Castellón Gets an Early Start

Three months ahead of its celebration, Castellón is already showing off its fair. And it does so with a well-balanced programme in which, alongside the major stars, appear the rising matadors of the new generation who have sparked so much excitement. There’s even a nod to the “torista” fans with the inclusion of the grey-coated bulls of La Quinta. Are you craving bullfighting too? Then what are you waiting for to secure your tickets?

The fair runs from 8 to 15 March, but this year the company Funtausa has chosen to reveal the posters for the La Magdalena Fair before the end of the year. This way, aficionados can start savouring the menu prepared by Casa Matilla, and perhaps even ask the Three Wise Men or Santa Claus for a season ticket or a seat to witness any of the events in person.

It is an abono that naturally includes the big names, but it also gives space to the young matadors of a new generation who are pushing hard to earn their place in the major fairs. And, of course, there is also a “torista” touch, as Castellón is Tierra de Bous al Carrer, and this type of livestock is highly appreciated here.

Fittingly, the fair opens on Sunday 8 March with La Quinta, last year’s triumphant ranch — with a pardon included. Six Santa Coloma bulls will be fought by two very recent graduates to the matador rank, Aarón Palacio and Javier Zulueta, in whom fans have placed great expectations. Completing the card is the reliable and composed Ginés Marín, a young veteran who is enjoying a moment of full professional maturity.

Many aficionados will consider this the most appealing poster, but certainly not the only one. A week later, on Sunday 15 March, there is a highly interesting mano a mano between Talavante and Juan Ortega, with bulls from Domingo Hernández. And in between, on Friday 13, appears Andrés Roca Rey, currently the most box-office torero, the leading figure of today, billed alongside Manzanares and Pablo Aguado with bulls from Hermanos García Jiménez.

The other two bullfights are scheduled for Thursday 12 and Saturday 14 March. On the former, a true figure such as Miguel Ángel Perera will walk the ring alongside the young Tomás Rufo, who has enjoyed major triumphs in this plaza in recent seasons, and the very young Marco Pérez, another member of this emerging generation, making his debut in Castellón in this event with bulls from Montalvo.

Saturday 14 belongs to Sebastián Castella, Daniel Luque and Emilio de Justo, three highly accomplished toreros who will take on a run from Zalduendo. A rejoneo event on Monday 9, featuring Portuguese rider Rui Fernandes, the leading figure Diego Ventura, and the Frenchwoman Lea Vicens with bulls from Los Espartales, together with two youth promotion events on the 10th and 11th, round off a programme designed to suit all tastes and temperaments.

In today’s world, it is no longer enough to paste a poster on the wall with flour paste and open the ticket office, waiting for the faithful to show up. Reinvention is required. That is why announcing the posters well in advance and promoting them effectively is now an essential part of the work, ensuring that when March arrives, the Avenida de Galdós bullring is packed with aficionados eager to feel the pulse of the new season.