Feel the magic of fantasy, the epic and the majestic, mystical and spiritual awe.
Assembly is officially underway, with this year’s Marchena Fair taking place from August 26th to 30th. I always update this page, which features the current dates every year alongside all the reports I’ve put together since 2017. (only the spanish version).
And just as the fair is right around the corner, there’s only a month left until the feast day of the Virgen de los Remedios. Next up will be the Divina Pastora, and rumor has it that this year there will be a joint procession featuring Saint Francis of Assisi and our patron saint, the Virgen del Rosario. This special occasion marks the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi as well as the 300th anniversary of the privileges granted by Pope Benedict XIII for the procession of Nuestra Señora del Rosario. Later on, the Virgen del Pilar will take to the streets on Columbus Day (Día de la Hispanidad), October 12th—a date that marks 534 years since Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas.
The Miss Universe season is also kicking off, with this year’s pageant scheduled for November 24th in Puerto Rico.
Still, my absolute favorite Miss Universe moment has always been, and will always be, this one from 2021. For her reaction, that stunning hair, and above all, the incredible answer she gave:
I know this post is a bit of an eclectic mix, but everything has its reason.
For the 2026 World Cup final, fences were set up around the Constitution Fountain (known as ‘fountain
of the kid’) to prevent ‘vandalism’. When I saw this, I told myself I would post the photos from when we won the South Africa World Cup in 2010, so everyone could see how it was celebrated back then. Winning our first World Cup was an unprecedented, historic moment, and absolute madness broke out.
The fake trophy you see in the photos was made by my friend Manu and me.
This Friday, May 8, 2026, the Divina Pastora de las Almas (Divine Shepherdess of Souls) was carried on a litter from her seat in the Parroquia Matriz de San Juan Bautista (Mother Parish of Saint John the Baptist) to the Real Colegio de Santa Isabel, where she will remain for 3 weeks for her worship.
The event began after the evening Mass. At around 20:45, the procession passed through the doors of the church and entered the heart of the historic centre. The procession went through Padre Marchena Street, San Francisco Street, Carreras Street, stopped at the convent of San Andrés (Saint Andrew), and Compañía Street. The choir formed by male and female students of Santa Isabel recited songs dedicated to the Virgin.
The Divina Pastora (Divine Shepherdess) will remain at the school throughout the month of May, the “month of Mary,” making her the focus of commemorative events with the students.
© 2026 Francisco González SOLEMNITY