BENIDORM NOVEMBER FIESTA AND FANCY DRESS DAY - GENERAL INFORMATION
Benidorm November Fiesta and Fancy-Dress Day - The famous November Fiesta dates for 2025 - 7th to 12th, Thursday 13th – Europe’s largest fancy dress party
The famous November Fiesta - Dates vary – Each year the start of November Fiestas are always set by the weekend of the second Sunday in November, beginning at about 5 pm on the Friday before and officially ends the following Wednesday with a spectacular Firework display..
Benidorm November Fiesta - Fiestas Patronales
Benidorm honours its two patron saints, the Virgen del Sufragio and San Jaime apostle, with the annual "Fiestas Patronales" local fiestas. The streets are transformed for the entire event with floral decorations, lively musicians, open -air theatres, firework displays and religious parades.
The fiesta dates back to March 1740 when a boat appeared just of the coast of Benidorm dragged in by a violent storm. The boat was burned to prevent an epidemic, but local boys found an image of the Virgin in the rubble and took her to the local church, later a chapel was built. This is the story that forms a large part of the November fiesta and each year the story is re-told on Poniente beach on Saturday.
During EVERY fiesta you will see Mascletas listed on the schedules, these are the loud, thunderous firecrackers. They are fired randomly, particularly during the day. They are not for the faint hearted, they are really loud and not designed to see as such as they are not really pretty but are designed to stimulate your body through rhythmic sounds and vibrations.
Benidorm November Fiesta
*What is a “PEÑA”
The dictionary defines it as “a group of friends “. That is one of the meanings of the word peña and indeed peñas are (or at least used to be) composed just of groups of friends but they have evolved towards today’s “Cultural and recreational associations”.
50 to 60 years ago a few peñas (groups of friends) begun organising events for the youth in several cities and villages across Spain, because back then most of the festivals were purely religious and they lacked activities to entertain them.
Today peñas (the current cultural associations) vary in size from just a dozen members up to thousands, here in Benidorm there are around 4000 people that are in the various peñas.
What originally were a few friends playing their own guitars, cooking lunch and sharing time during the festivals, have become organisations that prepare concerts, and are directly involved in the parades etc
What are Correfocs - Translated it means "fire-runs" and they are one of the most striking events in any local festival, during the Correfocs, a group of individuals will dress as devils and light up fireworks which are fixed on devil's pitchforks or strung above the route, they then dance to the sound of a rhythmic drum group, their fireworks are set off among the crowds. The spectators that participate dress to protect themselves against small burns and attempt to get as close as possible to the devils, running with the fire. Other spectators will watch from a "safe" distance.
Benidorm November Fiesta
PROGRAM OF THE MAJOR PATRON SAINT FESTIVALS NOVEMBER 2024, the schedule for 2025 will not be released until late October/early November
Plaza de SS. MM - is just in front of the town hall
NOTICE OF SCHEDULED PYROTECHNIC EVENTS
We inform you that, on the occasion of the celebration of the 2024 Benidorm Patron Saint Festivities, the firing of different fireworks shows is scheduled from Saturday, November 9th to Wednesday, November 13th. Please check the schedule to find out which ones they will be.
- It is advisable to be aware of this when you are accompanied by people who are particularly sensitive to noise.
- This information is to also warn owners of pets and companion animals.
FRIDAY
18:00 - The inauguration of the artistic lighting on Martínez Alejos Street and Porrat on Emilio Ortuño Street will take place.
19:00 - The Courts of Honor will proceed to inaugurate the fairgrounds .
22:00 - The Entry of the Pensions will begin, a parade in which the pensions that form part of the Associació de Penyes Verge del Sofratge will participate.
SATURDAY
10:00 - The Holy Mass will take place , followed by the singing of the Gozos to the Virgin of Suffrage.
12:00 - The general ringing of the bells, the official start of the Major Patron Saint Festivities.
Immediately afterwards, from Plaza de San Jaime and running through the entire city centre, the marching bands will begin, ending in Plaza SS MM los Reyes de España.
17:00 - There will be a staging of the discovery of the patron saint of Benidorm, the Virgin of Suffrage on Poniente beach.
Once the staging of the discovery is finished, at 18:30 the solemn Pilgrimage and Offering of Flowers to the Virgin of Suffrage will begin .
01:00 , in the Óscar Esplà Auditorium, the Granera Football Tournament will be played.
SUNDAY - MARE DE DÉU DAY
08:00 - The day will begin with a wake-up call
09:00 - Popular hot chocolate party in the Plaza SS MM los Reyes de España
11:00 - large playground in the Plaza SS MM los Reyes de España .
11:30 - Mass in honor of the Virgin of Suffrage.
