Moors and Christians in Calpe

Below we bring you the agenda of upcoming fiesta of  Moors and Christians 2011 in the town of Calpe. This year the festivities begins on Friday 21 October  and will run until Tuesday 25 October.

Friday 21 October

13:00 h. Bells toll and fire crackers.

19:30 h. marching band parade.

20:30 h. great opening of the fiesta, flags hoisting, parade and offering of candles.

24:00 h. parade and reenactments

01:00 h. Dance of the Flag Bearer of the Association at the Plaça del Mosquit.

Saturday 22 October

11:30 h. Concentration in City Hall.

12:00 h..Mass in the Plaza Mayor fire crackers show and procession with the Holy Christ statue to the church

19:30 h. Concentration in City Hall.

20:00 h. solemn procession and firework show at the Plaza Mayor.

24:00 h..Ball organized by the Christian Side in the Plaza San Salvador.

Sunday 23 October

19:00 h. Parade with the entry of Christian and Moor sides

1:00 h. parade and reenactments

01:30 h. Ball organized by the Moor Side.

Monday 24 October

11:00 h. Landing and the first battle reenactment .

18:00 h. Children’s Parade.

21:00 h. Speech, 2nd Battle and “Miracle”

Tuesday 25 October

20:00 h. Mass for the Dead

Low Cost Festival Benidorm

After the proven success of previous year, the Low Cost Festival repeats in Benidorm. This year, the chosen dates are 21, 22 and 23 July. It will take place at the Guillermo Amor Sports Complex in Benidorm.

As it has been done in previous occasions on othe fesetivals in Costa Blanca, such as the Vinalopop in Elche, there will be 2-day and 3-day tickets as well as accommodation packages for those who wish to enjoy not only the festival, but also a high quality tourist offer and excellent hotels.

The Low Cost festival has gained great popularity, ranking as one of the most important national indie rock festivals in Spain.

This edition will bring talented national and international musicians such as Steve Aoki, Ok Go, Goose, Dorian, Maika Makovski, SuperSubmarina  and Athom Rhumba.

The capacity of the venue is limited to 15,000 people and it happened in previous years, the organisers expect the tickets to sell out.

If you do not have your ticket yet, get it here.

Benissa's Church

To celebrate and honour its patron saint, Benissa starts its fiestas today.  This year, as the previous one and many more back, the fiestas last a week and this time end on 8^th May.

This is the schedule for this fiesta:

Sunday, 1st May:

8:00 h: Despertada (awakening), bell tolls, parade with marching bands and fireworks.

8:30 h: Mass.

10:00 h: Parade with festeros (fiesta people), mayorales and clavariesas, and marching bands.

11:30 h: Solemn mass and sermon to honour La Purissima Xiqueta.

14:00 h: Impressive mascletada (firecrackers show) by Vicent Caballer Pyrotechnics.

19:00 h: Prayed mass and bajada (descent) of the patron saint’s statue, accompanied by music by Pepe Ciudad, organ player. Next, solemn mass and procession to honour La Purissima Xiqueta. To finish the procession, there will be an amazing fireworks castle by Vicente Caballer pyrotechnics.

1:00 h: Music performance by El Arrebato. Then, performance by Crash Orchestra.

Monday, 2nd May:

8:00 h: Despertada (awakening), bell tolls and parade with festeros and marching bands.

8:30 h: Mass

10:00 h: Parade with festeros (fiesta people), mayorales and clavariesas, and marching bands.

11:00 h: Festeros gathering at the gates square.

11:30 h: Solemn mass and sermon to honour La Purissima Xiqueta.

13:30 h: Flowers offering by the Riberero Monument. Homage to the ribereros and proclamation by Álvaro Pérez Arlandis.

14:00 h: Mascletada (firecrackers show) by Vicent Caballer Pyrotechnics.

18:30 h: Parade with floats and music by the charangas and the Colla de xirimiters.

19:30 h: Kids show “La Festa del Rei” by the Companyia Escuraplats theatre company.

20:30 h: Prayed Mass.

0:00 h: Hail chants for the Purissima Xiqueta at the old house of Joan Vives, at Purisima St.

0:30 h: Fireworks by Vicent Caballer Pyrotechnics.

1:00 h: Performance by Salseta del Poble Sec music band.

2:00 h: Handover of the symbolic authority rod to His Excellence the Mayor of dels fadrins, Mr. Joan Bolufer Vives.

Tuesday, 3rd May:

8:30 h: Mass.

9:00 h: Despertada by the women accompanied by charangas.

10:00 h to 15:00 h: Children’s playground at the Dolors Piera Boulevard.

11:00 h: Traditional games

14:00 h: Fadrina Mascletada (firecrackers show) by Vicent Caballer Pyrotechnics.

18:30 h: Humorous parade where everybody is invited to take part, with music by the charangas.

Wednesday, 4th May:

8:30 h: Mass

11:00 h to 14:00 h: Children’s playground at the Glorieta.

16:00 h: Children’s playground after siesta.

16:30 h: Visit to the San Joaquín and Santa Ana old people’s homes to invite senior citizens to horchata and cocas (sweet bread).

18:30 h: Bulls by La Paloma Stockbreeders.

19:00 h: Letting loose of bulls by Benavent Stockbreeders.

23:30 h: Letting loose of bulls by La Paloma Stockbreeders.

Thursday, 5th May:

8:30 h: Mass

18:30 h: Entrance of Bulls by Benavent Stockbreeders.

19:00 h: Letting loose of young bulls by La Paloma Stockbreeders.

