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Jerez Horse Fair, a stunning display of the finest horses of the region. |
The 2008 Jerez Horse Fair will took place from April 27 to May 4 2008. This year the fair was dedicated to the Zaragoza 2008 Expo which focused on water and sustainable development, two environmental issues the Jerez Town Hall wishes to actively support.
The Jerez Horse Fair is an exciting and lively event that brings the entire city to the Gonzalo Hontoria Fair Grounds which cover 52,000 square metres and give ample space for the best horses of Jerez to show off to the crowds who flock to the casetas and other attractions.
To the outsider, this fair will be somewhat similar to the Seville fair, only with it’s own special flavour and in an entirely different venue.
There are plenty of smartly dressed men and women on horseback and lovely horse drawn carriages also make their way through the fairground streets throughout this weeklong extravaganza.
The history of the Jerez Horse Fair goes back to the commercial livestock fairs that were established in when Jerez was just a town back during the reign of Alfonso X the Sabio (the Wise).
That original event slowly gained momentum as a form of entertainment with the local wine producers setting up stands and then a children’s amusement park added and so on until the fair took on its present day form.
This is an excellent Andalucian fair for both horse lovers and those wishing to enjoy the very best of southern Spanish culture – at least in it’s lightest, most carefree and fun loving versions. Because Jerez is such an important centre for horses and horsemanship, the focus is very much on the equine world.
In common with all southern fairs, you can expect food, drink – you won’t escape without having tried several different types of “jerez” (similar to sherry, but locally produced) – dancing and all kinds of performances and entertainment.
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