14:00 - Mascletà dedicated to the patron saint on Av. Jaime I, by the Valencian Pyrotechnics.
17:00 - Afternoon entertainment with the group “Trampa” at Huerto de Colón.
19:30 p.m. , the Solemn Procession in Honor of the Virgin of Suffrage will begin , starting on C/ Mayor and ending in Plaza de San Jaime with the lighting of the image of the Virgin of Suffrage.
23:00 - Traditional singing of “COPLETES” in honor of the Virgin of Suffrage.
Concerts:
22:30 - Huerto de Colón – Cannon Fodder Group .
23:00 - Plaza de Their Majesties the Kings of Spain – Monaco Party Orchestra.
MONDAY - SAINT JAMES´ DAY (offices, banks etc will be closed)
08:00 - The day will begin with a wake-up call
09:00 - Popular hot chocolate party in the Plaza SS MM Reyes de España
11:00 - Large playground in the Plaza SS MM los Reyes de España .
11:30- Mass in honor of Saint James the Apostle.
14:00 - Mascletà dedicated to the city's patron saint, Saint James the Apostle, on Av. Jaime I, by Pirotecnia TURIS.
19:30 - The Solemn Procession in San Jaime Apóstol will begin , which will start and end in the Plaza de San Jaime with the lighting of the image of San Jaime.
TUESDAY - Local holiday, offices, banks etc will be closed.
08:00 - The day will begin with a wake-up call
09:00 - Popular hot chocolate party in the Plaza SS MM Reyes de España.
10:30 - The mass in honor of the deceased.
11:00 - Large playground in the Plaza SS MM los Reyes de España .
14:00 - Mascletà on Av. Jaime I, by Pirotecnia Valenciana.
19:00 - In the afternoon, the Great Humor Parade will take place , which will go through the streets of Venus, Ruzafa and Martínez Alejos.
23:30 - great nocturnal Mascletà , on Av. Jaime I, by Pirotecnia Valenciana.
WEDNESDAY - Final day of the Spanish Fiestas
11:00 - the “Festa de les Festes” will begin, a gathering of all the festive entities that will start in Plaza Neptuno and will go in a parade to Plaza de SS MM Los Reyes de España, where the Commission will organize a wine reception as an act of festive brotherhood.
13:00 - Children's Mascletà and candy parade in the Plaza de SS MM Los Reyes de España.
14:00 - Mascletà on Av. Jaime I, by Piromedia Hermano Sirvent.
18:00, the Parade of Floats will begin - We have been informed that this years route will start at Avenida de Alcoy, go along Avenida de Martines Alejos, Avenida Ruzaffa, Calle Venus, Calle Marte, Avenida Almendros, and Calle Marques de Cornillas, below is a rough guide to the route.
At the end of the parade their will be a Fireworks Display in the Elche Park area, by Pirotecnia Valenciana.
Please note - NO specific time is given for the firework display but they always start at the end of the parade, which is generally around 21.00 - 21.30ish.
Please note the above has been translated from Spanish to English so some detail may be slightly lost in translation.
MERRY FIESTAS FOR EVERYONE!
Benidorm November Fiesta
Benidorm Fancy Dress Day is Europe´s Biggest Fancy Dress Party - Fancy Dress Day Thursday 13th 2025
This is not officially part of the Spanish Fiestas. It is however always held the day after the Spanish fiestas finish and is the most popular day celebrated by the British tourists.
This tradition started over 25 years ago when Monolo from Sinatras Cabaret bar offered a free drink to anyone who dressed up on the Thursday to continue the celebrations that bit longer. This idea took off and has turned into what is now Europe´s biggest fancy dress street party and each year it grows in popularity with between 30,000 - 40,000 people attend this special day, with most making the effort with their fancy dress outfits and anything goes. It is one of the greatest highlights of the year in Benidorm for many.
Dates vary – They official Spanish Fiesta always begin on the Friday of the second weekend of November and officially end the following Wednesday with Fancy Dress Day always held on the Thursday.
FOR DETAILS OF ALL FIESTA DATES IN BENIDORM FOR 2024 CLICK HERE
Benidorm Fancy dress day - Click here for Photos from previous years Benidorm Fancy Dress Day
THE PARADE
The Parade which has extravagant themed floats generally starts from outside Sinatras and Morgan Tavern, the time for the start of this year's parade is expected to be between 14:00 and 16.00, there will be several roads closed to traffic.
This year's Fancy Dress route will be the same as previous years, ie Calle Lepanto (Sinatras Bar), C. Derramador (Flash Hotel), Calle Gerona (Morgans, Western Bar etc)
Out of respect of fundraising events which are taking place which coincide with the Fancy Dress parade", the parade "will reduce the number of participating floats by half"..
Photos from November 2022
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