23:30 h: Letting loose of young bulls by Benavent Stockbreeders.

1:30 h: Módena Orchestra performance at German Ivars Square.

Friday, 6th May:

8:30 h: Prayed Mass.

19:00 h: Letting loose of agile young bulls by Benavent Stockbreeders.

23:00 h: Entrance of Bulls by La Paloma Stockbreeders.

23:30 h: Letting loose of young bulls by La Paloma Stockbreeders.

1:30 h: Fantastic concert by Brothers in Band —tribute to Dire Straits.

Saturday, 7th May:

8:30 h: Mass

8:30 h: Letting loose of young bulls by La Paloma Stockbreeders.

11:00 h: Entrance of the “bous the carretó” (bull-shaped cars) for kids.

12:30 h: Anyades gathering at the gates square.

14:00 h: Giant Paella cooked by Galbis and sponsored by Mas y Mas supermarket and the 2011 Fiestas Commision, to be prepared and served at the Dolors Piera Square.

16:00 h: “Discomóvil” mobile disco by Macrodisco Millenium.

17:00 h: Performance by Mangani Boys Band.

19:00 h: Letting loose of young bulls by La Paloma Stockbreeders.

20:30 h: Novena mass to honour La Purissima Xiqueta.

23:30 h: Letting loose of young bulls by La Paloma Stockbreeders.

Sunday, 8th May:

8:00 h: Despertada (awakening), bell tolls and parade.

8:30 h: Mass.

10:00 h: Festeros parade with music bands and the Colla de xirimiters.

11:00 h: Festeros and authorities gathering at the gates square.

11:30 h: Solemn mass. Chants by the Mare Nostrum Orpheon.

14:00 h: Mascletada (firecrackers show) by Vicent Caballer Pyrotechnics.

20:00 h: Dulçainas and percussion concert by Grupo La Inestable.

20:30 h: Novena mass.

22:00 h: Party with music and fireworks show, accompanied by the hymns of Benissa.

Vinalopop 2011 music fest in Elche, Spain

For the second consecutive year, Elche will host the Vinalopop Music Festival 2011, which will kick off the summer festival season starring the UK band The Charlatans.

This event is scheduled for 9th April, when 10,000 concert goers are expected to gather in the grounds of the municipal park in Elche, to exceed  the amount of people -3,500-  who joined last year.

The confirmed lineup includes The Charlatans, The Wave Pictures, The Divine Comedy and James Walsh, best known for being  the frontman of Starsailor.

The construction of a second stage has been planned to accomodate different bands, thus making it easier for attendees to enjoy paralell shows.

The national representation of the event will be headlined by bands like We Are Standard, Fuzzy White Casters and Vinila Von Bismark, Zahara and Supersubmarina; artists like La Casa Azul, Russian Red, Vetusta Morla and Fangoria are yet to be confirmed.

The price of tickets is 18 euros in presale until early February, when the final price will rise to 22 euros. These can be purchased at the ATM network Servicam, among other means.

Low Cost Festival Benidorm

The Mayor of Benidorm has told the press about the new edition of the Low Cost Festival and the features incorporated to the event. This music event will take place on July 21^st, 22^nd and 23^rd 2010 and will double its capacity, to allow 40,000 people.

Last year, the festival had three stages and a line-up of over 40 national and international artists during two days. For the second edition, this music event will be held for three days, on three simultaneous stages. This will allow people to enjoy more appearances than last year.

The location also changes: For 2011, it will be the Guillermo Amor stadium in Foietes, the athletics tracks and the new stadium, which has not been completed yet.

Tickets will be available as early as December. You will be able to get single tickets or passes, with or without accommodation included.

This youth-oriented festival has positioned in internet as the second most searched Spanish music festival.

The Low Cost is a very long-awaited festival for both young people and the hotels industry. Last year, the event presented international artists such as Editors and the Raveonettes for a very competitive price. Also, the festival translated into a 3% increase on hotels bookings in Benidorm by those dates.

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.

San Juan Bonfire Nights of Calpe 2010 ( Hogueras)

Festivals ( Fiestas) in Calpe from 26th  to 27th of June 2010 with the  San Juan Bonfire Nights of  Calpe 2010 ( Hogueras). Four days and different ways to  enjoy the Bonfires of San Juan . Here we include the programme so that you can participate in activities that interest you.

– Thursday, June 24: Fiesta de San Juan, they will build the bonfire at  La Cometa  at 19:00 and at 19:30 they will offer a free shuttle bus from Calpe to the Ermita de San Juan in La Cometa, which will host the offering Mass in honor of San Juan. At 22:00 there will be a snack for all participants and at 22:30 the bus will return to Calpe.

– Friday June 25: a day dedicated to the young people with  dinner at the Ermita of San Juan in La  Cometa, live music and young bull running.

– Saturday June 26: all afternoon party with kids playground (19:00 hours), session of  bull running at La Cometa (20:00 pm), screening of reports of  La Cometa Festival (21:00 hours),  dinner “Sobacquillo” at (22:00 hours), open air cinema (23:00 pm), bull running (24:00 hours).

– Sunday June 27: The Lighting of the Bonfire Day, at 09:30 am departure of  the traditional pilgrimage by bicycle from Calpe to the Ermita of San Juan. Meeting point is to be at the Town Hall door of  Calpe. Later at 13: 00 the paella contest. And from 20:00 hours to 22:00 hours bull running in the streets. At 22.00 they will set fire to the bonfire at La Cometa,  Calpe .