The traditional event brings together hundreds of residents and visitors in the heart of the city and marks the beginning of several days full of festive activities
Benidorm receives its Major Patron Saint Festivities with the lighting of the ornamental lighting
The main streets and avenues of Benidorm are already shining with thousands of light bulbs announcing the imminent arrival, tomorrow Saturday, after the general ringing of the bells, of Major Patron Saint Festivities 2025
On Friday afternoon, a large crowd gathered at the intersection of Martínez Alejos and Gambo streets to witness the official lighting of the festive lights, one of the most anticipated moments of the day.
The 2024 festival queens, Paula Pascual and Aitana Pérez, along with their courts of honour, jointly requested the lighting of the festive lights from the electricians of the Municipal Technical Services, who carried it out immediately. The public responded with prolonged applause when, simultaneously, the arches, garlands, and decorative motifs adorning the city were illuminated and will remain lit until Wednesday.
The event was attended by the mayor, Toni Pérez, the councillor for Fiestas, Mariló Cebreros, other members of the municipal council, and the regional deputy, José Ramón González de Zárate. The presidents of the Patron Saint Festival Committee and the Verge del Sofratge Association of Clubs, Susana Martínez and Jonathan López, were also present.
After the lighting ceremony, the queens, ladies-in-waiting, and festival organisers made their way to the traditional "Porrat" market on Emilio Ortuño Avenue, where they visited the various stalls and enjoyed churros with chocolate. Afterwards, the group officially inaugurated the fairgrounds.
The events leading up to the official start of the Patron Saint Festival will continue tonight with the highly anticipated "Entrada de Penyes" (Parade of Clubs), which will begin at 10:00 p.m. More than 5,000 festival participants belonging to the 222 clubs of the Associació Verge del Sofratge will parade through the centre of Benidorm in one of the most crowded parades, which will culminate in front of the Martínez Alejos grandstand, where the ribbons will be presented to the flags and banners of each festival group.
Regulations
As in previous years, Benidorm City Council has designed a comprehensive plan to reinforce security, cleanliness, and the overall well-being of the city during these days. It has also published the traditional regulations governing the operation of the peñas (social clubs) and festival venues. These regulations reiterate the prohibition on the use of firecrackers and other F1, F2, and F3 pyrotechnic devices from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., as well as between 2:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Furthermore, it stipulates that music played in peñas venues must cease completely by 4:00 a.m., while the venues themselves must close no later than 6:00 a.m.
The Festivities will continue with dozens of activities of all kinds until next Wednesday, November 12. The full program of events can be found on the municipal website – through the following link https://benidorm.org/es/ayuntamiento/concejalias/fiestas/fiestas-mayore… – and on all official communication channels of Benidorm City Council.
