FERIA DE SEVILLE REVIEW

With the sun blazing high in the sky and the festivities going on around us, it was starting to feel like an authentic day in Seville, Spain. In actuality, we were right outside the Capital Beltway in North Bethesda, Maryland. Could have fooled us.

On May 31st from 12 to 6 PM, the Strathmore Music Center transformed into a fairground full of flamenco dancing, fun, and food. Upon walking outside and witnessing the large outdoor theater stage and clusters of tents offering up Spanish cuisine, it was clear that the turn-out was impressive. Hailed as the “DC Area’s biggest Spanish cultural celebration” on their Facebook page, Feria De Seville delivered as promised. The event was presented by Centro Español de Washington D.C., a non-profit organization founded in 1986 with the aim to preserve the country’s rich traditions and educate the DMV area.

The outdoor stage, though small, was easy to spot due to the many throngs of people lounging on the grass in front it, enjoying both the weather and the performances. The dancers were of all ages, and each assembled on the stage with the accompaniment of guitar players and a background singer. The dancers were a whirl of color as they moved, implementing fluid hand movements and fancy footwork into their routine. Their vibrant dresses were paired with flamenco shoes that accentuated the sound of their steps that tapped against the stage’s wooden floor.

Beyond the stage were the many booths serving up Spanish tapas. The aroma of the dishes and appetizers wafted through the air, each one more tempting than the last. Probably the most memorable highlight was a huge- and I mean HUGE- pan of paella (a creamy rice dish with vegetables, chicken, or seafood) simmering away out in the open.

We were lucky to get a taste of some chicken and duck paella ourselves, and it was as good as it looked.

Other foods included empanadas and croquetas, the latter of which are small breaded fritters. Servers offered slices of Spanish ham, carved straight off a fresh slab of ham as onlookers watched, with bread. There were also tents selling handmade clothing, jewelry, and small children’s toys (like finger puppets!) for the shoppers out there. The knick knacks for the younger crowd were adorable- there were a series of stuffed alpacas in particular that stole our hearts with their fluffiness. The array of wearable baubles ranged from fashionable necklaces to bracelets. There were two tables alone that held rows and rows of fabric bracelets with countless names stitched on them, and at three dollars a piece, they looked like the perfect souvenir for any traveler to take with them as a reminder of the festive day.

These trinkets were handmade from Peru!

And the best part of all? Feria de Seville happens annually. Come next summer, the celebrations will begin again, radiating with the joy that comes from a nation commemorating in its pride.

Stay up to date and check their website for more information: http://cewdc.org/