Benissa’s main annual fiesta is to celebrate their Patron Saint Purísima Xiqueta’. These celebrations take place from mid to end of April and include live music, parades, firework displays, firecrackers & bull running.
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25 April - 4 May
Benissa’s main annual fiesta is to celebrate their Patron Saint Purísima Xiqueta’.
These celebrations take place from mid to end of April and include live music, parades, firework displays, firecrackers & bull running.
Purísima Xiqueta is the blessed virgin who became the patron saint of the town in 1864, when a number of miracles that took place there were attributed to her.
8 a.m. Parade of festeras and festeros (festival goers) accompanied by the Pere Bigot band, the Xàbia artistic musical centre, the Xaló festival music group, the Xaranga Garanxa, the Bataclán Xaló musical association, the l’Illa de Benidorm musical society, the Santa María Magdalena del Poble Nou de Benitatxell municipal music group, and the Benissa Lyrical and Musical Society.
7 p.m. Evening Mass.
8:00 p.m. Proclamation of the Festivities in the Basilica, by Quico Torres. This will be followed by the singing of the Hymn to the Puríssima Xiqueta and the Hymn of Benissa, accompanied by the band of the Benissa Lyrical and Musical Society and the Benissenca choir.
12.15 a.m. Performance of the fabulous La Pato orchestra at the Paseo Joaquin Piera & Mariana Torres
01.00 to 04.30 a.m. “Purple point” safe spaces.
10.30 p.m. Parade of the festeras and festeros (festival goers) to visit the decorated streets, accompanied by the L'Espardenya brass band.
8.00 p.m. Parade of the festeras and festeros (festival goers)accompanied by the Colla el Riberer, the Xàbia artistic musical centre, the Xaranga l’Elèctrika, the Xaló festival music group, the Xaranga Garanxa, the Bataclán Xaló musical association, the l’Illa de Benidorm musical society, and the Benissa Lyrical and Musical Society.
9.45 p.m. Gathering of authorities and representatives of the festivities of the neighbouring towns in the Plaza del Portal.
10.30 p.m. Coronation Ceremony of the Children's Queen, Diana Vengut Crespo, presented by Martina Mendoza Ivars, Matt Mille Jiménez and Alicia Coll Escrivá, and the Adult Queens, Joseline Eras Quinde and Núria Ivars Fernández, presented by Miguel Rivera Torres and Carlos Giner Font, with live music by Margarita Bargay, winner of Benissa Canta, on the Paseo Dolores Piera.
At the end of the Coronation, the festivities will continue with the magnificent Flama orchestra, on the Paseo Joaquín Piera y Mariana Torres.
01.00 to 04.30 a.m. “Purple point” safe spaces.
08.30h a.m. Discovery and Sabatina in honour of our patron saint, the Puríssima Xiqueta.
11.00h a.m. Maxi-park with a children's section (up to 8 years old) in Plaza Jaume I and a youth section (ages 8 and above) in the Paseo Dolores Piera.
1.00 p.m. Entrà de la murta (procession along streets strewn with myrtle) with the collaboration of the Cavallistes i Carreters association,accompanied by the Colla El Riberer and the band of the Benissa Lyrical and Musical Society.
6:00 p.m. Gathering of the participants in the offering of flowers in the Plaza del Convento, to begin the parade to the Basilica, accompanied by the L'Esbart Dansaire dance group, which will perform during the parade to the square, and the Colla Pere Bigot.
6:00 p.m. Parade of the festeras and festeros (festival goers) accompanied by the Colla el Riberer, the Xàbia artistic musical centre, the Xaranga l’Elèctrika, the Xaló festival music group, the Xaranga Garanxa, the Bataclán Xaló musical association, the l’Illa de Benidorm musical society, the Santa María Magdalena del Poble Nou de Benitatxell municipal music group, and the Benissa Lyrical and Musical Society.
6.30 p.m. Evening Mass and ringing of bells.
7:00 p.m. Offering of flowers to the Puríssima Xiqueta on the main façade of the Basilica accompanied by the "Muixeranga de Cullera". This will be followed by the awarding of medals to the festeras and festeros (festival goers) inside the Basilica.
