It's the big one, the one we've all been waiting for, the Benidorm Fiesta 2008. Friday's the day the action starts in earnest and whilst many of the items on the programme are the same as in years past there are one or two changes. Some of the venues and routes have been changed because of works being carried out in those areas but it shouldn't have any effect on the fun.
MAJOR FIESTAS PROGRAMME 2008
FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER
18:00 LIGHTING of the ARTISTIC ILLUMINATION. Afterwards, INAUGURATION OF THE FAIRGROUND next to the Bull Ring.
23:00 ''PENYAS'' INFORMAL PARADE. Meeting of the ''Peñas'' at C/ Ruzafa. Parade around Ruzafa and Martínez Alejos streets.
00:30 BLUES & BEATLES NIGHT at Constitution square. Performing ''LOS INSÓLITOS'' and ''EMPTY BOTTLES''.
SATURDAY 8TH NOVEMBER
10:00 MASS at the Church of San Jaime, in honour to the Virgin of the Suffrage, singed by the Barqueta Choir.
11:45 Opening of the doors at San Jaime Church to sing the VERSES IN HONOUR TO THE VIRGIN.
12:00 BELL RINGING followed by a spectacular ''AIR BOMBING'' from Plaza Castelar, to announce that...
THE MAJOR FIESTAS HAVE BEGUN!
13:00 MEETING OF MUSIC BANDS in 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.
18:30 SOLEMN PROCESSION leaving from Parque de Elche (Harbour) through the following streets: Paseo de la Carretera, Alameda and Mayor. 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 there will be a BIG FIREWORK DISPLAY.
24:00 Grand Fiesta Flower-Power 70-80´s years, in C/ Tomás Ortuño (L´ Hort de Colón).
24:00 LOCAL ROCK BANDS FESTIVAL, in Plaza de la Constitución. Performing: 'LOCOS DE ATAR', 'CRACH', 'DE BITTER END', 'SKATIMAT' and 'CAMPINGAS'.
SUNDAY 9TH NOVEMBER: VIRGIN OF THE SUFFRAGE´S DAY
08:00 First DESPERTÀ (awakening) by the local bands…and from now on, every morning.
11:00 CYCLING RACE at the Av. Vicente Llorca Alós and surroundings (La Cala).
11:30 SOLEMN MASS in honour of the Virgin, at the Church of San Jaime, singed by Agrupación Coral de Sant Cluny (Novelda)
12:00 Children playground in Plaza SS.MM. Los Reyes de España.
13:00 Degustation of Anís Tenis, in Paseo de Colón (Harbour).
14:00 NEAPOLITAIN MASCLETÀ (SUPER BIG BANGER DISPLAY) at Playa de Poniente (Harbour), by Pirotecnia Zamorano Caballer.
17:00 Show for children at Tomás Ortuño Street (L´Hort de Colón).
19:00 SOLEMN PROCESSION IN HONOUR TO THE VIRGIN OF THE SUFFRAGE. Itinerary: Mayor, Alameda, Los Ángeles, Pintor Lozano, Virgen del Sufragio, Martínez Alejos, Paseo de la Carretera, Santa Faz and Plaza de San Jaime. Afterwards ''ESTAMPETA''.
23:00 Traditional COPLETES singed to the Virgin of the Suffrage at Plaza de San Jaime, followed by the NIT d´ALBAES around the Old Town.
00:30 AMAZING CONCERT of the group ''LA CASA AZUL'', at Plaza SS.MM. Los Reyes de España.
00:30 Open Air Dance with Orchestra at Tomas Ortuño street (L´ Hort de Colón).
02:00 CONCERT of ''THE VICKYLEYTONES'' at Plaza Constitución.
MONDAY 10TH NOVEMBER: SAINT JAMES´ DAY
11:00 Ronald McDonalds performance at Plaza de la Hispanidad. Afterwards, Stunt Motorcycling Exhibition in Bilbao Avenue.
11:30 SOLEMN MASS at San Jaime´s Church, in honour to Saint James, singed by the Benidorm Choir.
12:30 Sardines for everyone at Ametlla de Mar Avenue (Rincón de Loix).
14:00 Marvellous MASCLETA (super big banger) at Av. Mediterráneo by Pirotencia Zamorano Caballer.
17:00 Children´s Theater ''El Profesor Chiflado'' at C/ Tomás Ortuño (L´ Hort de Colón)
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.
23:30 WONDERFUL NOCTURNAL MASCLETÁ (fireworks and bangers) at Av. Mediterráneo by Pirotencia Zamorano Caballer.
24:00 Open Air Dance with Orchestra at Tomás Ortuño street (near the new indoor market).
00:30 ''LOS SECRETOS'' IN CONCERT at Plaza de SSMM Los Reyes de España.
Afterwards BIG ''CORREFOC'' (moving fire and sound show ) by ''XARXA TEATRE'' from Plaza SSMM Los Reyes de España, going through the Old Town streets to Paseo Colón (Harbour).
TUESDAY 11TH 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.
11 to 14:00 Puppet Show and Story Tellers at Plaza Constitución.
12:30 Sardines for everyone at La Cala.
14:00 GREAT MASCLETÀ (super big banger) at Av. Mediterráneo by Pirotécnia Zamorano Caballer.
16:30 Traditional ''Cucañas'', at Plaza de la Constitución.
17:00 Concert of ''BIG BAND DEL GRUPO LOS GAVILANES'', at Plaza Mayor.
19:00 FUNNY COSTUMES PARADE. Itinerary: Parque de Elche, Almendros, Marte, Venus, Ruzafa, and Martínez Alejos.
23:00 Delivery of prizes by ''PEPE EL CHANCLAS'' (leader of the spanish band 'NO ME PISES QUE LLEVO CHANCLAS'), in C/ Tomás Ortuño (L´ Hort de Colón)).
23:30 I FESTIVAL FIESTAS DE BENIDORM HIP-HOP 2008 presented by Splashmanía + The Jackboyz, performing: Densy (Barcelona), Souey (Benidorm), Métrica Impoluta (Villajoyosa) and Bonobo and Sagaz (Zaragoza), at Avda. Bilbao.
WEDNESDAY 12TH NOVEMBER
11 to 14 CHILDREN´S DAY. PLAYPARK and other activities for children at Plaza SS.MM. Los Reyes de España.
11:00 FESTA DE LES FESTES. Parade around the town of the different Fiestas Commitees departing from Plaza Neptuno, Parque de Elche (Harbour) and Plaza de la Hispanidad to go to Plaza de SS.MM Los Reyes de España, where the Fiestas Queens will receive them.
18:00 FLOAT PARADE through the following streets: Parque de Elche, Almendros, Marte, Venus, Ruzafa, Martínez Alejos, Alcoy and finishing at Bilbao Avenue. Afterwards, MARVELLOUS FIREWORK DISPLAY at Poniente Beach (Harbour).
¡MERRY FIESTAS FOR EVERYONE!
Source: Ona Sol Hotels
