Fiestas in Benissa

The Fair continues in Benissa for the entire month of January and we bring you all the relevant information about the activities taking place during the next few days of celebration and events.

Saturday 21

17.00 h. “Climbing Wall” and “Stairway to the Tibetan Bridge” at the Sr. Joaquín Piera y Sra. Mariana Torres roundabout. Event organized by: Grup de Muntanya Margalló .

20.30 h.: Choir Groups meeting. At the Centre d’Art Taller d’Ivars. Event organized by: Coral Benissenca and Town’s Department of Culture.

Sunday 22

9.30 h.: XXIII International Chess Open.  At the Centre d’Art Taller d’Ivars. Organized by Benissa’s  Chess Club.

10.00 h.:  Exhibition of vehicles, tools and equipment, motorcycles and agricultural machinery and Bicycle ride Day.  Event held at at the Sr. Joaquín Piera y Sra. Mariana Torres roundabout.  Organized by Benissa Cycling Club.

10.00 h.: Meeting of horses and tumbrils  at the parking lot of Manuel Bru School

10:30 h.: “Climbing Wall” and “Stairway to the Tibetan Bridge” at the Sr. Joaquín Piera y Sra. Mariana Torres roundabout.

11:00 h.: Philatelic street market at Purissima Street organized by the Philatelic and Numismatic Association

12:00 h.: Tasting of typical products and Paella cooking contest at Sr. Joaquín Piera y Sra. Mariana Torres roundabout.

12:00 h.: Animal blessing at Portal Square (Across from City Hall)

12:00 h.: Wine tasting and tapas at Placeta Vella and  Fco Sendra Street.

12.30 h.: Horses and carriages parade, and after that Pet Parade.

13.00 h.: Blessing of animals at the front door of the Church

16.00 h.: Trained pigeons competition, children’s category.

16.30 h.: Workshop on philately and auction of stamps, coins and postcards at Purissima Street. Organizers: Philatelic and Numismatic Association.

Live music at Xirinbala

July is a great month to discover and enjoy Benissa, a town in Spain’s Costa Blanca north. This place filled with history has a beautiful historic city centre, a breathtaking coast and an unparalleled calendar of cultural activities in July 2011.

-          La Mar de Cine —we would call it “an ocean of films” in English: Season of outdoor film screenings at Fustera beach every Thursday at 22:00 h. Free admission. These will be the screened films in July (all of them with audio in Spanish): You will meet a tall dark stranger (14^th July), 3 metros sobre el cielo (21^st July) and Tangled (28th July).

-          III Tapas Crawl Benissa, from 8^th to 31^st July, Monday through Friday. On Fridays, the Sifasol music band will play. Tapa + drink: €2. These are the participating bars and resturants: bar Restaurante Tapas Vizcaino, Restaurante Casa Eusebio, bar Trinquet, Pizzería L’Orenga, Cervecería Restaurante Bon Gust, bar La Xarradeta, Fusión bar, bar Los Faroles, bar Restaurante El Rebost, bar La Picaeta, Cafetería Pastelería Plaça 5 Dolç i Salat, El Nou Chaplin, bar Cafetería L’Esplai, Café Tropic, Heladería La Jijonenca.

-          Xirimbala kiosk’s summer nights at Baladrar cove. It is located on the Moraira-Calp road. This is one of the most typical, authentic and special corners on the coast. It is perfect to enjoy a good breakfast by the sea, listen to live music on Mondays night, have an Argentinian BBQ on Thursdays night, broiled sardines on Fridays night, tapas menus, full moon parties, etc. Chek out their website here.

-          Bloc and street parties in Benissa: There is a party almost every weekend:

• Partida Pedramala, 15^th to 17^th July.
• Party at Benimarco, at partida San Jaime, from 23^rd to 29^th July.
• Party at Santa Ana, on Tuesady 26^th July.
• Party at Lleus from 29th to 31st July.

This is a great month to discover Benissa, a very special town in Costa Blanca north with a popular kitchen, a coast with dream coves and a cosmopolitan and medieval historic city centre, all this mixed with a comprehensive calendar of cultural, leisurely and food events and activities.

The Moors and Christians Festival in Benissa

Today, we bring the whole schedule of the Moors and Christians fiesta, a traditional celebration taking place every year in many towns of the region.  This is what this fiesta awaits us in Benissa:

From 16^th June to 4^th July:
Children’s paintings exhibition at the Exhibition hall of Casal Jove.
Time: from 9:30 h to 13:30 h.

17^th June:
“La Música en la fiesta de Moros y Cristianos” (Music in the Moors and Christians fiesta) talk by Ildefonso San Cristóbal Férriz, in Spanish.
Location: la Seu Universitaria.
Time: 20:30 h.