NOTE: Participants are kindly reminded that anyone wishing to participate in the offering must wear traditional Benissera clothing. Furthermore, to avoid crowding, a maximum of one adult may accompany every child participating in the event.
10:00 p.m. Performance by Hey You at the Paseo Dolores Piera.
12.00 a.m. Great immersive fire show by Pirotecnia Vulcano on the Paseo Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres. We recommend that attendants wishing to get a good view of the show watch it from C/ Teulada and the ground floor of the Iberia estate.
00.15 a.m. Grand performance by La Montecarlo at the Paseo Dolores Piera. Subsequently, the festivities will continue with the DJ Javi Boss.
01.00 to 04.30 a.m. “Purple point” safe spaces.
08.00 a.m. “Despertà” (wakeup call), general ringing of bells and parade of the music bands. With the collaboration of Coeters de la Puríssima.
09.30 a.m. Low mass / Eucharist
10.00 a.m. Parade of festeras, festeros, clavariesas and mayorales(festival goers and guild members) accompanied by the Colla Pere Bigot, the Xàbia artistic musical centre, the Xaranga l’Elèctrika, the Xaló festival music group, the Xaranga Garanxa, the Bataclán Xaló musical association, the l’Illa de Benidorm musical society, and the Benissa Lyrical and Musical Society.
11.30 a.m. Solemn Mass and sermon in honour of the Puríssima Xiqueta
The Mass will be followed by a visit to the San Joaquin and Santa Ana Nursing Home.
2:00 p.m. Digital "Macromascletà" by the Vulcano pyrotechnics company, on Passeig Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres. We kindly ask the public to follow the instructions of security personnel to avoid incidents.
7:00 p.m. Prayed mass and lowering of the Image of the Patron Saint.
This is followed by a Solemn Procession in honour of the Puríssima Xiqueta with the firing of 21 honour salutes at the exit, the entrance of our Patron Saint to the Basilica, and the ascent of the Image to its shrine.
The event will be followed by the "Vulcania Pyrotechnics"show, which will be projected on the façade of the Basilica to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Puríssima Xiqueta to Benissa. We kindly advise attendants wishing to enjoy it to the fullest to watch it from the Paseo Dolores Piera.
00.30 a.m. Performance of the fabulous Tribute to Luis Miguel followed by a mobile disco on the Paseo Dolores Piera.
01.30 a.m. The tribute to Mecano will be followed by a Homage to ancient bonfires with a Cordà located on Passeig Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres.
08.00 a.m. “Despertà” (wakeup call), general ringing of bells and parade of the music bands. With the collaboration of the Coeters de la Puríssima.
10.00 a.m. Parade of festeras, festeros, clavariesas and mayorales(festival goers and guild members) accompanied by the Colla el Riberer, the Xàbia artistic musical centre, the Xaranga l’Elèctrika, the Xaló festival music group, the Xaranga Garanxa, the Bataclán Xaló musical association, the l’Illa de Benidorm musical society, and the Benissa Lyrical and Musical Society.
11.30 a.m. Solemn mass and sermon in honour of the Puríssima Xiqueta
1:00 p.m. Offering of flowers to the monument to the Riberer
2:00 p.m. "Mascletà" by Pirotecnia Vulcano on Passeig Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres. We kindly ask the public to follow the instructions of security personnel to avoid incidents.
6.30 p.m. Humorous parade of those born between 2023 and 2012 followed by the parade of floats
Once the parade reaches the square, there will be a large-scale chocolate tasting distributed by the Benissa Association Against Cancer.
Award ceremony for the best children's costumes and decorated streets.
At the end of the event, a performance of the fabulous La Fabrica de Chocolate show will be held for children on the Paseo Dolores Piera.
00.00 a.m. Traditional Singing of the Salve to the Puríssima Xiqueta in the former house of Juan Vives, in Calle de la Puríssima. Firecrackers will be fired at the end.
00.30 a.m. Nighttime "Mascletà" by Pirotecnia Vulcano on Passeig Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres.
01.00 a.m. Delivery of the wand of office of the Mayor of Benissa, Arturo Poquet Ribes, to the Mayors dels Fadrins (bachelors’ mayors)
This will be followed by a performance by the Orchestra La Monaco, and the festivities will end with a mobile disco.
