Once again it is nearly time for Benidorm’s Major Fiestas.  This year they are starting on Friday 9^th until Wednesday 13^th November, and on Thursday 14^th the British community will celebrate a Fancy Dress After-Party on the area known as ‘The Square’, which is worth seeing.

The festivities date back to March 1740 when a boat appeared on the Benidorm coast dragged in by a violent storm. The boat was burnt to prevent epidemics; however some local boys found the image of the Virgin in the rubble and took her to the church where later they built a chapel. This story is staged each year on the Poniente beach on Saturday about five in the afternoon.

As from Sunday there will be ‘aerial bombarding’ (bomber style fireworks) at 8am every day from the Plaza del Castillo, and ‘Despertà musical’ (musical awakening) along Benidorm’s streets.

Things not to miss include: A Mascletà (bomber style fireworks, at ground level), a ‘Suelta de vaquillas’ (release of heifers), the staging of the Discovery of the Virgin of Suffrage (Patron Saint of this Fiestas together with Saint James Apostle, the church at the Old Town honours them as well), the Correfoc on Sunday, the Humour Parade on Tuesday in which the local Penyas (like Fiesta’s social clubs) compete for cash prizes, the float parade and the amazing firework display on Wednesday that never lets us down (last year it lasted 30 minutes!!).

Please, find below the programme with the main activities here.

Enjoy the Fiestas!!

FRIDAY 8^TH NOVEMBER

18:00 LIGHTING of the ARTISTIC ILLUMINATION by our Queens, at Martínez Alejos Avenue.

Afterwards, Inaguration OF THE FAIRGROUND, next to the Bullring. Children´s day: special prices.

22:30 “PEÑAS” INFORMAL PARADE. Meeting of the “Peñas” at C/ Ruzafa. Parade around Ruzafa and Martínez Alejos streets.

SATURDAY 9^TH NOVEMBER

10:00 MASS at the Church of San Jaime, in honour to the Virgin of the Suffrage, singed by the choir of “La Barqueta”.

11:45 Opening of the doors at San Jaime Church, to sing the VERSES IN HONOUR TO THE VIRGIN.

12:00 BELL RINGING and spectacular “AIR BOMBING” from Plaza del Castell, to announce that…

THE MAJOR FIESTAS HAVE BEGUN!

12:15 MUSIC BANDS PARADE, starting from Plaza de San Jaime to finish at Plaza de SS. MM los Reyes de España.

13:00 MEETING OF MUSIC BANDS, at Plaza de SS. MM. los Reyes de España, to perform the piece “FIESTA IN BENIDORM”.

17:00 THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE FOUNDING OF THE VIRGIN, at Poniente Beach.

18:00 SOLEMN PROCESSION leaving from Parque de Elche (Harbour) through the following streets: Paseo de la Carretera, Alameda, Mayor and Plaza de San Jaime. When the procession gets to the church, there will be a FLOWER OFFERING TO THE VIRGIN, followed by the ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FIESTAS at Plaza San Jaime. Afterwards SUPERB FIREWORK DISPLAY, done by “Pirofantasía Carlos Caballer”, at Plaza del Castell.

24:00 Performance of Orchestra BIRMANIA, at Gambo street.

24:00 Performance of Orchestra SHAKARA, at Tomás Ortuño street (L´ Hort de Colón).

00:30 PYROTECHNICAL SURPRISE, leaving from La Biga street.

SUNDAY 10^TH NOVEMBER: VIRGIN OF THE SUFFRAGE´S DAY

08:00 Air Bombing from Plaza Castelar …and from now on, ¡EVERY MORNING!

11:00 to 14:00 BIG CHILDREN PLAYPARK at Paseo de Colón (Harbour).

11:30 SOLEMN MASS IN HONOUR OF OUR PATRON SAINT, THE VIRGIN OF THE SUFFRAGE, at the Church of San Jaime, sang by the choir “Agrupación Coral de Benidorm”. Afterwards, AIR BOMBING and Parade around the streets of the Old Town.

12:00 GREAT “NOVILLADA” (bullfight with young bulls and novice bullfighters), at the Bullring. Price: 10€.

14:00 MARVELLOUS DIGITAL “MASCLETA” (super big banger) at Av. Mediterráneo, done by Pirotecnia Lluch.

17:00 AMAZING CONCERT OF THE “UNIÓN MUSICAL DE BENIDORM”, at Gambo street.

