Benidorm guarantees the celebration of a large part of the acts of the Festes Majors Patronals in compliance with anti-Covid measures

Les Festes Majors Patronals de Benidorm, which will take place in Benidorm from November 13 to 17, will comply with all the necessary sanitary measures and will be able to celebrate the vast majority of the events organized by the Comissió de Festes. Due to the situation derived from the pandemic, its evolution and the regulations in force of the Generalitat Valenciana, the City Council and the Commission have opted to hold a large part of the events, although some of them will introduce changes of location, route and The capacity will be controlled "following the health regulations for popular celebrations set by the Generalitat" have specified the Councilor for Festivities, Jesús Carrobles, and the president of the Commission, Batiste Rostoll.
The councillor has advanced that "around 80% of the acts will be held" and always "adjusting to the regulations, avoiding crowds, maintaining the safety distance and the use of the mask".
On Saturday 13 the aerial bombardment will take place, with controlled access to the area of ​San Jaime church. In the same way that has been done with the celebration of Fallas in Valencia, entry will be allowed only to residents in the area and to those who participate in the events.
An hour later Benidorm anthem will be performed in Julio Iglesias auditorium, whose interior can only be accessed with a Covid certificate, which can be downloaded and stored on any mobile device using the following link : https://coronavirus.san.gva.es/es/certificado-digital-ue
The staging of the Finding of the Mare de Déu del Sofratge will have a new location and will move to Levante beach, at the height of Bilbao street. What is sought, Carrobles said, is "to have more space and guarantee health security."
The Offering will also experience modifications in its route. The parade will take place on Avenida Europa, near Cimbel hotel, and from there it will run along Avenida del Mediterráneo, Plaza de la Hispanidad, Calle Gambo, Martínez Alejos and Alameda. Access to the Church will be restricted with a special device. In addition, the entities and festive groups participating in the Offering will be summoned at different times to have a staggered departure.
The Councilor for Festivities has indicated in this regard that "all those who wish may participate as long as they use a mask on the route and keep the safety distance of one and a half meters."
At one o'clock in the morning a sound, lighting and fireworks show will take place in Mercasa in which the current sanitary measures for outdoor activities will be kept.
The day of Sunday 14 will start with an aerial bombardment at 8.30. The mass in honor of the Mare de Déu del Sofratge, at 11.30 am, will be held at Plaza de SSMM Los Reyes de España with a maximum capacity of 500 people seated in chairs. Those who follow the standing ceremony will have to do so while maintaining a safe distance.
The shooting of rockets at 2 pm will take place on Jaime I avenue and attendees must wear a mask and keep a safe distance. The same conditions will be applied on Monday and Tuesday.
As for the procession, its route and the starting time will also vary, which will be at 7:00 p.m. The itinerary will run from Plaza de Sant Jaume, Calle Mayor, and will continue along Carmela Martínez street, Plaza del Torrejó - a point from which the public can join - Avenida Virgen del Sufragio, Avenida de Alcoy, Calle Valencia, Plaza de Hispanidad, Gambo Street, Martínez Alejos, Plaza de la Cruz and Alameda Street. Access to the church will also be restricted to avoid crowds.At midnight, the Cuéntame orchestra will perform in the Julio Iglesias auditorium and it will be mandatory to show the Covid certificate to access, as well as for all the events held in this place, which will have a capacity of 3,000 people.
Monday the 15th begins with a new aerial bombardment and, like the previous day, the mass in honor of San Jaime, at 11.30, will be celebrated in the Plaza de SSMM Los Reyes de España in the open air until the capacity is completed and with the same conditions as the day before.
The procession will begin at 7:00 p.m. and the route also changes, which will start in the Plaza de Sant Jaume, continue on the Calle Mayor and continue through Carmela Martínez, Plaza del Torrejó, Avenida Virgen del Sufragio, Martínez Alejos, Plaza de la Cruz. and Alameda street. As on Sunday, the incorporation to the procession will have to be done in the Plaza del Torrejó.
At midnight, a musical group will offer a concert in the Julio Iglesias auditorium for which it will be necessary to carry the Covid certificate to access it.
On Tuesday 16, as in previous days, the aerial bombardment will begin at 8.30. The Requiem mass will be celebrated at 10.30 am in the Church of San Jaime and Santa Ana, with access restricted to the capacity of the church and with the obligation to remain with a mask.
At 5:00 p.m. the Children's Show will take place in the Julio Iglesias auditorium and, as during all festivities, access will be through a Covid certificate.
As for Wednesday 17, the last day of celebrations, in the morning the Festa de les Festes will be held in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. In the afternoon, the Parade of Floats will begin at 7:00 p.m. and its route will be based on the number of floats that confirm their participation, which will be free for the entities and festive groups. The throwing of candies will not be allowed and participants must do so with a mask.
Finally, the Fireworks Castle will be launched from Elche Park, as confirmed by the mayor of Fiestas himself. Sanitary security measures will be the same as in outdoor events.
Jesús Carrobles explained about the festival program that "the usual popular festivals or correfocs will not be held", which are the acts that are suppressed, but he has clarified that "there will be a fair of mechanical attractions and‘ porrat ’". The fair will be located in its usual location in the Fairgrounds and will be officially opened on Friday the 12th by the Queens and Ladies. To access it, you will have to wear a mask and keep a safe distance inside. "Each mechanical attraction will apply the corresponding Covid protocol" has qualified the mayor.
As for the ‘porrat’, it will also be located in its usual place on Emilio Ortuño street and, like the fair, it will start operating on Friday the 12th and will be open until Sunday, November 21.
With regard to the supporters' clubs, the City Council will act in accordance with the current regulations applicable to type B festive venues (premises with temporary authorization for parties in which they take place, in addition to management and administration functions, activities that involve the meeting or concentration of partygoers, family members and guests and are not open to public attendance).
In view of the current situation, the president of Associació de Penyes Verge del Sofratge, Adrián Romero, has indicated that "with these regulations it is not feasible to request authorization to open the clubs". Both the Association and the Department "are agreed in complying with current Public Health regulations" has added Jesús Carrobles.
Thus, for these cases, the regulations of the General Directorate of Public Health indicate that they will be able to carry out their activity "normally" and "with 100% occupancy of the authorized capacity". However, the standard specifies that "the safety measures relating to the use of the mask and the maintenance of the safety distance must be applied," as well as "taking measures to ensure proper ventilation of the premises."
In addition, as Carrobles recalled, when serving meals, lunches or dinners "the supporters clubs must assume the specific hospitality regulations at the time of the celebration", including the number of diners per table and distance between them, in addition to the fact that the preparation and food supply must be carried out by external companies.
The current health regulations of Conselleria de Sanidad Universal y Salud Pública can be downloaded at the following link: https://coronavirus.san.gva.es/documents/469630/1417807/PLAN+SANITARIO+…. pdf / 4b9d6b06-918f-af72-f2f2-aa1408111c88? t = 1630066216875