Living chess of Jávea 2010

The facilities of the Jávea harbour will host next Saturday, 30^th July at 22:30 h, the XVI living chess of Jávea. Since 1996, this event has been organized by the Mare de Deu de Loreto Fiestas Commission, always with the collaboration of the Local chess club and Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo (CAM Bank).

The “living chess” is actually a theatre play representing a chess match. For this edition, the play will be an adaptation of the most famous Spanish book in history: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra’s The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha.

It is interesting to note that, given the complexity of this story, there are not many theatrical adaptations of this masterpiece of universal literature; it is usually worked for TV and film, in the shape of movies —for TV or cinema, miniseries or operas.

This adaptation of Cervante’s work into a theatre play was made by one of the organizers: Dionis Henarejos, who counted on the experience of being part of the group that brought to the theatre play format a poem called “Scachs d’Amor, considered a classic of the Region of Valencia, dating back from XIV century.

Moors and Christians in Benitachell

Poble Nou de Benitachell celebrates its own Moros y Cristianos —Moors and Christians— fiesta from 8^th to 10^th July 2011. This is the schedule of planned events for this festival:

Friday, 8th July:

23:30 h: The festival starts with a parade led by the standard of the Main Committee —Junta Central. The filaes (groups) will join the parade as it goes by.

00:00 h: Presentation of standards and official opening announcement of the festival.

Afterwards, the Moorish Embassy will show up on Plaza Nueva, followed by the Christian Embassy, while an impressive show of fireworks (fireworks castle) takes place.

The day will end with party at the Kabyles (tents typical of this fiesta).

Saturday, 9 July:

09:00 h: Filaes accompanied by their music bands, firing harquebusses.

12:00 h: Another parade and  visit  of the brotherhood to the Ben-Abiar and Les Pobladores Kabyles.

19:30 h: Flowers offering.

20:00 h: Novena mass to honour Saint Sebastian, patron saint of the festival. Afterwards, awarding of ties —to be placed on the standards— to the music bands at the town hall.

00:00 h: Kabyles night.

Sunday, 10th July:

09:00 h: Filaes accompanied by their music bands, firing harquebuses on a nice visual show.

12:00 h: Parade; then, a brotherhood will visit the Els Trabuquers Kabyle.

19:30 h: Marching bands parade from the town Hall.

20:00 h: Great gala parade of both sides: Moors and Christians.

Moors and Christians Fiestas 2011 in Benissa

The much awaited Moros y Cristianos —Moors and Christians— fiesta is, together with the Purisima Xiqueta patron saint celebration, the most important festival in Benissa, and probably all across the Marina  Alta region.

This is the schedule of events for the Moors and Christians fiesta in Benissa in 2011:
From 16th June to 4th July:

- Exhibition of the drawings taking part in the kid’s contest. Location: Exhibition hall of Casal Jove. Time: from 9:30 h to 13:30 h. The times are subject to modifications.

Thursday, 30 June:
- Meeting of the filaes (groups) in the castle and brotherhoods dinner. Time: 22:00 h.
- Afterwards, music show. Time: 23:30 h.

Friday, 1^st July:
- Proclaiming act of standards in the castle. The standard carriers, captains and ambassadors will join the event. Opening speech of the fiestas, by Raúl Martínez Ivars. Time: 23:00 h.
- Once the speech is finished, the Zeppelin band will play. Location: Jaime I square.

Saturday; 2nd July: First Kids’ “entrà” (entrance) and moor embassy.
- Memorial acts for the dead “festeros” at the town’s cemetery. Time: 13:00 h.
- Parade with all the filaes from Portal Square to the church, carrying the Saint Peter statue. Time: 19:30 h.
- Mass to honour Saint Peter Apostle. Time: 18:30 h. Location: Parish church.
- Kids’ “entrà” and XXI  Junior Squadron Leaders Competition. Time: 20:30 h.
- Attack of the moors from Plaza del Convento square to the square.
- Afterwards, moor embassy and castle takeover. Time: 23:30 h.

