Benidorm presents the Mare de Déu del Sofratge with a massive floral offering on its 286th anniversary

More than a hundred festival, cultural, and civic organizations from the city gathered shortly before six in the evening in Elche Park, from where they began their pilgrimage to the parish church. The image of the patron saint was carried on the shoulders of members of the La Barqueta Cultural and Recreational Association.

Following the Virgin, the honorary festival organizers and the standard-bearer, Jaime Llorca, marched, leading the way for the Queens of the Patron Saint Festival, Laura Ivars and Carmen Guillem. As is tradition, they and their courts of honor wore for the first time the regional costumes they will wear throughout the festival year.

Next came the official delegation, headed by the mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, along with the councilor for Festivals, Mariló Cebreros; other members of the city council; and Senator Agustín Almodóbar. Among those present were regional deputies José Ramón González de Zárate, Manuel Pérez Fenoll, and Mario Villar; the Director General of Family, Childhood, Adolescence, and Demographic Challenge, Angélica Such; the President of the Commission, Ramón Cano; and the President of the Associació de Penyes Verge del Sofratge, Diego Carrasco.

The pilgrimage proceeded along Paseo de la Carretera, Alameda Street, Mayor Street, and Plaza de Sant Jaume. Upon arrival, the image of the patron saint was placed under the church portico, where bouquets and baskets of flowers were gradually placed until it was surrounded. The last to make their offering were the ladies of the festival and their queens, Laura and Carmen, as well as the mayor and council members representing the entire city.

Next, the queens placed pennants on the banners of the Commission and the Association of Clubs. Carmen Guillem recited verses in honour of Our Lady of Sufragio, and Laura Ivars delivered her first official speech as the highest representative of the festivities. In her speech, she emotionally expressed her passion for the Patron Saint Festivities and the devotion to Our Lady of Sufragio, instilled in her by her family since childhood. She also highlighted the busy months ahead for the courts of honour leading up to the festivities in November and asked the patron saint to continue protecting Benidorm.

Following this, Ramón Cano addressed the crowd from the stage, emphasising the emotion experienced during the pilgrimage and how it intensified as they approached the church, as well as the "respect and feeling of love" felt by him and all the members of the Commission.

To conclude, Mayor Toni Pérez also addressed the attendees, congratulating the queens, ladies-in-waiting, and the entire Commission for the excellent organisation of the events. “I am privileged,” he said, “to have listened to Laura and Carmen,” and turning to the image of the patron saint, he emphasised that in those “verses and words was the feeling of an entire town.”

The mayor also recalled the historical significance of “that March 16th when, without knowing it, the whole town was waiting for her,” referring to the Discovery of the Virgin for the city, and asked everyone present to join “our patron saint once again” tomorrow for the Dawn celebration.

The event concluded with the playing of the anthems of Benidorm and the Valencian Community and a fireworks display from Plaza de la Senyoria, bringing to a close a day marked by tradition, emotion, and citizen participation.