19:00 SOLEMN PROCESSION IN HONOUR TO THE VIRGIN OF THE SUFFRAGE. Itinerary: Mayor, Alameda Pedro Zaragoza, Los Ángeles, Pintor Lozano, Virgen del Sufragio, Martínez Alejos, Paseo de la Carretera, Santa Faz and Plaza de San Jaime. Afterwards “ESTAMPETA” at Plaza de San Jaime.

22:00 SANTI SERRA´S SHOW WITH FREE HORSES at the Bullring. (Winner of the contest “Tú Sí Que Vales”). Price: 10€

23:00 Traditional COPLETES singed to the Virgin of the Suffrage at Plaza de San Jaime.

24:00 Performance of the Orchestra IGUANA, at Gambo street.

00:10 Performance of the Orchestra JAMAICA, at Tomás Ortuño street (L´ Hort de Colón).

01:00 SPECTACULAR “CORREFOC” (moving fire and sound show), done by DIMONIS RAFOLINS Itinerary: Plaza SSMM. Los Reyes de España, L´Aigüera, Ruzafa, Martínez Alejos, Dr. Pérez Llorca, Plaza triangular, Herrerías and finishing at Plaza SSMM Los Reyes de España, with a great show.

MONDAY 11^TH NOVEMBER: SAINT JAMES´ DAY

10:30 AMATEUR BULLFIGHT WITH YOUNG BULLS at the Bullring.

11:00 BIG CHILDREN PLAYPARK at Paseo de Colón (Harbour).

11:30 SOLEMN MASS at San Jaime´s Church, in honour to Saint James sang by the choir “Agrupación Coral de Benidorm”. Afterwards, AIR BOMBING and Parade around the streets of the Old Town.

14:00 GREAT DIGITAL MASCLETA (super big banger) at Av. Mediterráneo, by “Pirofantasía Carlos Caballer”.

17:00 CHILDREN´S WANDERING THEATER, starting at La Biga street.

19:00 SOLEMN PROCESSION IN HONOUR TO SAINT JAMES by the streets: Mayor, Alameda, Paseo de la Carretera, Santa Faz and Plaza San Jaime. Afterwards ESTAMPETA, in honour to Saint James.

23:30 Performance of the Pop-Rock band, CONTROL Z, at Tomás Ortuño street (L´Hort de Colón).

24:00 Concert of the DJ SANTI BERTOMEU, at Gambo street.

TUESDAY 12^TH NOVEMBER

10:30 SOLEMN REQUIEM MASS at San Jaime Church, singed by the Church Choir. Afterwards, OFFERING OF FLOWER GARLANDS to the Dead in the Sea at Plaza de la Señoría, followed by a visit to the cemeteries.

10:30 AMATEUR BULLFIGHT WITH YOUNG BULLS at the Bullring.

11:00 a 14:00 HUGE CHILDREN PLAYPARK and RONALD MCDONALDS performance, at Paseo de Colón (Harbour).

12:00 X CONTEST OF “ARRÒS AMB FESOLS”, at Plaza SSMM Los Reyes de España.

12:30 SARDINES FOR EVERYONE at Ametlla de Mar Avenue (Rincón de Loix), sponsored by the Major Fiestas Commission.

14:00 THUNDEROUS MASCLETÀ (super big banger) at Av. Mediterráneo, done by “Pirofantasía Carlos Caballer”.

17:00 BULLFIGHTING LESSON, offered by the Benidorm Bullfighting School. Only with the invitation that you got if you went to the “Novillada” .

17:00 “LA CAJA MÁGICA”. Children Show, at Tomás Ortuño street (L´ Hort de Colón).

19:00 FUNNY COSTUMES PARADE. Itinerary: Venus, Ruzafa, Martínez Alejos and Gambo.

24:00 FANGORIA in concert, at the Auditorium Julio Iglesias.

WEDNESDAY 13^TH NOVEMBER

11:00 FESTA DE LES FESTES. Parade around the town, of the different Fiestas Commitees, departing from Paseo de Colón (Harbour) to go to Plaza de SSMM Los Reyes de España.

12:30 CANDY (and bangers) STRING, at Plaza SS. MM los Reyes de España,

13:00 CHILDREN´S MASCLETÁ at Plaza SS. MM los Reyes de España.

17:30 FLOAT PARADE through the following streets: Parque de Elche, Almendros, Marte, Venus, Ruzafa, Martínez Alejos, Gambo and finishing at Plaza de la Hispanidad . Afterwards, MARVELLOUS FIREWORK DISPLAY at Poniente Beach (Harbour), done by “Pirofantasía Carlos Caballer”