounted in the so-called Carrera del Pelotero (C /. General Fresneda). The bars and stalls were set up in the widening between Antonio Nieto and Lope de Vega streets, where there were some large trees. The "cunicas", ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds were placed in the old square next to the church door that overlooked Carrera de San Marcos (C /. Juan Martín), where the parish priest's house is currently located, built in 1927.

Later, the Fair went to Plaza de la Constitución (Plaza de España) and Calle Los Morales (C /. San Fernando), where the gypsies would hang out. Something typical were the capeas that were celebrated in said square, surrounding it with tablados.

History of the Fair

The origin or antiquity of the bullfights in Jódar documentary date back to the middle of the seventeenth century. As a result of a collapse of a platform, these capeas were suppressed and the current bullring was built (inaugurated in 1926 by private initiative) by the businessman Basilio Lahoz. In our bullring the best bullfighting figures have paraded to this day.

In the 1940s the fair was moved to the Paseo de José Antonio (Paseo Primero de Mayo) and Joaquín Galván street, in the surrounding streets the cattle fair was mounted. There were great shows in cinemas, cafes, like Andrés's, where the so-called "cheerleaders" came.

There were two festivals, one in the market place and the other in the casino gardens, and they were popularly known as "the one for the poor" and the "one for the rich." Feature films were screened -in the 10s of the last century, with a large sheet in front of the church façade, silent films were screened- and later in various cinemas such as: the Gran Cinema, Plaza de Toros and the Arroquia Theater , first, and then at the Teatro Principal. Between the sixties and seventies of the last century, the real of the fair was put on in the Ejido, and in the mid-seventies in the neighborhood of Fátima.

Then it went to Luis Carvajal street, Sanabria and Camino de la Leña, expanding to the current avenue of San Miguel de Fluviá. When the new fairground was built in "El Caballo", the fair gained in spaciousness and comfort, being one of the largest venues in the province.

At the Jódar fair, it is worth highlighting the Flamenco Art Festival (founded in 1972), of great tradition and tradition, and one of the oldest in the province; the Cita con la Música Folk (founded in 1972), organized by the folk music group "Andaraje", and in which groups of great national prominence take part, being the oldest non-competitive meeting in southern Europe; Among the events of the fair we highlight the proclamation, given by a person of local relevance or related to Jódar, who pronounces it from the balcony of the town hall, the cultural and sports activities of the "Pórtico de Feria", highlighting the Ciudad de Fútbol Trophy Jódar, the motocross championship, greyhound races ... Concerts are also held in the Municipal Booth of the Palomares Municipal Auditorium, as well as well-attended bullfights in the Plaza de Toros, contests and children's attractions. Currently the fair is held from August 31 to September 5.