Don Quijote and Miguel de Cervantes are both important figures in Alcalá all year round, but especially in October and then later in April, when the Premio Cervantes (Cervantes Award) is given to an outstanding Spanish writer. You can think of it like the Nobel Prize for Spanish Literature--it's kind of a huge deal!
Although the market is usually held in the Plaza Cervantes, right in the middle of town, this year it had to take place in the recinto ferial (fair grounds) because of COVID safety precautions. Basically, there wasn't enough space in the main square for all the people who wanted to attend the festivities. But that's okay, because it was super fun anyways, and there's already plenty of Cervantes to go around close to the main square. It was so fun getting to learn about and celebrate a famous person from the town I'm going to be living in for 9 months.
