`Cante de las Minas´ Flamenco Festival , Murica

The town's historic, modernist market building brings together some of Spain's best-known flamenco singers in one of the world's most important flamenco song festivals. Known as the Festival del Cante de las Minas (Song of the Mines Festival) the town hosts 12 days in August of impassioned performances, competitions and lively parties. There are many artists from all generations all trying to take away the coveted awards for the best flamenco singer, dancer or guitarist.

The festival started out in 1961 as a flamenco singing competition. In 1980 the guitar competition was added and then in 1993 the dance competition. There is more than €30,000 in prize money up for the taking.

As well as the heat of the competitions, the whole town gets taken over by flamenco, with performances by the leading flamenco stars, followed by parties and open-mike sessions where anyone can join in with the party until the early hours of the morning.

This is a huge event with an array of Flamenco skills on exhibitions. Plenty of partying as everybody flamencos into the night, just don’t forget your Polka dot dress and castanets.