18^th June:
Traditional fiesta music concert at Germans Ivars square, by
the Pere Bigot Colla de Xirimiters and the  “Sociedad Lírica y Musical de Benissa” (Lyric and Musical Society of Benissa).
Time: 21:00 h.

30^th June:
22:00 h.: Meeting of all the “filaes” (groups) at the castle, to later have a brotherhoods dinner.
23:30 h. Music show.

1^st July:
23:00 h.: Proclamation of standards, standard bearers, ambassadors, captains and announcement of the fiestas by Raúl Martínez Ivars.
Location: Castle.
As the proclamation and announcement finish, the Zeppelin Band Orchestra will hold a concert at Jaime I square.

2^nd July:
18:00 h: Kids’ “entrà” (entrance) and moor embassy.
13:00 h: Memorial acts for the dead “festeros” at the town’s cemetery.
18:30 h: Parade wit hall the filaes (groups) from Portal square to the church.
19:30 h: Mass to honour Saint Peter Apostle at the Parish church.
20:30 h: Kids’ “entrà” and XXI  Junior Squadron Leaders Competition.
23:30 h: Attack of the Moorish from the Convent square, and takeover of the castle.

3^rd July:
11:00 h: Parade and visit to the San Joaquín y Santa Ana elderly residence.
20:00 h: Great entrance from Valencia street to the end of Carrer Nou.

4^th July:
11:00 h: Attack of the Christians from the Portal square, and reconquering of the castle, occupied by the Moorish.
20:00 h: Parade with all the bands that took part in the fiestas.
21:00 h: Humorous parade “Fin de fiesta” (end of the fiesta).

San Juan Bonfire Nights

June will be an especially busy month in the whole province of Alicante and Jávea will not be far behind. The celebration of the fiestas of San Juan in the town of Jávea is recognized as a cultural and entertainment reference in all Mediterranean region.

Check below the most important activities scheduled in for this fiesta:

Friday, 17 June
16:00 h: Futsal Championship at the Sports Hall.

17:00 h: “Raspall” Semifinals in Ratchet Xàbia.
18:00 h: XVI International Festival Events (link to international festival)
22:00 h: Musical Union Catarroja and Xàbia Musical Arts Center concert in Reina Sofía Park
00:00 h: Livestock Exhibition
02:00 h: Mobile disc play party until 4:00 h. at the bullring

Saturday, 18 June
08:00 h: Wake up fiesta with music and parades
09:30 h: BBQ Lunch for everyone in the bar of the Bonfires Committee.
17:30 h: XVI International Festival Events
19:00 h: Parade from the Portal del Clot to the Constitution square
21:30 h: (BYO) Dinner and music performers at Reina Sofia Park
00:00 h: Monte Carlo orchestra at the Constitution square and Mobile disc play party until 6:00 h.

Sunday, 19 June
10:00 h: Wake up fiesta for children in the Reina Sofía Park. Then sardines and cakes for everyone.
19:00 h: Bull releases in the streets
22:00 h: Rondallas music competition at the Convent square.
02:00 h: Mobile disc play party until 4:00 h. at the bullring

Monday, 20 June
09:00 h: Bonfire installation at the Constitution square and the small square of the Convent square.
10:00 h: Darts Championship at “Fadrins borratxos i fins” in Calle Mayor.
13:30 h: Giant Paella for everyone at Montaner Park.
17:00 h:  Children Games at the Convent square.
18:00 h: Raspall Championship in Ratchet Xàbia.
18:00 h: Children’s ball in the small at the Convent square.
19:00 h: Concert by Rock Academy Javea at the Convent square.
21:30 h: (BYO) Dinner and music performers at Reina Sofia Park
23:30 h: Night of rock at the Constitution square: La Gossa Sorda and Lax’n  Bustos. Next Mobile disc play until 4:30 in the morning.

Fiestas in Benissa for this Summer 2010

During the months of these Summer  holidays in the town of Benissa you will find a great number of leisure activities and festivals to take part in. Some of which  are celebrated in parts of town and on the beaches and coves.

- Here are some of the dates of interesting events taking place in Benissa for the month of July:

- From the 9th  to the 11th of July the Barrio de San Antonio festival: with street party on Friday, “Sobaquillo” dinner on Saturday the 10th  and then the performance of the orchestra Colors. Sunday the  11th  at 10:30 the traditional procession of San Antonio, mass and giant paella for all.

