Celebrating Sant Antoni with all animals and pets
Animals will be blessed all over the Costa this weekend
Here are some of the villages celebrating Sant Antoni and blessing the animals this weekend.
As the official day was on January 17th some villages celebrated Sant Antoni last weekend and some others will celebrate it this weekend, Here are the programmes with dates and times of all the animal parades and other activities during these two days.
ALFAZ DEL PI
Sunday, January 19
At 11.30 Animals, pets and owners will get together at the Casa de Cultura to march all the way to the church where dogs, cats and other animals will be blessed at 12.00.
ALICANTE
Friday, January 17: at 19.30: Holy mass and procession through the old town. Fireworks will be set off when the Paitron Saint is passes by the 'tabacalera'
Saturday, January 18 at 12.00: Paella contest on C/Valencia. At 13.00: tapas contest made by the youngest ones.
Sunday, January 19 at 9.30: Holy mass followed by the procession in which they will take the Paitron Saint from the church to the bullring.
At 10.30: Horse show and contest. At 12.00: Many pets and other animals will be blessed at the bullring. (must register in advance by calling the town hall)
BENIDORM
Saturday, January 18 at 17.00: Traditional pilgrimage from the Trinquet to the Ermita de Sanz, music and dances, snacks will be offered after the holy mass at the Ermita de Sanz in honour of Sant Antoni at 17.30.
Sunday, January 19 at 11.00: Holy mass at the Ermita de Sanz followed by the traditional blessing of the animals. Buns will be offered to all there.
BENISSA
The Fira i Porrat fair of Sant Antoni continues in Benissa this week.
Friday, January 17
18.00: Childhood day. Fairground attractions at reduced prices in the main square. 19.00: Wine Tunnel. Wine and tapas tasting. Until 11.00. 20.30: Fair Concert. “Symphonic Roots” - Benissa Lyrical and Musical Society in collaboration with other cultural associations. In the Centre d’Art Taller Ivars.
Saturday, January 18
12.00: Wine Tunnel. Wine and tapas tasting. Until 16.00. 19.00: Wine Tunnel. Wine and tapas tasting. Until 23.00. 19.00 and 22.00: Municipal film. Sunday, January 19
08.00: Hiking at the Fair - “Discover our Region: SL-CV 136 Moli del Quisi ”. Distance: 8.80 km and ascent rise: 295 metres. Estimated time: 3 hours. Difficulty: Medium. Guide: Miguel Ángel Soliveres Fullana. Organised Margalló de Benissa Mountain Club. Meeting place: Manuel Bru school parking
9.00: Exhibition and demonstration of the Guardia Civil, fire service, Local Police and Civil Protection of Benissa. Until 17.00. King Jaime I. Square
Exhibition of old vehicles of the town, organised by the Association of Historic Vehicles La Marina. Until 15.00. Meeting of 4x4 vehicles. Exhibition of driving all-terrain vehicles and rescue. Land Rover and TT Marina Alta Association. Until 15.00. 10.00: Bicycle day. Urban itinerary, with extra support for minors. At the end there will be drinks provided. Organised by Benissa Cycling Club. Exhibition of Singing Birds. Soccer Track 7. C / Cami de Canor.
12.00: Gastronomic contest: “Fideua”.
12.00: Wine Tunnel Wine and tapas tasting. Until 16.00. 13.00: Popular dances. “Fresh dance”. Route: Calle San Nicolás street to Plaza Rey Jaime I. 18.30: Dance of the 3rd age. Free entry for everyone. “Bernia” Social Centre
19.00: Wine Tunnel. Wine and tapas tasting. Until 22.00 Wednesday, January 22 11.00: Students from local schools visit the fair. Free until 12.30.
Thursday, January 23
16.00: Final of the Domino Contest.
16.30: Trophy delivery of contests.
20.00: Talk: "The Regne Plantes, La Marina Alta i les herbes 25" . Speaker: Baptista Banyuls. Auditorium of the Cultural Cases Les Cases del Batlle. Friday, January 24
10.00: Guided visit and talk to local school students at the VII Bird Exhibition. Open until 13.00.
18.00: Fun Fair opens.
20.00 OFFICIAL OPENING Medieval Market. With more than 40 stalls selling handicraft items, with workshops for children and old crafts, gastronomic area, Arab souk, ludo-teak children and family, puppet theatre, thematic exhibitions, performances set in the time, etc.
Separate programme – to be published next week.
CALPE
The festival of San Antonio is marked on two Sunday afternoons in Calpe, both with gifts for pets and refreshments. One was last weekend, and the next one will take place on Jan 19th.
Sunday, January 19: The old town is the centre of celebrations. The blessing takes place during the 12.00 mass at the Las Nieves church– and again there are refreshments and gifts.
CAMPELLO
Sunday, January 19 at 11.00: Traditional horses, carriages and other animals parade from the Avda. La Creu all the way to the church. This traditional animal blessing parade is very popular in the village so many will attend. The holy mass will start at 12.00 and then the animal blessings will take place at the church square where the 'rollitos' (buns) are also blessed.
CASTELLÓN DE LA PLANA
Saturday, January 18
From 18.00 onwards they wil have parades, music, plays and workshops etc.
At 20.30 they will bless their animals near the Casal Jove and then burn the bonfire at Pl Virgen del Carmen and at Grupo Mediterráneo where the traditional dinner is organized.
