Day of the Loquat (Día de la Níspola)

Otívar sits up in the hills behind Almuñécar, and each spring the village gives over a day to the níspola, the little orange fruit its terraced orchards are known for. You come up the winding road for the morning market at the Mirador Vista Verde, where the views open out over the valley, and locals show off their best crates of loquats, home-made desserts and photographs in the village contests. There's a photo exhibition, and the Níspola de Oro is handed to a guest of honour around lunchtime.

It's a small, easy-going affair rather than a big production. A brass charanga winds through the streets at midday, there's a bouncy castle for the children, and later a shared meal, sweet stalls and flamenco round things off. Nothing costs a penny to watch. If you're on the Costa Tropical and fancy a morning away from the beach, it's the real village at play. Held each spring, usually in April.