From the 16th to the 18th of July:  Local Festivals of Pedramala

- From the 16th to the 18th of July  Pedramala Local Festival:Friday the dinner of the brotherhood and a musical performance. On Saturday the  XXVI Championship of Brisk  at 18:00 and a grand ball at 21:00. On Sunday  Mass at 11:00 am, and evening dinner followed by a dancing party.

From the 23rd to the 29th of  July :  Benimarco The San Jaime Fiestas

- From the 23rd to the 29th of  July Local Fiestas of Benimarco ( San Jaime): On Friday the 23rd  game of hand ball at 19:30 to be followed by a dinner and the performance of a popular  Cabaret group. On Saturday a large festival and performance of the orchestra Ebony. The day of San Jaime they will be celebrating a  Sunday Mass at 11:00 am. Later a rooster  race at  13:30 and a  humorous parade 18:30 h. The grand ball with the music of the orchestra Jamaica at 23:30. The paella contest will be held on Monday at noon and in the evening there will be a street party.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 19:00 bull running in the streets.

July the 26th Fiestas of the Santa Ana Area:

- July 26th Fiestas in Santa Ana,  the yearly  pilgrimage to the hermitage and picnic at 18:00 hours. At 20:00  dance with orchestra.

The Moors and Christians Festival in Benissa

The Moors and Christians Festival is coming to Benissa this week . They will be celebrating this magical colourful “Fiesta”  from the 24th to the 28th of June. Here is some useful information about what is lined up for the Moors and Christians of 2010.

Programme Fiestas Moors y Christians 2010 Benissa:

- Thursday, June 24th : 22:00 All the ranks (“Filaes”) meet up at the Castle and celebrate the  Dinner of the Brotherhood ( La Cena de la Hermandad).

- Friday 25th June: at 23:00  presentation ceremony of the Banderines, Abanderados, Ambassadors and Captains followed by the Proclamation of the Fiesta.
- Saturday June 26th: at 19:30  the offering Mass in honor of St. Peter the Apostle .

At 23:30 the Siege of the Moors from the Convent to the Square,  later the capture of the castle by the Moors.

- Sunday June 27th : Grand Parade of all of Benissa “Filaes”, this year the Moorish Captains   belong to the “Filá” ( Rank)  “Taifes Esclaus” and the Christian Captains are in the “Corsaria” rank.

- Monday, June 28th : 12:00 the siege ,recapturing and conquest of the Castle by the Christians. At 20: 00 humorous parade put on by the different “Filaes”.

Sierra de Bèrnia

16/05 Multi adventure, Sierra de Bernía

Here is some interesting information about  new multi-adventure activities organized by the Vall del Pop Association. This little expedition, will involve abseiling and archery in the Sierra de Bèrnia mountains, from which the views could not be more spectacular.

The event will take place on Sunday May 16, 2010, but you will need to register before; which can be done by phoning  the Tururac Company in charge on  630 992 488 or 965 782 360. You can find more information at  www.tururac.com website,. Be sure to  register before 13:00 hours on Friday.

The point of departure is the Tourist Office is at Benissa on Avenida País Valenciá. ( If you are coming by  motorway turn off at the Benissa exit, nº 63 and head towards the town.) You will find it right  at the town entrance next to Bar Frau where there is ample parking for your car. You will need to be there at  9:00am  and the price is 30 €.

This multi-activity involving hiking, abseiling and archery is not only a physical activity , but is also  an educational one where one can learn more about the environment. We hope you enjoy yourselves and find it interesting.

The low cost Benidorm

23,24/07 The Low Cost Benidorm Festival

Here are some sneak previews of the artists and dates of the Low Cost Benidorm Festival 2010, that will be held on the 23rd and the 24th of July.

Some of the more outstanding artists are the British band , “The Editors” who will be playing on the 23rd and the alternative rock group, “Placebo,” on the 24th of July.

Here are some of the groups anticipated to be performing at the Benidorm Low Cost Festival 2010, but we will update the information as new dates and acts filter in:

Scheduled to take place at the bullring in Benidorm, the auditorium Julio Iglesias  and the amphitheatre  Óscar Esplá in the Recinto L’Aigüera. Tickets for each day cost 30 euros but there is a season ticket for both days for 45 euros which is why it is called the Benidorm  Low Cost  Festival.

- On Friday July 23rd you can see the Editors, Los Planetas, These new Puritans, Love of Lesbian, Does It Offend You Teah?,…     17 groups in total.

- On Saturday July 24th   Placebo, Vive La Fête, Lori Meyers and Ivan Ferreiro, will be performing. The organizers have confirmed 19  different performances  for Saturday but do not rule out new additions.

We will keep you informed  about any updates regarding the times and performances of the Low Cost Benidorm Festival 2010.