DENIA
Sunday, January 19 at 11.00: Traditional pilgrimage in honour of San Antón (Saint Anthony) from the C/ Miraflor to the C/ Marqués de Campo, joined by the Club de Amigos del Caballo ('Friends of the Horse Club')
11.30: Animal blessing on the C/ Marqués de Campo (weather permitting, otherwise date will be changed to Feb 2)
FINESTRAT
Sunday, January 19 from 12.00 to 15.30: music bands parade through the village collecting all goods donated by neighbours to raise funds for the fiestas in an auction after the blessing of the animals.
At 12.00: The animals will be blessed at Pl de la Torreta square, then the auction of the donated goods will start.
JAVEA
Friday, January 17
9.00: Parade by the fiesta commission ‘Penya La Burrera’ through the streets of the port. 12.00: Mass in the Loreto church followed by the traditional blessing of the animals on the port promenade.
Saturday, January 18
12.00: Transfer of the pine tree from Plaza de la Constitucion through the streets of the old town to Calle San Antonio. 20.00: Traditional burning of the San Antonio pine tree. Snacks and drinks for all. Sunday, January 19
11.00: Parade of horses and carts from Calle San Antonio to the port and back to the old town. 13.00: Traditional blessing of working animals and domestic pets in Plaza de la Constitucion.
LA NUCÍA
Saturday, January 18
Pet walk to celebrate Sant Antoni
A special walk has been organised by La Nucia tomorrow, Saturday, January 18 to mark the festival of Sant Antoni – the Patron Saint of animals ending in the animal blessing at the church.
Setting off at 10.20am from the tourist office, owners and their pets will walk through the picturesque streets of the old town, finishing at the main square outside the church, where they will all be blessed by the parish priest at 12.00.
Registration for the walk is compulsory but free and can be done by calling 966 101 098 or by email at: turismo@lanucia.es.
MURO D'ALCOI
Saturday, January 18
10.30: Mediaeval market opens across town centre. Classic car exhibition on the terrace of the filà Templaris fiesta group 11.00: Animal fair with Alcosser Equestrian Centre in Batà Park 16.00: Dressage display on esplanade
20.30: Live jazz music in the Plaça del Matzem
Sunday, January 19
10.30: Mediaeval market opens across town centre
11.00: Animal fair with Alcosser Equestrian Centre in Batà Park 11.30: Folk music and dance show and parade from the Placeta Molina to the Plaza del Matzem
Noon: Blessing of the animals outside the Sant Joan Baptista church
17.00: Pilgrimage in honour of San Antón from the church square to the Sant Antoni hermitage chapel
20.00: Firework display
OLIVA
Sunday, January 19 10.00: Horse-drawn carriages and riders in parade along C/ Sant Vicent
11.00: Animal blessing in Sant Roc square after mass
ONDARA
Sunday, January 19 11.45: Mounted parade from Sanchis Guarner primary school
Noon: Blessing of the animals in the Plaza del Prado
21.00: Dinner for everyone in the Plaza del Prado with bar service and live music
PEGO
Saturday, January 18
Noon: Traditional procession down the stations of the cross to the Pla de la Font carrying the 'sacred pine', followed by light lunch for everyone
20.00: San Antón bonfire lit in Pla de la Font
22.30: 'Toast feast' for everyone – tickets available from the Falla La Font fiesta headquarters
Sunday, January 19
10.00: Procession from Pla de la
Font to Sant Antoni hermitage chapel (accessible directly via the Camí de Sant Antoni off the CV-715) through town centre, town hall square, C/ Mayor, Avenida Jaume I, and C/ Mar 11.00: Blessing of the animals on arrival after mass, followed by mini-porrat and Mediaeval market
The fiesta and entertainment will continue all day at the Ermita de Sant Antoni with the traditional ‘Porrat’
RELLEU
Relleu celebrates this fiesta in big style making it the most spectacular one on the Costa!
They will roast the pigs and let all attendants enjoy with the locals during the whole day, on Saturday. January 18 .
Saturday, January 18 at 10.00: Bells ringing. 11.00: Plota Valenciana match at C/ Major as well as music bands parade through the village.
12.00: Parade to the Pl dels Porcs acompanied by the local music band.
14.30: 'Olleta' Traditional stew will be offered to all attendants. 17.30: Societat Musical Lira Relleuense will entertain all with their live music concert. 19.00: Fires will be set alight to get the BBQ ready.. 20.30: Pork BBQ will be, by this time, ready to be offered to all. There will also be drinks and snacks available all day long at popular prices in the bars alocated in the old town.
The animals blessings will take place on Sunday morning after the holy mass at the church.
TEULADA
Saturday, January 18 at 12.00: Numerous activities in the plaza del Porxes.
The Sant Antoni demons will parade into the square with a local music band, there will be bell ringing and the burning of the Sant Antoni bonfire, followed
by a ‘bonfire lunch’, where people bring their own food
16.00: Concert by a traditional Valencian music band.
Sunday, January 19 at 12.00: The image of San Antón will be taken to Sant Vicent hermitage in a procession with carriages, followed by the traditional animal blessing and the giving out of buns for all attendees.
VILLAJOYOSA
Saturday, January 18at 8.30: Villajoyosa’s Ermita will start the day with an awakening parade through the village and once the village is up, at 11.00: snacks will be offered.
The awaited animal blessing will take place at 16.00 followed by a dog show organised by SPAV.
At 17.00: Pumpkin fritters will be offered to all, together with some hot chocolate..
Sunday, January 19: The celebrations start again at 8.30 with the awakening parade through the village.
At 11.00: Holy mass followed by a holy procession with the saint.
Fiestas will come to an end with the traditional floats parade starting at 13.00hrs and the Buns of Sant Antoni‘ (Rollitos) will also be offered to all.
For the full programmes or more information on this event please contact your local Tourist Information Office.