{
  "id": 9994711,
  "title": "Thousands of hikers are ready to march into Marbella this October, it’s free to watch and ends with a party",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/thousands-of-hikers-are-ready-to-march-into-marbella-this-october-its",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-26T13:52:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euro Weekly News",
    "slug": "euro-weekly-news",
    "url": "https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/09/26/thousands-of-hikers-are-ready-to-march-into-marbella-this-october-its-free-to-watch-and-ends-with-a-party/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Marbella, a coastal town in Spain, is set to host the 15th edition of the Marbella 4 Days Walking festival from October 1st to 4th. This year, around 4,000 participants from nearly twenty countries are expected to take part in the event, with most of them traveling abroad. The festival offers three different circuit lengths - 10km, 20km, and 30km - for hikers of all abilities to choose from.\n\nThe routes take participants through the historic town center, along the seafront promenade, and up into the countryside near Sierra Blanca. For those seeking a greater challenge, Saturday and Sunday feature \"Challenge\" routes. Each day's event commences and concludes at the same central location near the seafront, where participants can enjoy live music, food stalls, and a lively festival atmosphere.\n\nTraditionally, the final stretch of the race is dressed up as the \"Via Gladiolo,\" a nod to the gladiolus flower, an ancient Roman symbol of victory. Upon crossing the finish line, each participant is presented with a flower. The festival's organizer, Hans Wohl, passed away during the summer, making this year's edition particularly poignant. The loss of the founder has been deeply felt by long-time participants, who will pay tribute to his legacy throughout the event.\n\nRegistration is available on the official website, marbella4dayswalking.com, where attendees can secure either a four-day pass for €115 or individual days for €35 each. Given the limited capacity of 4,000 participants, it is advised to act quickly to reserve a spot. Children can join the fun on shorter routes when accompanied by an adult. Approximately a hundred volunteers, led by event representative Natascha van Steenkiste, will ensure the smooth running of the festival.\n\nUnlike most events, entry to watch the walks is free. Spectators can gather at Plaza del Mar each afternoon to witness the finish lines, which are accompanied by dancing, drinks, and live bands.",
  "summary": "Marbella’s streets, beaches and hillside tracks will fill with walkers from nearly twenty countries between October 1 and 4, as […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}