Calpe will begin its programme of events tomorrow to celebrate the “Moros y Cristianos” festivities in honour of Cristo del Sudor, patron saint of the town, organised by the “Moros y Cristianos” Association in collaboration with the Town Council.
Tomorrow, Thursday 16 October, the programme will kick off with the presentation of the Festival Book and the official presentation of the Town Crier for the 2025 “Moros y Cristianos” Festival, Inma Morató, chairwoman of the “Moros y Cristianos” Association, followed by a concert of festive music by the Calpe-Ifach Musical Union in the Auditorium of the Casa de Cultura. At the end, the First Night of Cabos de Escuadra will be held together with the Calpe-Ifach Musical Union on Avenida Masnou.
On Friday 17th at 1 p.m., the ringing of bells and salutes will announce the start of the festivities. In the afternoon at 6.30 p.m., the bands will parade through the streets of the town, and at 8 p.m. the banners will be raised, and the festivities will be announced in the Plaza Mayor.
At the end of the flag-raising ceremony, all the ‘filaes’ and the 2025 Festival Committee will parade to the church to make the offering of candles to the patron saint. At 12:30 a.m., the “Moros y Cristianos” will gather for a parade from Calle Justicia to Plaza Constitución. And at 1:30 a.m., the Christian Captaincy Dance will take place at the Filá Mozárabes de Ifach (Arco Iris Park).
On Saturday, 18th, the events will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the reveille from Plaza del Mosquit. At 6:30 p.m., the Grand Christian and Moorish Entrance will begin, from Calle Benissa to Plaza Colón. The Grand Entrance of the Moors and Christians are one of the most emblematic events of the festivities. The parade of “Moros y Cristianos” troops travels along the town's main avenue, Gabriel Miró, until it reaches Arenal Beach, bringing together thousands of residents and attracting numerous visitors and tourists who admire the spectacular and unique nature of the Calpee parade. For the most representative positions, captains, flag bearers and ensigns, it is the culmination of a whole year of effort and work. Ballets, animals, music and fire characterise the captains' pageantry, which thrills the public.
This will be the big moment for the “Moros y Cristianos” captains of 2025, Adrián Romero from the Filà Tuareg and Ángel García from the Filà Mozárabes, accompanied by the favourite, Fini Ortiz, and the First Lady, Estefanía Moll. Another important role is that of Standard Bearer of the “Asociación de Moros y Cristianos”, which this year falls to Celia González Jorro, from Berberiscos, and the “Moros y Cristianos” ensigns, Marc Císcar from Marins Corsaris and Marc Sala from Berberiscos.
On Sunday 19th, at 11 a.m., the Landing and First Battle will take place on Arenal-Bol Beach. This event represents the arrival of the Muslim hordes on Arenal Beach. The barges of the Moorish ‘filaes’ depart from the fishing port and arrive at Arenal Beach, where they begin to disembark to start the battle. The roar of arquebuses fills the air. The Moorish troops win the first battle and march up Gabriel Miró Avenue to the Plaza Mayor, while the Christian troops retreat to await the second battle.
In the afternoon, at 7 pm, the Children's Parade is scheduled, undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable events on the programme, in which the little ones take centre stage. And in the evening, the Moorish Captaincy Dance will be held at the Filá Tuareg (Carrer de Fora)
On Tuesday 21 October, the programme of festivities resumes with the celebration at 8.30 pm of the Parliament and Second Battle ‘El Miracle’ in the Plaza Mayor. The ‘Miracle’ is the emotional representation that makes the Calpe festival unique. The children of Calpe announce the arrival of the Muslim troops with the cry of ‘Foc en Ifac!, Moors on the coast!’, the Christians retreat behind the wall, but no one expects Moncófar's betrayal. This character, key to the performance, begins a parliament with the Christian ambassador. This passage of the Miracle is undoubtedly one of the most emotional and memorable.
Moncófar betrays the people of Calpe and surrenders to the Moorish ambassador to help the Saracens take the city. The battle of arquebuses shakes the Plaza Mayor and when all seems lost, a small man, Caragol, manages to close the gates of the wall thanks to the intercession of the patron saint, Santíssim Crist de la Suor. The castle is illuminated with the image of Christ and Moncófar falls at his feet. The performance is based, with considerable artistic licence, on the historical events of 22 October 1744 and is repeated every year, arousing the same emotion among the gathered residents. In the evening, the Association's Flag Bearer's dance is scheduled to take place at the Filá Berberiscos (Calle la Ermita).
On Wednesday 22nd, the feast day of the patron saint, the Santísimo Cristo del Sudor, a solemn mass will be held at 12 noon in the Plaza Mayor in honour of the patron saint. After the mass, there will be a spectacular ‘mascletá’ (firework display) and the image of Christ will be returned to the church. In the afternoon, at 7 pm, there will be a solemn procession through the streets of the old town, followed by a night-time mascletà in the Plaza Mayor.
The events will conclude with a Mass for the dead, which will be held on Thursday 23rd October at 7.30 pm in the Virgen de las Nieves Parish Church.