Spain experiences tourism and festival surges in August

Rural towns across Spain are experiencing significant population surges during August festivities. In Galicia, Vilagarcía de Arousa celebrates San Roque with the 'Fiesta del Agua' and a naval combat pyrotechnic show, an event that drew approximately 300,000 people in the previous year.

Other regional celebrations include the grape harvest festival in Jumilla, Murcia, which features the traditional 'Niño de las uvas' offering to produce the country's first must. In Asturias, Llanes hosts gatherings featuring bagpipers, while La Alberca in Salamanca showcases historical theater.

The seasonal influx of visitors is also impacting infrastructure. In Galicia, the AP-9 highway saw its highest traffic intensity of the year in August 2025, averaging 33,946 vehicles per day. This represents a 22% increase over the annual average, driven largely by light vehicles associated with leisure and tourism rather than heavy transport.