With everybody in holiday mode and most businesses shut down, Spain’s wildest, most bizarre and hottest fiestas take place in baking summer months. Nearly every backwater village stages its own fiesta major, a few days of drinking, dancing and sometimes debauchery to honour their local saint. Parties in the main cities tend to get even wilder, perhaps because they are attended by a mixture of tourists and left-behind locals determined to have a good time. For Barcelona’s Fiesta Major de Gràcia (August 15-22) residents work all year on the fanciful decorations that adorn the streets. (Go early as partygoers assure they are looking worse for wear by the end of the festival.). Madrid’s Fiesta de la Paloma (August 1-17) sees games, flamenco and zarzuela (operetta) in the streets of the old city. Traditionally, high-rise dwellers throw buckets of water over the revellers below to cool them off, although with the worst drought in decades gripping the country, this activity maybe somewhat toned-down this year.

As well these ‘fiestas populares’ music festivals are big in Spain over the summer. Here’s a run-down of some of the best of them:

Classical Music fans have a date in beautiful San Sebastian this August. The Quincena Musical is a series of concerts from the orchestras of Russia, Spain and Lausanne as well as chamber, opera, contemporary classical and ancient music cycles. Most of the events are held in the stunning Auditorio Kursaal designed by the Pritzer winning architect Rafael Moneo. www.quincenamusical.com

It’s only in its second year but already the one-day, all-night festival Creamfields (August 13th) has been dubbed the ‘Sonar on the beach’. Hear The Chemical Brothers, Faithless, Saint Etienne and Deep Dish on the golden sands of Almeria. www.creamfields-andalucia.com

Chill out in Madrid in August (yes it’s possible) at the Veranos de la Villa festival (till end August) which sees top flamenco, jazz, zarzuela and dance stars in outdoor gardens and patios across the city. One of the more popular events is a free classical concert every sundown at the Plaza del Oriente. www.munimadrid.es

Also on the coast, Benicásim (August 4-8) is known as THE Spanish rock music festival. Headliners this year include Oasis, The Cure and Basement Jaxx. www.fiberfib.com