Benidorm celebrates the 277th anniversary of its patroness, the Mare de Déu del Sofratge
The image of the Virgin will tour the three beaches of Benidorm in l'Alba, on the 16th, carried by its parishioners
The councilman of Fiestas Jesús Carrobles, together with the president of the Commission of Festes Majors Patronals of 2017, Antonio Vicente Fuster, 'Panchi', have presented the events that on the occasion of the 277th anniversary of the discovery of the Mare de Déu del Sofratge in Benidorm this weekend and throughout the month.
The celebration will begin on Saturday 11, in which, after the concentration of clubs and festive entities on the Paseo de Colón, will take place the Offering to the Virgin of Suffrage that will travel Paseo de la Carretera, Alameda, Calle Mayor and Plaza de Sant Jaume . Then, the Child Queen, Àngela Antón, will recite a few verses in honor of the patron and later a fireworks castle will be fired in the Castelar square, by Pirotécnica Valenciana. Finally, after 24.00 hours, in the Plaza Mayor will start a popular verbena in which the 'Granujas de medio pelo' will perform.
On Sunday, March 12, there will be an intense day of activities. From 9:00 am to 2:00 p.m., the IIITrofeo 'Mare de Déu del Sofratge' will be held in the 7th Regatta of the Suma-Llaüt League, organized by the Nautical Club. Meanwhile, at 10.00 will be disputed XXXVIII Cross People 'Festa el Calvari', with exit and finish in Martínez Alejos street; At 12.00 the Musical Union will perform the 'Extraordinary Concert of the Finding of the Virgin of Suffrage', in the Plaza Mayor; And at 20.00 the rondalla of 'La Barqueta' will give to neighbors and visitors with their traditional concert commemorating the 'Trobada de la Mare de Déu del Sofratge', in the Church of Sant Jaume and Santa Anna, with the collaboration of Camareta Arts Cantica in homage to Tomás Llorca Cortés.
On Wednesday, May 15, at 8:00 p.m. and in the Church, the organist of the Concatedral de Castellón, Augusto Belau, will give an organ concert. On Thursday 16, at 5.30 the parish doors will be opened so that the image of the patron saint will visit the three beaches of the city (Levante, Poniente and Mal Pas) in l'Alba, carried by its parishioners. After the tour, at 7.00 a Mass will be celebrated and the traditional breakfast with chocolate and sweets will be served to all participants. When the clock strikes midday, the time will come for the bell toll and the subsequent aerial bombardment. Finally, at 20:00 there will be a mass after which a fireworks castle will be fired, also in charge of Pirotecnia Valenciana.
A whole month of celebrations
The program of events for the 177th anniversary of the Sofra's Mare de Déu is complemented by the 'Photographic Exhibition of the Dawn' which from 1 to 20 March can be seen at the headquarters of the Recreational Cultural Association 'La Barqueta', the street By Tomás Ortuño, 62. Tomorrow Friday, March 10, in the Plaza de la Señoría you can enjoy a Jazz concert organized by the Department of Culture, by 'Even 8Ths'. Also, during the 20th and 30th of March, the exhibition of the 'XV Drawing and Painting Contest' of 'La Barqueta' will be open in the Casa del Fester; The awards ceremony will be on Thursday 30th in the Hall of Acts of the City Council. The celebrations of the 177th Anniversary also include the celebration of a mass in honor of the patron saint of Benidorm in Sanet i Negrals (Marina Alta).
The councilor of Fiestas, Jesús Carrobles, thanked the "great work done by the Commission" in the organization of these events because "the finding of" our patroness "is one of those" more rooted appointments that marks the festive calendar of Benidorm "And that more intensely live the neighbors. Carrobles has been convinced that they will be a great success, especially "if you endure this magnificent time that is making us."