Queen tribute and paella competition closes festival in Benissa

Concerts, street processions, religious and bull‑fighting events, mascletades, the floats parade and the humorous flotilla, paella competition… it will all take place until 4 May in Benissa.
These festivities began on Friday 25 April and will run through to Sunday 4 May in Benissa. They are the famous Patron Saint Festivities of the Puríssima Xiqueta, featuring a broad programme blending tradition, celebration and culture.
Culture, especially music, also plays a prominent role in the line‑up, with family theatre shows, tribute concerts to Mecano and Queen, performances by four leading pop orchestras, disco trucks and appearances by bands and brass ensembles.
The highlight comes on Tuesday 29 April with Rock Night, headlined by Benissa’s young singer Abril, who will present her debut album Instructions for Loving a Cherry. That evening will also feature Catalan group The Tyets and the lively Marina Alta band Jean Jass.
Take a look at the programme for the coming days:
MONDAY 28 – Día del Riberer
08:00 – Bugle wake‑up call, general ringing of the bells and street procession by the music bands.
10:00 – Parade of festival participants, clavariesas and mayordomos.
11:30 – Solemn Mass and sermon in honour of the Puríssima Xiquerta, celebrated by Juan Pons, parish priest of the Metropolitan Seminary of Valencia. The Mass will be sung by the Coral Benissenca, accompanied by the organist.
13:00 – Floral offering at the Monument to the Riberero and tribute to the ribereros José Roselló Vidal ‘Pepe’ and José Llopis Crespo. The proclamation will be delivered by festera María Esquerdo Cabrera.
14:00 – Mascletada by Pirotecnia Vulcano on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade.
18:30 – Floats parade with accompaniment by the charanga L’Espandenya and a travelling music spectacle.
00:00 – Traditional Salve chant to the Puríssima Xiqueta at the old Joan Vives house on Puríssima Street.
00:30 – Grand nocturnal mascletada by Pirotecnia Vulcano on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade.
01:00–04:30 – Violet Points.
TUESDAY 29 – Día de los Fadrins
11:00 – Children’s and youth park on the Dolores Piera promenade.
13:00 – Paella competition, accompanied by charanga La Alpargata on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade. Prizes for the top three.
16:30 – Afternoon of music and dance at the San Joaquín y Santa Ana Old People’s Residence, hosted by Francisco Escoda.
17:00 – Humorous parade with popular participation and music by charanga L’Espardenya. Meeting point at the junction of Bilbao and Sant Josep streets at 16:30.
18:00 – Early evening party with the orchestra La Matrix on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade.
22:30 – Youth Night on the Dolores Piera promenade with a performance by Benissa’s own Abril, one of the revelations of modern Valencian music, presenting her new album.
22:00–00:00 – Violet Points.
WEDNESDAY 30 – Bull Events
12:00 – ‘Carretillas’ for the little ones on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade.
16:30 – Music and dance at the Bèrnia Social Centre with Francisco Escoda.
18:30 – Release of cows from the La Templanza herd.
19:00 – Running of cows and bull by the Benavent herd.
23:00 – Second release by La Templanza herd with eleven cattle.
00:00 – Orchestra Flama on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade.
THURSDAY 1 – Bull Events
11:00 – Children’s wake‑up call. Gather at Dolores Piera promenade.
16:00 – Early evening party by the orchestra Summer on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade.
17:30 – ‘Carretillas’ for the little ones from Puríssima Street to the Dolores Piera promenade (bullring area).
18:30 – Release of bulls from the La Paloma herd. Sponsored by Cristalería Benissa.
19:00 – Running of cows and bull by the Machancoses herd.
23:00 – Release of cows by the Cuevas herd, followed by cows and bull from La Templanza herd.
FRIDAY 2 – Bull Events
11:00 – Children’s wake‑up call. Gather at Dolores Piera promenade.
12:00 – ‘The Zapatones Show’ for the little ones on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade.
18:30 – Entry of tame cattle and horses from the Benavent herd, starting at the junction of Valencia Street and País Valencià Avenue, proceeding along País Valencià to Nou Street and entering the Rei Jaume I square.
19:00 – Running of cows and bull by the La Paloma herd.
23:00 – Release of cows by the Benavent herd, followed by cows and bull from the Machancoses herd.
00:00 – Disco truck TALLARINA ON TOUR on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade.
SATURDAY 3 – Día de las Añadas
12:00 – Release of inflatable bulls from El Riberer, followed by ‘carretillas’ in the Dolores Piera promenade (bullring area).
13:00 – Gathering of the añadas on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade, accompanied by charanga L’Espardenya.
14:00 – Giant paella on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade.
17:00 – Afternoon of dance and festivity with the orchestra La Fiesta on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade, followed by macro‑disco truck Filantrophic.
18:00 – Music and dance at the Bèrnia Social Centre hosted by Francisco Escoda, with distribution of hot chocolate and cakes.
19:00–21:30 – Running of cows and bull by the La Paloma herd.
18:00–22:00 – Violet Points.
SUNDAY 4 – Día de la Huitava
08:00 – Wake‑up call, general ringing of the bells and street procession by the music bands.
09:30 – Eucharist.
10:00 – Parade of festival participants, clavariesas and mayordomos.
11:30 – Solemn Mass and sermon in honour of the Puríssima Xiqueta.
14:00 – Mascletada by Pirotecnia Vulcano on the Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres promenade.
20:00 – End‑of‑festivities concert, a Tribute to Queen on the Dolores Piera promenade.
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