Patron Saint Festivities in honor of the Puríssima Xiqueta
20 April 2024
13th APRIL
19.00h Music parade with the festivities committee along with the typical Dulzaina and Tabal of El Riberer group and the music bands of Jesús Pobre, Bataclán, Benitatxell, l’Ila Benidorm, Toca’t un ou and Benissa.
20.30h Meeting of the Festivities Committee and authorities in the Portal Square.
21.00h Festival opening speech in the Parish Church, by the local residents Maria Mas and Nydia Crespo of Teatreres pel món. Next, we will sing together the hymn to the Puríssima Xiqueta and the hymn of Benissa, accompanied by the band of the Lyric and Musical Society of Benissa and the choir Coral Benissenca.
00.00h Music band LA TRIBU on the Paseo Dolores Piera.
25th APRIL
20:30h Presentation of the Literary Prizes “25 de abril” and Painting contest S. Soria-Vila of Benissa 2019.
Presentation of the winning works of the 2018 edition in the municipal assembly hall.
22:30h Music parade with the festivities committee through the decorated streets in the town with the music band Charanga Espardenya.
26th APRIL
21:00h Music parade with the festivities committee with the Xirimiters Pere Bigot group and the music bands of Jesús Pobre, Bataclán, Benitatxell, l’Illa Benidorm, Toca’t un ou and Benissa.
22:00h Meeting of the authorities and festivities Queens from other neighbouring towns in the Portal Square.
22:30h Coronation of the children and adult Queen 2019, Angela Grimalt Ivars and Gabriela Marqués Cardona, on the Paseo Dolores Piera.
At the end of the Coronation, the celebration will continue with the music band MITO in the Rei Jaume I Square.
27th APRIL, SATURDAY
08.30h Liturgical celebration to pay tribute to our patron saint Puríssima Xiqueta.
11:00h Bouncy castles for children by Arte Mediterráneo in the Glorieta de Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres.
13:00h Entrada de la murta (along streets strewn with myrtle) with the collaboration of the Association of Horsemen and Carters, with the Xirimiters Pere Bigot group and the Lyric and Musical Society of Benissa.
18:30h Evening Mass and bell ringing.
19:00h Meeting in the convent square of the participants for the flower offering to begin the parade to the Parish Church with L’ Esbart Dansaire dance group and the Xirimiters El Riberer.
19:30h Meeting of the Festivities Committee in the Germans Ivars Square to begin the parade to the church with the Muixeranga Marina Alta and the music bands of Benissa, Benitatxell and Toca’t un Ou.
19:30h Flower offering to the Puríssima Xiqueta. At the end, delivery of medals to the festivities members.
00:30h Great Night fireworks by RICASA, in the Glorieta Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres.
To see correctly the fireworks, it is advisable to be located on Teulada street and under the Iberia building.
01:00h Great show Tribute to DESCANSO DOMINICAL of MECANO.
02:30h Later, festivities go on with the music band LA PATO.
28th APRIL, SUNDAY
08:00h Despertada, bell ringing and firecrackers set off with music through the streets.
08.30h Holy mass.
10:00h Music parade with the festivities committee with the Xirimiters Pere Bigot group and the music bands Bataclan, Festival, Benitatxell, Castells and Benissa.
11:30h Solemn Mass and sermon in honour of the Puríssima Xiqueta. Mass sung by the choir Coral Benissenca with the solo soprano Carmen P. Romero and the organist José Ortolá, conducted by Javier Santacreu. They will play Misa Brevis n. 4 by J. M. Dreyer, Regina Coeli KV108 by Mozart, and Ave María by Franz Schubert.
At the end, visit to the old people's home San Joaquín y Santa Ana.
14:00h Pyro-digital fireworks by RICASA, in the Glorieta Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres.
The public is asked to follow the instructions of the security personnel (Municipal Police and Civil Protection) to avoid incidents.
19:00h Holy Mass and lowering of the image of the patron saint with the organist José Ortolá Font.
Later, solemn procession in honour of the Puríssima Xiqueta.
At the end, Pyro-musical Show by RICASA in the Glorieta Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres.
To see correctly the fireworks, it is advisable to be located under the Iberia building.
After the fireworks, festivities go on with the “Fanáticos” show and later the LA DECADA PRODIGIOSA on the Paseo Dolores Piera.
29th APRIL, MONDAY
08:00h Despertada, bell ringing and firecrackers set off with music through the streets.
10:00h Music parade with the festivities committee with the music bands of Jesús Pobre, Bataclán, Benitatxell, Castells, Benissa and the Xirimiters El Riberer group.
11:30h Solemn Mass and sermon in honour of the Puríssima Xiqueta.
Mass sung by the choir Coral Benissenca with the organist José Ortolá, conducted by Javier Santacreu. They will play Misa Brevis n. 4 by J. M. Dreyer and pieces by Hössl, Mozart, Rutter, Gounod and Handel.
13:15h Flower offering in the Riberer Monument and tribute to the Riberers Antonio Cabrera Sala, Pepe Devesa Ferrando, Pedro Ferrando, Pedro Ivars Crespo, Francisco Ivars Ivars and Vicente Santacreu Ginestar (the Riberers were local people of Benissa that went to work in the riverside lands). Speech by Marta Santacreu Santamaría in the Esglèsia Vella Square.
14:00h Fireworks by RICASA in the Glorieta Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres.
