Benidorm commemorates the arrival of its patroness saint with the Reenactment of the Discovery

The spectacle, declared a Festival of Tourist Interest of the Valencian Community and a candidate for national recognition, once again moved the attendees, who relived the origins of their patron saint's arrival in the city.

Mayor Toni Pérez, Councillor for Fiestas Mariló Cebreros, and other members of the municipal corporation attended the event. Also present were the Regional Minister for Innovation, Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, Marian Cano, and the regional deputies José Ramón González de Zárate, Manuel Pérez Fenoll, Mario Villar, and José Muñoz.

Seated in the official stand were the Festival Queens, Paula Pascual and Aitana Pérez; the presidents of the Festival Committee and the Association of Clubs, Susana Martínez and Jonathan López; and the perpetual president of the Festival Committee and the La Barqueta Regional Association of Supporters' Clubs (ARC La Barqueta), Francisco Llorens. and a broad representation of Benidorm's civil society.

After the reenactment, the image of the Virgin Mary was carried in procession from Elche Park to the Church of San Jaime and Santa Ana, accompanied by hundreds of festival participants, members of local social clubs, and devotees, including the Director General of Family, Childhood and Adolescence and Demographic Challenge, Angélica Such; who filled the streets along the route with flowers and emotion. Applause, tears, and cheers for the patron saint marked one of the most intense nights of the festival calendar.

After the offering, Sant Jaume Square was moved by the verses recited by the Children's Queen, Aitana Pérez, written by Vicenta Pérez ‘Cuqui’, and by the words addressed to those present by the Queen, Paula Pascual, in which she thanked her ladies-in-waiting and the festival organisers for their support throughout the year, and especially her family.

The official opening address this year was given by Francisco Saval, who acknowledged in his speech that he was "fulfilling a dream I've always had as a festival participant and member of a peñas (social club)." The former president of the Associació de Penyes (Association of Peñas) recalled how, "thanks to the tenacity and capacity for sacrifice of the people of Benidorm," they were able to overcome "the disastrous summer of '78 when we were left without a drop of water," and how Benidorm has been "the clearest example of generosity and altruism" in the face of adversity and crises, citing examples such as the earthquake in Morocco, the Covid-19 health crisis, and the devastation caused by the DANA storm last year in l'Horta Sud.

Salval defined Benidorm as "a model of coexistence and a land of opportunity." “There is no town in the world like this one,” he said, “under the watchful and protective gaze” of its patron saint, whose canonical proclamation by Pope Pius XI, he announced, will be commemorated on December 9th. Francisco Saval prayed to Our Lady of Suffrage to “be a beacon and guide for our politicians.”

Toni Pérez, after presenting Saval with the city's gold insignia, described his opening address as “extraordinary” and defined him as a “public servant,” recognising the great service he rendered to the city by participating in the creation of the Associació de Penyes (Association of Social Clubs) and serving as its first president. Without that effort, today, “possibly” the affiliated social clubs and the more than 4,000 members who participate in the festivities would not exist. The mayor also welcomed “those who are joining us today for the first time” and “all the people who are always there to enjoy the celebration.”

The firing of fireworks and the performance of the anthems of Benidorm and the Valencian Community brought to a close a festive day that once again brought together tradition, emotion and devotion in honor of the Mare de Déu del Sofratge.