Benidorm Major Festivities
We invite you to get to know and enjoy Benidorm's Fiestas Mayores Patronales, festivities held in honour of the Virgen del Sufragio and San Jaime Apóstol.
What will you find in the Benidorm Fiestas Mayores?
The Fiestas Mayores Patronales Benidorm are days of revelry with lots of fireworks, lights, music and tradition, to pay homage to the Virgen del Sufragio and San Jaime Apóstol. They are held every second Saturday in November until the Wednesday after and are organised by the Benidorm Patron Saint Fiestas Committee.
How are the Benidorm Fiestas held?
The Benidorm Fiestas include musical performances, masses and processions, parades and processions, floral offerings, as well as fireworks displays. Normally, the official programme has a similar structure, as described below:
Friday: inaugurations and peñas
- Inauguration of the Artistic Lighting, the Porrat and the Fair Grounds.
- Parade of the Peñas de Benidorm.
Saturday: day of the Virgin
- Mass in the Church of San Jaime, Pilgrimage and Offering of Flowers, in honour of the Virgen del Sufragio.
- Reenactment of the Hallazgo and Proclamation of the Fiestas.
Sunday: Concert
- Despertà: firecrackers are set off in the streets to wake people up.
- Mascletà.
- Musical concert.
- Correfoc: fireworks display with a route through the streets of Benidorm.
Monday: Saint James' Day
- Mass and procession in honour of San Jaime.
- Mascletà.
- Cordà.
Tuesday: Gran Mascletà
- Supermascletà.
- Parade of Humour.
- Mascletà at night.
Wednesday: Fireworks display.
- Parades of Benidorm's festive entities.
- Children's Mascletà and candy fireworks.
- Parade of floats.
- Fireworks Castle, located in the Port area.
Origins of the celebration of the Benidorm Festivities
The Benidorm Fiestas originated in March 1740, due to the discovery of the image of the virgin in an abandoned ship off the coast of Benidorm, which had been burnt to prevent epidemics. The image was transferred to the church, and a chapel was later built for it. This story is staged annually on the Poniente Beach.
In recent years these patron saint festivities have acquired a tourist connotation, as they are held before winter, in the month of November.
What else can you see in Benidorm?
If you go to Benidorm we invite you to visit these historical and cultural places:
- Mirador del Castillo: also known as the "Balcony of the Mediterranean". It was a fortress used in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries against the incursions of Algerian and Berber pirates.
- Church of San Jaime: it was built in the 18th century and stands out for its blue dome in Mediterranean and neoclassical style. It contains the ancient image or carving of the Virgin of Suffrage, found among the remains of a boat.
- L'Aigüera Park: it has large green areas and two amphitheatres for shows and cultural events.
- Paseo Marítimo de Poniente: its original design emulates the shapes of the cliffs and the waves, with platforms and levels used as recreational, leisure and meditation areas.
- La Torre de la Escaleta or Torre de les Caletes: this is a watchtower built in the 16th century to watch out for possible incursions by Berber corsairs.
Gastronomy in Benidorm
Enjoy the typical and traditional gastronomy of Benidorm:
- Arroz caldoso de boquerones: the main ingredient is fresh anchovies, in a juicy rice dish cooked with fish stock.
- Bollo de San Blas: a type of very spongy, small sized bun, prepared with a touch of lemon.
- Cazuela de pescado al estilo pobre: fish dish prepared with wine, potatoes, fish stock, paprika and almonds.
- Coca rellena or coca farcida: a dough of flour and oil filled with a tomato, tuna and peas ratatouille.
- Pastelitos de boniato (sweet potato pastry): a spongy, filled pastry made with sweet potato dough.
- Pebrot: seafood dish made with blue fish.
- Tarta de Benidorm: made with almonds, orange, dates, cinnamon and lemon.
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