A quick hello before we start
Hi, I'm Stefan, and this is the very first Estepona Insider. So, properly: welcome.
Here's why this exists. I live here, I love it here, and for a long time I've had the same small frustration over and over: there's so much going on in Estepona, but finding out about it means digging through ten Facebook groups, a handful of posters and the occasional lucky tip from a neighbour. Half the time you hear about the good stuff a week too late. I got tired of missing things, so I started rounding it all up. Then I figured I probably wasn't the only one.
This is issue one of hopefully many, and it won't be perfect yet. That's where you come in. If something's missing, wrong, or you just have a tip, hit reply. I read every single message, and this gets better every week because of your feedback.
One quick thing: what are you most here for?
Right then. Here's what's worth your time this week.
🏳️🌈 PRIDE TAKES OVER ESTEPONA
Let's start with the big one. Estepona celebrates Pride from 15 to 20 June, and it's a proper week-long programme, not just one party. It kicks off quietly and builds:
Sun 15 Art exhibitions open at the Adult Education Centre
Tue 17 Book presentation: The Reflection of Who We Were by Ángel Rovira
Thu 18 Banner-making workshop ahead of the march
Fri 19 Talk on drag performance plus a screening of the film Pride at Orchidarium Park
Sat 20 The big finale: the parade, flag raising, opening speech and the main Pride Party at Plaza del Reloj
Whether you're marching, watching or just there for the party at the Plaza, the 20th is the day to circle.
And if you can't wait that long: Manilva Pride lands first, on 12–13 June. Same spirit, just up the coast a few days early. See what they’re up to.
🏁 24 HOURS OF SPORT - 24 HORAS DEPORTIVAS
The fun kind of chaos
On 13–14 June, the town turns into one big sporting playground. Loads of it is for the competitors, but a few events are pure spectator gold:
II Estepona Bowl (American Football) Sat 13, 9:00 - 12:00, Estadio de Atletismo. Six teams from across Andalusia battle it out, with two home sides in the mix, the Estepona Sharks and the Estepona Hellfish.
Sierra Bermeja Hill Climb Sat 13, from 9:30. The "Subida Mítica" up the mountain, running for the very first time this year.
4x4 Mud Challenge Sat 13, from 12:00, Avd. Puerta del Mar. A fundraising exhibition where off-roaders fight their way through the dirt. Messy, loud, brilliant.
Soapbox Race (Autos Locos) Sat 13, from 19:00, Recinto Ferial. Homemade carts, questionable engineering, zero brakes. Exactly as good as it sounds.
Danza Aérea (Aerial / Pole Dance) Sat 13, 21:40, Recinto Ferial. The 24 Hours wind down with a striking aerial performance by Flydancelab, athletic, elegant and a different kind of spectator sport.
Bring a hat, bring water, and pick a soapbox to cheer for.
👉🏼 There’s so much more, see all events on Instagram.
⚽ THE WORLD CUP STARTS, HERE'S WHERE TO WATCH
It kicks off Thursday 11 June, and yes, you can absolutely watch it over a cold one nearby. A few reliable spots around Estepona:
👉🏼 Got a favourite place to watch that's not on here? Let me know and I'll add it next edition.
First-week fixtures (local time):
Thu 11 21:00 Mexico 🇲🇽 v South Africa 🇿🇦
Fri 12 21:00 Canada 🇨🇦 v Bosnia 🇧🇦
Sat 13 21:00 Qatar 🇶🇦 v Switzerland 🇨🇭
Sun 14 19:00 Germany 🇩🇪 v Curaçao 🇨🇼 · 22:00 Netherlands 🇳🇱 v Japan 🇯🇵
Mon 15 18:00 Spain 🇪🇸 v Cape Verde 🇨🇻 · 21:00 Belgium 🇧🇪 v Egypt 🇪🇬
Tue 16 21:00 France 🇫🇷 v Senegal 🇸🇳
Wed 17 19:00 Portugal 🇵🇹 v DR Congo 🇨🇩 · 22:00 England 🏴 v Croatia 🇭🇷
🥅 England, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, all in action this week. Whoever you're shouting for, you'll find your people at one of the bars above.
(That's the prime-time picks. There are early-hours games too, full official schedule here.)
🎭 ON STAGE: WAR BABY
Sat 13 Jun 21:00, Teatro Auditorio Felipe VI (in Spanish)
Comedy troupe Yllana drops us into a military recruitment centre, where a band of clueless recruits are trained for a war that makes no sense.
The reason it started? The country's new leader is a bad-tempered baby. It's visual, it's funny, and underneath the gags there's a real anti-war satire at work. Comedy used as a weapon, basically.
