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Seville’s April Fair is once again turning the Real de Los Remedios into a temporary city of lights, horses, music and casetas, with around three million visitors expected over the six days of the event. The fairground is already set up with more than 1,000 booths, 372 attractions, kiosks and stalls, and an entrance gate lit by 28,000 LED bulbs.

 

This year’s opening has also been marked by the carriage driving exhibition, one of the fair’s most eye-catching traditions. The event marked its 40th anniversary filling the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza with more than 11,000 people and featured 104 carriages, making it a major early highlight of the week.

 

To cope with the crowds, public transport has been reinforced with 1.7 million seats, almost continuous shuttle services and, for the first time, a tram-bus connection from farther away. A mobile app will also let visitors check in real time which areas are most crowded, which should help those who are less familiar with the layout of the fair.

 

Behind the scenes, the operation is vast. More than 3,000 workers are involved, including firefighters, Civil Protection teams, health staff and cleaning crews. Lipasam has deployed 591 workers and 117 vehicles, while Tussam has added 1,460 staff, including 240 new recruits, to help keep the fair moving.

 

Security is also a major focus this year, with over 4,000 officers from different forces on duty. That includes around 1,000 Policía Local officers, nearly 2,000 Policía Nacional officers, more than 900 Guardia Civil officers and more than 150 from the DGT. The plan also includes 33 smart cameras, designed to count crowds and detect incidents in real time.

 

There are also safe points for women and LGBTQ+ people, along with school liaison officers for minors and the new Action and Reaction Group. The Civil Guard will carry out checks on prohibited substances and weapons, while Seprona will oversee food inspections together with municipal veterinary staff.

 

The fair is also facing a hot week, with temperatures expected to rise above 28C and possibly reach more than 35C. Water distribution points have been installed in the fairground, and specialists have warned visitors to drink plenty of water, avoid direct sun during the hottest hours, wear light clothing and take breaks whenever needed. Dr Mariana Jiménez said that “the heat not only causes mild discomfort, but can also trigger more serious conditions if precautions are not taken”. She added that stopping in time, hydrating and cooling down can prevent more serious problems.

 

For Seville, the fair remains both a celebration and a major logistical effort, with tradition and organisation working side by side once again.

 

 

Images: andalunet