Thousands of people gathered across Málaga’s beaches, promenades, terraces, and elevated spots at midnight on Friday to witness the spectacular light and music display that kicked off the city’s 2024 summer fair. The week-long feria, known for transforming Málaga into a hub of joy and entertainment, began in style, with the night sky serving as the perfect backdrop for the celebration. This annual event has become a major highlight of August in Spain.
This year’s festivities introduced a new element, with official events starting earlier in the afternoon. The revived historical cavalcade, a re-enactment of the 1487 handing over of the city’s keys to the Catholic Monarchs, wound its way through Málaga’s city center. This blend of tradition and modernity was followed by a dazzling drone and fireworks show that illuminated the night sky.
The drone light show, presented by Umiles - Drone Light Show, featured 280 drones flying simultaneously to create mesmerizing figures visible across the city. The drones, which flew at a height of 100 meters within a secure perimeter, created up to a dozen three-dimensional images and replicated 16 million different hues of color. This cutting-edge display lasted ten minutes and could be seen from a distance of half a kilometer.
Following the drone performance, the sky was further lit up by a pyromusical show by Pirotecnia Zaragozana. For twenty minutes, 6,245 fireworks, weighing over a tonne, were launched from the access road to the cruise terminal in the port, accompanied by a carefully curated playlist featuring songs like Yo Soy Aquel (Raphael), Como Yo Te Amo (Gloria Trevi), Nena (Miguel Bosé and Paulina Rubio), Rey del Glam (Nancys Rubias), Ni Tú, Ni Nadie (Fangoria), Tierra (Chayanne), Las 12 (Ana Mena and Belinda), and I Like It (Enrique Iglesias).
The show was attended by the mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre, and the councillor for Festivities, Teresa Porras. Porras invited both locals and visitors to experience the “wonderful, open, and hospitable city of Málaga, especially during the fair.” Mayor de la Torre emphasized that the feria is a time for everyone to enjoy themselves and highlighted Málaga’s warm welcome to visitors. He also encouraged attendees to use public transport, respect event schedules, and avoid spreading misinformation.