Sunday, 3rd July: General “Entrà” day:
- Parade across town and visit to the San Joaquín y Santa Ana elderly residence. Time: 11:00 h.
- Great “Entrà —entrance— from Valencia street to the end of Carrer Nou. Time: 20:00 h.

Monday, 4th July: Christian embassy and end of the fiesta.
- Attack of the Christians from the Portal square. Time: 11:00 h.
- After this,  reconquering of the castle by the Christian embassy. By the end of the festival, the kid’s contest prizes will be handed over.
- Parade with all the bands that took part in the fiestas. Time: 20:00 h.
- Humorous parade “Fin de fiesta” (end of the fiesta). Time: 21:00 h.

Benissa's church

After Holy Week celebrations, many towns across Costa Blanca north continue the fiestas season by honouring their patron saints. This is the case with Teulada and Benissa.

Benissa’s Patron Saint fiestas started on Saturday 16 April with the proclamation of the fiestas and will end on Sunday 8 May. Some of the many activities and events planned to honour the Purissima Xiqueta, patron saint of Benissa, are:

- Flowers offering on Saturday 30 April at 18:30 h. Afterwards, there will be a music show by Código and Vertigo orchestras.

- The events on Sunday 1 May “ Day of the Purissima Xiqueta” are: Mass at 11:30 h. Then, Mascletada —Firecrackers show— by Vicent Caballer pyrotechnics. At 19:00 h, a procession to honour the patron saint and later, at 01:00 h, a concert by El Arrebato.

- From Wednesday 4 to Saturday, 7th May: Release of young bulls, embolado bulls in Benissa and music shows. Entrance of bulls on Wednesday 4 at 18:30 h.

Patron Saint Fiestas in Teulada from 27 April to 8 May: This year, this fiesta happens to coincide with the fiestas of Benissa. The schedule of events fo this fiesta is impressively hectic, with music shows, firecrackers shows, bulls, parades, processions, giant paellas, etc. THe most relevant activities are:

- The Flowers offering on Saturday 30 April, when people walk the streets of Teulada to arrive in the San Vicente Ferrer Hermitage Chapel, located on Las Palmas Avenue.

- The Firecrackers show —mascletada— on Monday 4 May at 14:00 h, and a spectacular fireworks castle on the same day. The castle is fired after the procession to honour San Vicente Ferrer, at around 22:00 h.

- All bull-related events will take place from Wednesday 3 to Saturday 7. These will include the release of young bulls at afternoon and night, fire bulls, contest of different stockbreeders, etc.

- Les Quintaes day will be Saturday 7. This event features a giant paella and everyone wanting to join in is invited to a serving. There will also be music shows and fiestas all across Teulada.

- The last day, Sunday 8, closes with a funny cavalcade throughout town, with carriages and floats handcrafted by the people of Teulada. The cavalcade ends with prizes for the best decorated streets.

Calpe’s Fallas 2011

Fallas is not a fiesta exclusive of the city of Valencia. If you want to check it by yourself, just keep an eye on the cultural offers that the city of Calpe brings this March 2011.

Calpe’s Fallas will have the glamorous representation of fallera Beatriz Femenía and junior fallera Adriana Pino, who were proclaimed in a ceremony last January.

Since 1983, Calpe celebrates its own Fallas festivity.

The organization of “Falla del Vell Calp“, chaired by Don Victorio Pino and counting this year with 51 seniors and 24 junior falleros, will proceed to install the huge cardboard statues and then burn them at midnight on 19^th March, St. Joseph’s Day and official beginning day of this spring.

Other favorite activities for children and adults are the “Plantà” (placement of ninots or cardboard figures) and the “Despertà” (Wake up in Valencian language) with fire crackers and popular music

Throughout 19^th March, popular events will be held as a prelude to the great cremà (burn-down) at midnight. Among the events programmed there are: Parades, Giant Paella for everyone and a Mass to honour San Jose (Saint Joseph).

