The Councillor for Culture and Celebrations, Eduardo Dolón, and the Delegate for Youth, José Manuel Pizana, of Torrevieja City Council unveiled the details of the Fiestas Patronales

Honouring the Purísima on the Costas

It’s party time on the Costas, as the City Council goes all out to lift deflated spirits with a fun-filled fiesta week. The Councillor for Culture and Celebrations, Eduardo Dolón, and the Delegate for Youth, José Manuel Pizana, of Torrevieja City Council, presented the activities scheduled to be included in the ‘Fiestas Patronales Torrevieja 2009’ programme, designed to honor the Immaculate Conception.

The fun kicks off tomorrow, 28th November, at 11:30, with the unveiling of the exhibition dedicated to the ‘Purísima’. Entitled ‘Torrevieja Bajo Tu Manto’ or ‘Torrevieja under Your Mantle’, it will be displayed in the Sala de exposiciones Vista Alegre and is destined to provide a real treat for art lovers. 

One of the most significant acts of the fiestas will be the Coronation of the Damas (ladies) and Reina (Queen) of the salt 2009, this year nominated as Torrevejense, Itziar Masegosa Valdés. The ceremony will take place at the Municipal Theatre of Torrevieja at 20:00 and is always a very lavish affair, attracting some of the most influential figures of the locality. The extravagant procession of ‘Giants and Big Heads’ will return once again, encouraging youngsters to take to the streets at given intervals during the morning and afternoon, from Wednesday 2nd to Monday 7th December.

PARADE

The children’s activities continue on 5th December, when the City Council of Torrevieja has also organized the first edition of the ‘Infantil Fiestas Patronales’ Celebration, to take place in the Parque de las Naciones from 10:00 to 14:00 hours. The event will include educational workshops, recreational activities, quiet time, theatre studies and much more.

An amazing bonfire-type display, ‘las mascletás’ will be held in the Plaza de la Constitución on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th December, with the act being repeated for a third time in the fairground area on Sunday 6th. Saturday 5th also marks the date when business people, school parties and associations walk through the city streets with a profusion of beautiful wreaths and bouquets to honour the Inmaculada Concepción. Known as the ‘Ofrenda Floral’, the event is observed every year, with more and more groups from the international community being represented.

The parade commences from the ‘Sagrado Corazon de Jesus’ Church in La Plaza de Oriente, terminating at the Plaza De La Constitution and the main Church, ‘Inmaculada Concepción’, where the blooms are arranged around a magnificent arch formation. The celebration ends with the unveiling of the Belen, the charming Nativity scene that lights up the city square until the coming of the three Kings.

PAELLA

Sunday 6th is a multiple celebration, when the institutional act of Constitution Day sees the entire council cabinet congregating before the Town Hall building, as well as Association’s Day, which is celebrated in the fairground area; the paella contest and sampling of the giant paella which is designed to cater for some 2 500 people; and the Children’s Day celebration which offers free use of all of the wonderful attractions of the fairground!  Tuesday 8th December marks the main event for Torrevieja, the ‘Día de La Purísima Concepción’, which is traditionally celebrated with attendance of mass and a spectacular street parade which follows a route through all of the principal streets across the city centre. 

YOUTH

An important introduction to the fiestas for 2010 is the installation of the youth tent in the fairground; a funky meeting place where those with invitations may gather without charge to join in exciting activities.  The three day scheme commences on Saturday 5th December at 23:00, with an amazing concert performed by local group, ‘Código Secreto’. This is followed with a performance by ‘Filiu’ on Sunday 6th and ‘El Sueño de Morfeo’ on Monday 7th.  Other local entertainers contributing to the programme include Paco García, Frank Anthony, Richie Anderground, Samuel Avilés Art Percusión, Carlitos, NEV, with accompaniment from a selection of talented dance troupes. Finally, Eduardo Dolón noted the Miguel Ríos concert as one of the highlights of the fiestas, to take place at the Palacio de los Deportes ‘Infanta Cristina’, on Friday 4th December at 23:00. Welcoming a sell-out audience of 1,000, the concert is destined to be a stonker and one which local will be talking about for many years to come.