Martos, also known as the cradle of the olive grove, celebrates its traditional Olive Festival in the first week of December (a Festival of Tourist Interest of Andalusia). Four days packed with activities to mark the start of the olive-harvesting season and pay tribute to the town's olive pickers, both men and women. 

The rich pastry-making tradition of the province's convents, and of other parts of Andalusia too, is showcased every year in Martos, at an event held over several days, where all kinds of recipes are displayed and sold, such as borrachuelos, tejas, roscos de piñonate, tocinos de cielo, cocadas, huesos de santo, alfajores, truffles, mostachones, madeleines, biscuits, empanadillas filled with candied pumpkin, and marzipan. 
 

The Olive Festival of Martos, organised by the town's Town Hall, has been held for more than 30 years. It is a popular commemoration aimed at paying tribute to the town's olive pickers, both men and women. It is held every year on 8 December, the official start date of the olive-harvesting season.

Various cultural events are organised as part of the Olive Festival. On the 8th, following the official reception of local authorities at the Town Hall, a well-known public figure delivers the Festival's opening address; afterwards, a floral offering is made at the Monument to the Olive Pickers, a bronze sculptural group created by Constantino Unghetti and unveiled in 1982, depicting two olive-picker figures, a man and a woman, alongside an olive press and roller.

This is followed by a communal "hoyo aceitunero" (bread, oil, salt cod and olives), while the master millers of Martos extract, at the town's fairground, the year's first oil using a manual screw press. A trade fair dedicated to the olive grove is also held, showcasing the latest innovations.

In the days before and after the celebration, other parallel activities are organised, such as photography exhibitions, concerts, photography competitions, literary gatherings, sporting activities, and even a flamenco evening dedicated to olive growers at the Peña Flamenca de Martos, or a workshop on making esparto baskets.

A festival in which residents from different neighbourhoods light bonfires all across Marmolejo. 

During these days, a wide variety of sporting, cultural, entertainment, musical and traditional activities are organised, bringing the town to life. 

This is probably the oldest pilgrimage in Spain, held on the last Sunday of April. On the Sunday before the main festival week, the image is moved from the Hermitage of Jesús to the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Paz. On Saturday morning, the streets fill with colour, song and joy as pilgrims, horses and carts pass by, making their way up to the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Cabeza, located deep in the Sierra Morena. 

On 19 March. The importance of the timber industry is felt during the celebration of the feast of San José, patron saint of carpenters, when a monumental falla in the Valencian style is erected in his honour. This festival has been designated of Regional Tourist Interest since 2000. Criticism, humour and irony feature in every one of the sculptures.

This tradition dates back to 1982 (although there have been 40 editions, since it was not held during the two pandemic years) and pays tribute to the once-powerful timber and carpentry trade in Mancha Real.

It's worth remembering that the town was once home to close to a hundred timber companies, employing more than 1,300 people. The trade's contribution to GDP accounted for 54% of the entire local economy, placing Mancha Real among the top towns in the country in terms of per capita income.

Furniture from Mancha Real was sold in countries as far afield as Russia, Japan, Argentina and Puerto Rico. Now, the sector is beginning to regain the momentum it lost over a decade ago.

Patron saint of Mancha Real.

The Pilgrimage, which has no fixed date, is held over one weekend. Townspeople climb up to the hermitage and camp there for the whole weekend around the sanctuary of the Virgin, to keep her company. On Saturday, Mass is held at the sanctuary, attended by all the pilgrims. On Sunday, the image is moved from the Sanctuary to the town's Church. Once the Pilgrimage is over, in the following days, the Fair is held around 7 October, the feast of the Virgen del Rosario. During these days, there's no shortage of the morning “diana” wake-up call, nor of a wide range of rides and attractions for young and old alike.

Patron saint of Mancha Real