18:00h Great floats parade with the music bands Espardenya and Morralla and the bands of Jesús Pobre, Bataclán, Pedramala Dance group and the street show MACROSCOPI by Scura Splats. At the end, the prizes will be awarded to the best decorated streets and floats on the Paseo Dolores Piera.
Chocolate and fairy cakes for everybody offered by the festivities committee 2019, with the collaboration of the Spanish Association Against Cancer of Benissa. Theatre and animation show by the group L’Abordatge de La Banda del Drac, on the Paseo Dolores Piera.
19:30h Hoy mass.
12:00h Traditional song of the Salve to the Puríssima Xiqueta in the old house of Joan Vives, in Purísima Street, accompanied by the band of the Lyric and Musical Society of Benissa conducted by Miguel Angel Grau Martinez. Later, set off of a kilometre-long string of firecrackers.
12:30h Great night pyro-digital fireworks by RICASA in the Glorieta Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres.
01:00h The mayor of Benissa Abel Cardona Castell will deliver the command stick to the new youth mayor 2019, Joan Pineda Carbó. Later, music band LA FIESTA and show of the well-known singer HENRY MENDEZ.
30th APRIL, TUESDAY
08.00h Despertada, firecrackers set off with music through the streets.
08.30h Holy mass.
11.00h Bouncy castles for children by Arte Mediterráneo in the Glorieta Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres
13.30h Paella contest in the Jaume I Square for everybody, with interesting prices for the three best paellas, SPONSORED BY MATERIALES DE CONSTRUCCIÓN DIEGO CABRERA, and the music of the Bataclán of Xaló.
17.30h Fancy Parade with popular participation, children's entertainment show La Selva by Scura Splats, music bands Espardenya, Morralla, Bataclán and the drums band Bunpada.
Meeting in San José Street.
ITINERARY: San José Street, Santo Domingo Street, Santa Bárbara Street, Portal Square, Purísima Street, ending in the Rei Jaume I Square.
At the end, presentation of the prizes to the best costumes. The Spanish Association Against Cancer of Benissa will distribute the snack sponsored by Supermercados Pepe la Sal in the Rei Jaume I Square.
19.00h Children show LA GLÜPS IN CONCERT by La Glup Band in the Rei Jaume I Square.
19.00h Great dancing evening in the Social Centre Bernia, with Francisco Escoda.
20.00h YOUNG NIGHT (and not so young) with the performance of Ramonets, the local music Krou, JAZZWOMAN, EL DILUVI, MAFALDA and PLAN B, in the Glorieta Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres.
1st MAY, WEDNESDAY
08.30h Holy mass.
11:00h Bouncy castles and Carretons (false bulls for children) in the Glorieta Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres by Espectáculos L’Afició.
18:30h Entrada de toros, bulls run along the streets to the pen with Ganadería Coves
19:00h Suelta de vacas, bulls running in the streets with Ganadería Machancoses
23:30h Suelta de vacas, bulls running in the streets with Ganadería Coves.
2nd MAY, THURSDAY
08.30h Holy mass.
15:30h Show by Francisco Escoda in the old people's home San Joaquín y Santa Ana.
19:00h Suelta de vacas, bulls running in the streets with Ganadería La Paloma.
23:00h Entrada de toros, bulls run along the streets to the pen with Ganadería Benavent.
23:30h Suelta de vacas, bulls running in the streets with Ganadería Benavent.
12:30h DJ´S party in the Glorieta Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres.
3th MAY, FRIDAY
08.30h Holy mass
10:00h Suelta de vacas, bulls running in the streets with Ganadería Els Coves
18:30h Entrada de toros, bulls run along the streets to the pen Ganadería La Paloma.
19:00h Suelta de vacas, bulls running in the streets with Ganadería Benavent.
23:30h Suelta de vacas, bulls running in the streets with Ganadería La Paloma.
00:00h Correfocs (firecrackers set off in the streets) with Theos Foc of the company Scura Splats.
01:00h DJ´S party in the Glorieta Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres.
4th MAY, SATURDAY
08.30h Holy mass.
09:00h Suelta de vacas, bulls running in the streets with Ganadería Machancoses.
11:00h Bouncy castles in the San Pedro Street and Carretons (false bulls for children) in the Jaume I Square by Espectáculos L’Afició.
12:30h Meeting of the groups (people born in the same year) in the Glorieta Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres with the music band Festival of Jalón, Toca’t un ou and the drums band Bunpada.
14:00h Giant Paella in the Glorieta Joaquin Piera y Mariana Torres, sponsored by Casa Boira with music bands.
16:30h Dance and party with music groups MATRIX BAND, EMPOPADOS and Remember Show with KIKE JAEN.
18:00h Suelta de vacas, bulls running in the streets with Ganadería Machancoses.
19:30h Holy mass.
20.00h Suelta de vacas, bulls running in the streets with Ganadería La Paloma.
5th MAY, SUNDAY
08:00h Despertada, firecrackers set off with music through the streets.
08.30h Holy mass.
10:00h Music parade with the festivities committee with the music bands Real de Gandia, Festival, l’Illa, Castells and Xirimiters Pere Bigot.
11:30h Solemn Mass and sermon in honour of the Puríssima Xiqueta.
14:00h Fireworks by RICASA in the Glorieta Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres.
18:00h Concert by the choral group Orfeón Cantabile of Alicante, sponsored by the Regional Government of Alicante and the town council of Benissa in the Parish Church.
18:30h Children's theatre play “La rateta de colors” by the company Teatreres pel món in the Jaume I Square.
19:30h Holy mass.
20:00h Final Show with the performance of ACROBÀTICS in the Jaume I Square.