Carnival fiestas 2011 in March

In Spain’s Costa Blanca, February and March are the Carnival months. While most towns have their carnival fiestas in half February, others wait until the first weeks of March. That is the case of Pego, Teulada, Benidorm and Denia, just to mention a few examples.

In Teulada, the carnival fiestas ere dedicated almost exclusively to kids. They start today, with a parade with the participation of students at 15:00 h at Teulada and Moraira tonw centres.

In Denia, carnival is similar but celebrated tomorrow, on 5^th March.

In Benidorm this year, carnivals start tomorrow and last until 8th March. At 11:00 h on Saturday, the kids’ carnival parade will cover the most important street of the city. At 21:00 h, there will be the adults’ `parade.

On 8^th March at 21:30 h, the “entierro de la sardina” —sardine’s burial—takes place at Poniente Beach, and the season ends with a beautiful fireworks show.

Marjal Nature Park, Pego-Oliva

The beauty of the natural areas of the Region of Valencia is unparalleled and public entities know it well. For that reason, the Oliva Tourist Information office organises a guided tour through the trekking paths of the Pego-Oliva Marsh natural park.

This 1248 acre park consists of a dune system that extends south of the Serpis River where a very diverse fauna gathers. The most prominent dwellers of this park are the migratory birds that travel from Europe to northern Africa during winter.

To sign up for the activities to be held on 24^th February and 18^th March, call at the Pego-Oliva Marsh Park offices (+34 966 400 251 / +34 679 195 227) and ask to be included in a group. The number of participants per group is limited to 20 people.

The starting point of the excursion will be the Oliva Tourist Info office at 09:00 h.  The transport has to be done by the own participants’ means to the natural park entrance, where a car parking area is available.

The degree of difficulty of the 3 km hiking route is medium to low and it is recommended to wear mountain boots, a hat, and sunscreen, and take a raincoat with you.

For more information contact the Oliva Tourist Info Office:

Address: Pasaje Lluis Vives. Phone and fax: +34 962 855 528. E-mail: oliva@touristinfo.net.

Beer takes centre stage in Calpe, from October 7th to 17th

For another year, Calpe celebrates the Oktoberfest Calpe 2010 Beer Festival, from October 7^th to 17^th. This is one of the most popular events in the Costa Blanca region, gathering people from all corners of Europe and the province. The festival is organized by the Carnaval Club Calpe Association and the Calpe Town Hall.

The Oktoberfest Calpe 2010 schedule introduces new events, such as the Happy Hour, with reduced prices on beer, sausages, ham hock and other exquisite meals. Another novelty is the Tourist Day, with a paella contests, and a day dedicated to Jazz.

The tent usually allocated to the Oktoberfest will be bigger and relocated in front of the Calpe Silene D’Ifach school.

For additional details on this year’s Oktoberfest in Calpe, visit this link

The Pego Carnivals 2010 Alicante

These are probably  the most renowned Carnivales in the Alicante Province. People travel from all over the area to enjoy these festivities.

The main attractions are of course, the costumes , the music and the general festivities. These will commence on Saturday the 13 of February 2010 in Pego at 23.00h in the “Pla de la Font” ( the square with the fountain). The orchestra “EUFORIA” will be the first to start the entertaining. After which the parade will continue to the Paseo de Michel where the orchestras, “MONTECARLO”and “VERTIGO” will be performing. There will also be DJs and  huge, “Mobile-Discos,” to keep everyone dancing.

The “Sardine´s Funeral,”( ENTIERRO DE LA SARDINA), will take place on Saturday the 20th of February at 23.00h. Everyone is to dress in mourning and to meet at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento ( the Square by the Town Hall). The  mourners will  parade all the way to the Pla de la Font ( the square with the fountain) where they will then light the bonfire.

At 00.30h the, “Corre fuegos,” del Grupo Lésclat will commence. These are pyrotechnics that run through the streets with fireworks and bangers etc.

Probably the best way to enjoy the Pego Carnivals 2010 is to enquire about the bus timetables that will run from the various towns of the area. It is is the most convenient way by which to get there and thereby avoid having to find parking.