October - December
Shoulder season continues into October into many parts of the country. Valencia will be the first region to transition into the low season, in the second half of October, followed by the rest of the country in November. Many beach resorts in the north and south will close by October, and the ones that remain open will start to offer discounts. October weather will be cool for most of the country, save for the south, but by late November the entire country will be cold. The last three months of the year will be rainier, particularly in Galicia and the Basque Country, where the rainy season will begin. Ski resorts in the Cordillera Cantabrica, the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada will begin operations in earnest in November.
Bilbao`s highs start out around 70 in October and cool to the upper 50s by December. Lows decline from the low 50s in October to the low 40s by December. Barcelona`s temperatures drop from the low 70s in October to the upper 50s by December, with lows around 60 in October, 50s in November and 40s in December. Madrid starts out October in the upper 60s but by December highs may not reach 50. Lows will retreat from the low 50s in early October to the mid-30s by Christmas. Valencia will be warm in October, with highs in the mid-70s and lows around 60, but by December temperatures warm to just the lower 60s during the day and cool to the mid-40s at night. Seville will see upper 70s and low 80s for daytime temperatures as late as October, but by December temperatures will turn cold, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. Gran Canaria`s highs will be in the 60s, with lows in the 50s.
Holidays and Festivals:
October 9 - Valencian National Day (Dia de la Comunitat Valenciana in Valencian), commemorating King James I of Aragon's capture of the city of Valencia from Moorish forces in 1238. (Public holiday in the Valencian Community)
October 12 - Spanish National Holiday (Fiesta Nacional de España), celebrated with parades, parties, fireworks and an air show by the Patrulla Águila (`the Eagle Patrol`), similar to the Blue Angels in the United States. (Public holiday in all regions of Spain)
October 25 - Basque National Day (Euskadi Eguna in Basque), commemorating the referendum on autonomy which was approved by voters on this day in 1979. (Public holiday in the Basque Country)
Late October to early November - Fires de Sant Narcis, the largest festival in the town of Girona, where there is a procession, fireworks, and the famous `human towers`, some as many as ten people high!
November 1 - All Saints Day (Día de todos los Santos), celebrated in a somber manner as many people go back to their hometowns to visit the gravesites of deceased relatives. (Public holiday in all regions of Spain)
Weekends in November - Cartagena Jazz Festival, Cartagena, near Murcia
November 9 - The Feast of the Virgen de la Almudena, one of the patronesses of Madrid. Religious services are held at Almudena Cathedral.
Mid-November - ZINEBI - International Festival of Documentary and Short Films (Bilboko dokumentalen eta film laburren nazioarteko jaialdiak in Basque), Bilbao, is one of the oldest festivals dedicated to documentaries and short films in the world, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2018.
Mid-November - Sevilla European Film Festival (Sevilla Festival de Cine Europeo), Seville
Late November to mid-December - Madrid en Danza International Dance Festival, Madrid. One of the largest dance events in the country and a popular event on the Madrid social calendar.
December 3 - Navarre Day (Día de Navarra), commemorating the death of St. Francis Xavier on this day in the year 1552. (Religious parades and closures in Navarre)
December 6 - Constitution Day (Día de la Constitución), celebrating the approval of the current Spanish Constitution on this day in 1978. (Public holiday in all regions of Spain)
December 8 - Immaculate Conception (Inmaculada Concepción), observed by many with special church services. (Public holiday in all regions of Spain)
December 13 - Feast Day of Santa Lucía
December 25 - Christmas Day (Navidad) (Public holiday in all regions of Spain)
December 26 - St. Stephen`s Day (Sant Esteve in Catalan), celebrated with a big feast traditionally including canelons (cannellonis). (Public holiday in Catalonia)
December 31 - New Year's Eve (Vispera de Año Nuevo or, more commonly, Nochevieja). Spanish revelers traditionally eat 12 grapes in the run-up to midnight. Parties are held across the country, and the festivities at the Puerta del Sol in Madrid are broadcast nationwide on television.