01.00 to 04.30 a.m. “Purple point” safe spaces.
11.00 a.m. Maxi-park with a children's section (up to 8 years old) in Plaza Jaume I and a youth section (ages 8 and above) in the Paseo Dolores Piera.
1:00 p.m. Paella Competition at the Paseo Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres, enlivened by the L'Espardenya brass band and the l'Elèctrika brass band.
5:00 p.m. Humorous parade with the participation of the public, and music by the L ́Espardenya and l'Elèctrika brass bands. The meeting point will be at the intersection of Bilbao and San José streets at 4.30 p.m.
During the break in the music, prizes will be awarded to the best costumes.
6:00 p.m. La Matrix Orchestra on the Paseo Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres.
10.30 p.m. Young Night at the Paseo Dolores Piera with live musical performances
10.00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. “Purple point” safe spaces.
12.00 p.m. Carretones (bull-drawn carts) on Paseo Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres.
4.30 p.m. Music and dance at the Bèrnia Social Centre with Francisco Escoda.
6.30 p.m. Entrance of the cows
7.00 p.m. Release of cows and bulls
11.00 p.m. Release of cows and bulls
10.30 p.m. Young Night at the Paseo Dolores Piera with live musical performances
11am Desperta - Children's Wake up call. Meeting point at Promenade Dolores Piera.
4.00 p.m. Music and dance on Paseo Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres.
5.30 p.m. Carretones (bull-drawn carts) on Calle la Purissima to Promenade Dolores Piera.
6.30 p.m. Entrance of the cows
7.00 p.m. Release of cows and bulls
11.00 p.m. Release of cows and bulls
11am Desperta - Children's Wake up call. Meeting point at Promenade Dolores Piera.
12pm Zapatones show for children at Paseo Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres.
6.30 p.m. Great entrance of horses and male mules. Start from the intersection of C/ Valencia and Avenida País Valencià, going along Avenida País Valencia to C/ Nou and entrance to Plaza Rei Jaume I.
6.30 p.m. Release of cows and bulls
7.00 p.m. Entrance of cows and bulls
11.00 p.m. Release of cows and bulls
12.00 a.m. Tallarina on tour Mobile Disco on Paseo Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres.
12.p.m. Entrance of inflatable bulls followed by carretones (bull-drawn carts).
1.00 p.m. Gathering of the Anyades on the Paseo Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres, enlivened by the L'Espardenya brass band.
2.00 p.m. Giant paella on the Paseo Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres, sponsored by the Casa Boira Supermarket and enlivened by the L'Espardenya brass band.
5.00 p.m. Afternoon of dancing and partying with a magnificent performance by the spectacular La Fiesta orchestra & Mobile disco Fi-lanthropic.
6.00 p.m. Music and dance at the Bèrnia Social Centre enlivened by Francisco Escoda, with chocolate and muffins.
7.00 p.m. to 10 p.m. Release of cows and bulls
6.00pm to 22.00 p.m. “Purple point” safe spaces.
08.00 a.m. “Despertà” (wakeup call), general ringing of bells and parade of the music bands. With the collaboration of the Coeters de la Puríssima.
09.00 a.m. Mass.
10.00 a.m. Parade of festeras, festeros, clavariesas and mayorales(festival goers and guild members) accompanied by the Colla Pere Bigot, the Xàbia artistic musical centre, the Xaranga l’Elèctrika, the Xaló festival music group, the Xaranga Garanxa, the Bataclán Xaló musical association, the l’Illa de Benidorm musical society, and the Benissa Lyrical and Musical Society.
11.30 a.m. Solemn mass and sermon in honour of the Puríssima Xiqueta presided over by the Priest of our Basilica, Mr Salvador Cebolla i Marrades, and sung by the Puríssima Xiqueta Polyphonic Choir.
At the end of the mass, there will be a parade of clavariesas and mayorales accompanied by music bands.
2.00 p.m. "Mascletà" by the Vulcano pyrotechnics company on Passeig Joaquín Piera and Mariana Torres.
8:00 p.m. At the end of the Procession, the party ends with the Queen Tribute Concert
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