Calpe started yesterday, Thursday, the events of the "Moros y Cristianos" in honour of the Santíssim Crist de la Suor, with the presentation of the festival book and a square concert of the Unión Musical Calp-Ifac. The "filás" (armies) of the Contrabandistas and Mozárabes, who celebrate their 40th anniversary, were also honoured on this occasion.
Today, Friday, at 13:00, the bells will ring and the salutes will be fired to announce the beginning of the festival. In the evening, at 19:00, the chapels, which move through the streets of the city, move in. At 20:00 the standards are hoisted on the Plaza Mayor. Juan José Olcina Navarro, president of the Associació de Sant Jordi de Alcoy, will give the opening speech. At the end, all the armies and the 2019 Festival Committee will march through the streets to the church to offer the candle sacrifice to the patron saint of the city.
At 00:30, Moors and Christians meet for the typical "entraetes" and wander through the old town, and at 01:00 the flag bearer's dance is scheduled in the Plaza del Arco Iris.
On Saturday the 19th, the festivities begin at 12:30 with a street parade of the youth chapel of the Unión Musical through the old town. At 7 p.m., from Calle Benissa to Plaza Colón, the great entrance of the Moors and Christians begins - the highlight of a whole year's work for both armies, because now both show their best costumes, floats, dances and all sorts of attractions, making this parade one of the most attractive in the whole province. At 01:30 the dance of the Moorish captain takes place in Calle San José.
On Sunday the first battle is fought between both armies, because at 11:00 the Moorish troops land on the Arenal beach. This is undoubtedly one of the most attractive moments of the festival. In the afternoon the children are the stars, because at 18:00 clock starts on the Calle Benissa the child parade. At 20:30 Moors and Christians meet again for the second battle, and in the Plaza Mayor the "miracle" takes place. This is one of the most important moments of the festival: "Caragol" succeeds in closing the gates of the city after the betrayal of "Moncofar".
On Monday the 21st, children's games will take place in the Plaza de España, and at 23:15 from the Plaza del Arco Iris of the "Correfocs" the Colla Dimonis Ingava from Font d' En Carrós will start. At 00:30 Pirotecnia Hnos. Caballer in the Plaza Mayor a "mascletá" (powder fireworks) shoot, and in 01:00 the Christian captain holds his dance in the Plaza del Mosquit.
Tuesday, the 22nd, Feast of Santísimo Cristo del Sudor, begins with the greeting of the festival queens, their court ladies, etc. through the chapel of the Unión Musical Calpe-Ifach, to then move to the Town Hall and listen to the Holy Mass in the Plaza Mayor. At the end of the Mass, a new "mascletá" is shot down and the figure of Christ is brought back to the church.
In the afternoon at 17:00 there will be a pelota game of the "a llargues" modality for professionals on Calle García Ortiz, and at 20:00 the festive procession.