The annual livestock fair in Dolores is a phenomenon. It is the largest gathering of its kind in the province of Valencia and a magnet for enthusiasts from all over Spain. The fact that the Fegado, as the event is called, is still advertised as a livestock fair is a bit misleading.
The fair has changed quite a bit since the first edition some 80 years ago. Now it is mainly a festival around horses, cattle and dogs that attract the public in all kinds of shows and competitions. In the beginning it was mainly about trading cattle. Sometimes to work in the agricultural sector or in orchards or as breeding animals. These things have slowly but surely faded into the background. Entertainment is now the main thing.
What can visitors expect during the four days around the first weekend in August? It is mainly the horse dressage and the various competitions that the public gets excited about. For dogs there are the agility courses. And cattle and horses each have competitions in dragging objects. Furthermore, there are all kinds of horse training, shows, concerts and exhibitions. Demonstrations of wheat threshing and horse hoof forging keep the link with the past alive. A unique characteristic of the Dolores festival is that many events are held in the evening. This is intended to create a special atmosphere.