And since most of the humour is physical, you don't need much Spanish to enjoy it.
🎶 LIVE MUSIC THIS WEEKEND
A genuinely good run of nights, and two of them are real gems at Galería Huber:
Fri 12: Echoes of an Era: Swing with Rachel Malka. Galería Huber, 20:30, €20. Malka turns a concert into something closer to a conversation between voice and silence. Bolero, blues and jazz all folded into one. One to sit back and really listen to.
Fri 12: Queen of Magic: Queen tribute at Louie Louie Rockbar, 23:30. For when you'd rather sing along than sit still.
Sat 13: Cuban Jazz at Galería Huber. 20:00, €20. This is special: Leyanis and Jessie Valdés - yes, the children and grandchildren of the legendary Chucho and Bebo Valdés - joined by double bassist Francis Posé. Serious pedigree, fresh young energy. If you like Jazz and only catch one music night, make it this.
Sun 14: Live Music at Amigos del Puerto. From 14:00, Puerto de Estepona. A rare afternoon one: live music, food and easy marina views by the sea, no late night required. Their Cuisine du Soleil, a cold drink and the sound of the harbour, that's a Sunday well spent.
Tue 16: Summer Opening with Pablo Fierro · Nido Estepona. Beach club season opens with one of the more interesting names in electronic music. Easy sundowner energy, right on the sand.
📢 Spread the word
Got a friend who always finds out about the good stuff a week too late? Do them a favour and forward this along.
💡 DID YOU KNOW?
Everyone knows Estepona's murals. They're sort of the town's calling card. But here's the thing most people don't realise: there are over 60 of them scattered across the city. Sixty. Odds are you've walked past dozens without clocking them, and I bet almost nobody has seen them all.
So here's a tiny mission for the week: pick a street you don't normally take, look up, and see which one you find. There's an official Route of Artistic Murals with a map of almost all of them if you fancy turning it into a proper afternoon.
👉🏼 Here’s a nice photo tour online to get a taste.
👀 BEYOND ESTEPONA: A LOOK AT THE NEIGHBOURS
Estepona's own Feria is still a few weeks off (mark 3 July), but if you're in the mood sooner, our neighbours have you covered. Marbella is right in the thick of its Feria de San Bernabé until 14 June, a celebration for the city's patron saint that has been going strong since the 15th century, complete with music, food and fairground rides.
One thing to know before you go: it really splits into two. Afternoons belong to the Feria de Día in the town centre, around the Alameda and Avenida del Mar, where the streets fill with dancing and pop-up bars from 13:00. Come evening, the action moves to the fairground near La Cañada for the Feria de Noche, with rides, food stalls and concerts running late. On Sunday the 14th, Andalusian rock veterans Medina Azahara play to close the whole thing out.
Twenty minutes up the coast for a little feria spirit while we wait for our own.
📡 ALREADY ON THE RADAR
A few bigger things worth getting in your diary now, some you'll want to plan ahead for:
Thu 18 Primera Noche Internacional · Amigos del Puerto, Puerto de Estepona, 21:00. An international show night down at the port: four live singers and cabaret acts paired with cuisine du soleil. Come early for a drink at the bar by the marina and make an evening of it.
Thu 18 Mi Caseta Flamenco Show. A proper Andalusian feria night: flamenco, tradition, food and serious stagecraft all in one, for anyone who wants the real thing. It runs every Thursday and Friday, but with tourist season in full swing, tickets tend to go fast, so book ahead.
Sat 20 Kaiser Chiefs · Marbella Arena. Yorkshire's finest bring the singalongs ("I Predict a Riot" and all) to the Marbella Arena. A big one, and the kind of show where tickets won't hang around, so sort yours sooner rather than later.
Mon 23 San Juan! 🔥 The big one. Midsummer night on the beach, bonfires, midnight swims and the whole coast out until the early hours. It's one of THE summer moments here, and we'll give it the full write-up next week so you know exactly where to go and what to expect.
🏁 That's your week sorted
Looking at it all together, it's a proper mix this week, Pride taking over town, a full day of racing and contests at the 24 Hours of Sport, the World Cup kicking off and some genuinely special music nights. Not a bad weekend to be here.
Got a tip, a favourite spot, or an event you'd like featured? Just hit reply and tell me what, when and where, I read every single message, and the best bits end up right here in front of everyone.
See you next Thursday,
Stefan
Estepona Insider
P.S. This is issue one, so I'd love to know what you think. What did you enjoy, and what's missing? Hit reply and tell me, you'll be shaping what this becomes.