The most important festival of the year in Zaragoza is the Las Fiestas del Pilar, which is held in October. It is a celebration to honor the down’s patroness, the “Virgin of the Pilar,” and the festivals include customs of the region with fireworks, music, food and parades. It always takes place around the 12th of October, beginning with the offering of flowers, that form an enormous mantle for the Virgin, and continues for nine days. Its origin is rooted in the belief that the Virgin Mary visited the region.

This scared event actually coincided with the 1492 discovery on America, which is another popular holiday in the region. The El Dia de la Hispanidad, or Hispanic Day, marks the October 12 discovery of the New World.

There are numerous other festivals in Zaragoza throughout the year, including the Fiestas de Primavera, which is held in May to celebrate the end of winter and the coming of spring. This is among several folk festivals that also feature regional music, food and costumes.

A completely different festival is the Zaragoza Ciudad Hip Hop Festival, a fairly new but popular event that has been held the last few years each June, attracting hip hop artists from new and far.