2020 kicks off on the Costa Blanca with the traditional “Fira i Porrat de Sant Antoni 2020” celebration. This well-known festival is held every year in Benissa in honour of San Antonio Abad, the patron saint of animals, and offers a wide range of activities that you don’t want to miss.
This celebration has been declared a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest of Spain and attracts thousands of visitors from the Marina Alta area and the whole province of Alicante. From the 10th to the 26th of January, the town of Benissa transforms into the protagonist of the area, with a full programme of activities including different cultural and sporting activities, fair attractions, workshops and exhibitions, music and performances, etc.
The “Fira” kicks off on Friday, January 10th at 7:00 p.m. with the opening of the fair rides, followed by the inauguration of the photo exhibition “Bailes del Corpues en Benissa. 10 años de participación popular” at 7:30 p.m. with a performance by the Benissa l’Esbart Dansaire group and an exhibition that includes drawings from the school children’s’ contest for the Festival of Moors 2019 at 8:00 p.m.
The Bonfire day in honour of San Antonio takes place on Saturday, January 11th, an event in which all collectives and neighbours are invited to attend.
At 10:00 a.m. the day will start with a popular lunch in the tent located in the D. Joaquin Piera and Dña. Mariana Torres Park and at 11:00 a.m. the preparations for the bonfire will begin, in which the pine tree and other firewood is transported from the Portal Square, passing through Calle Purísima to the Rey Jaime I Square. This will be followed by a workshop in which children can paint masks to use when dancing around the bonfire, the building of the bonfire, and a tasting of typical and traditional products as well as a popular meal in the tent located in the D. Joaquin Piera and Dña. Mariana Torres Park.
You can take advantage of the opportunity to try local cuisine, as well as enjoy traditional Valencian music in the same tent in the park.
This will be followed by the official kick off of the “Fira i Porrat de Sant Antoni 2020,” the Sant Antoni popular folk dances, the blessing and lighting of the bonfire in Rey Jaime I Square and the “demon dance” around the bonfire (diablera), starting at the Casal dels Joves, passing through Calle Purissima and ending at the bonfire.
The day will wrap up with a popular dinner and a musical performance inside the tent located in the D. Joaquín Piera y Dña. Mariana Torres Park.
Consult the complete program here for all the festivities. Take advantage of the opportunity to experience first-hand one of the most typical traditions from Valencia, here along the Costa Blanca.
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