A massive procession in honor of the Mare de Déu del Sofratge goes around the historic center of Benidorm
Great premiere of the first 'mascletá' de les Festes Majors Patronals
Once again, the shooting of firecrackets has once again become one of the festive acts that attracts the most public. Several thousand people gathered on Avenida Jaime I to witness the spectacular show that made the entire road shake by Turís fireworks.
The roar mingled with the smoke once the Queens hit the switch that started the bombardment and delighted those who crowded around the security fences. Five minutes in which the smoke, the color and the deafening noise concluded with a great ovation from the thousands of people who had stationed themselves at both ends of the avenue minutes before the start.
Among the attendees were, in addition to the Major and Infant Queens, Paula Pérez and Sofía Fuster, and the presidents of the Penyes Commission and Association, Batiste Rostoll and Adrián Romero, the mayor Toni Pérez, the councilor for Fiestas Jesús Carrobles and members from the local corporation, the national deputy Agustín Almodóbar and the regional deputy, Manuel Pérez Fenoll.
Before, at eight o'clock in the morning the day started with an awakening from the Plaza de la Senyoría that served to announce the start of the first Great Day of the Festivities, the day in honor of the Mare de Déu. At 10.30 the collection of the Queens and their Courts of Honor took place and an hour later the Mass was celebrated in honor of the patron saint.
The ceremony took place in the Plaza de SS MM Los Reyes de España, a mass that was officiated by the Reverend Mr. Joaquín Rodes Roca. The meeting was attended by numerous residents of Benidorm, the municipal corporation, the national deputy Agustín Almodóbar and the regional deputy Manuel Pérez Fenoll, among other authorities.
At the end of the religious act, an aerial bombardment and parades took place through the streets of Benidorm as a previous step to the firecrackets.
The day continued in the afternoon with a children's show in Julio Iglesias auditorium at 5 pm.
At 7 pm the procession in honor of the Virgin of Suffrage began, which was attended by civil and ecclesiastical authorities, Queens, Ladies, Members Honor, members of the commission and the people of Benidorm. The procession started from the church of San Jaime and went through Calle Mayor, Carmela Martínez, Plaza del Torrejó, Avenida Virgen del Sufragio, Avenida de Alcoy, Calle Valencia, Plaza de la Hispanidad, Calle Gambo, Martínez Alejos, Plaza de la Creu, Calle Alameda, Calle Mayor and the end at Plaza de San Jaime. An act that has been followed by thousands of residents and tourists along the entire route, who have shown their religious fervor and devotion to the patron saint. At the end, the traditional statue of the Virgin of Suffrage was lit in the same square.
Tonight at 11 pm the traditional song of 'Les Copletes a la Mare de Déu' will take place to the rhythm of the xirimita and the tabalet, (traditional musical instruments), at Plaza de San Jaime. At midnight the orchestra ‘Cuéntame el Musical’ will offer a concert with songs from the 80s and 90s in Julio Iglesias auditorium.
The complete program of Festes Majors Patronals de Benidorm can be consulted online on the web of Benidorm City Council: https://benidorm.org/es/ay Ayuntamiento/concejalias/fiestas/fiestas-mayores-patronales-de-benidorm