The festivities are designed for both adults and children. Credit: Ayuntamiento de Pego
From Thursday 26 June, Pego enters the most exciting days of its summer festivities with the much-anticipated Moros y Cristianos celebrations, recognised as a Regional Festival of Tourist Interest. The party atmosphere kicks off around midday with the informal cercavila, a lively musical tour through the càbiles — the various headquarters of the participating filaes (troupes). Later, at 7:00 p.m., the traditional entradeta of bands will take place in Pla de la Font, officially opening the series of parades. The day ends with an open-air party (verbena) hosted by this year’s captain troupe, Inquisidors, featuring live music by the band LaPato.
On Friday 27 June, the day begins early with one of the most traditional and solemn events — La Diana. From 7:00 a.m., members of the Moorish and Christian troupes will march silently through the streets, accompanied only by the sound of their band music. That evening, the first major entrance parade takes place, with both sides showing off their elaborate costumes and choreographies, ending with the dramatic Ambaixada, a theatrical re-enactment of the historic arrival of Al-Azraq in Pego. As a new addition this year, a late-night open-air disco will be held at La Trilladora, with local DJ Santi Bertomeu, aimed especially at the younger crowd.
The highlight of the celebrations arrives on Saturday 28 June with the Grand Entrada, when all filaes parade through the town’s main streets in a spectacular show of colour, music and pageantry. After the parade, from around 12:30 a.m., the night continues with dancing to the Montecarlo orchestra and the Carnaval on Tour macro-disco, keeping the party going into the early hours.
On Sunday 29 June, it’s the turn of the younger generation with the Entrada Jove, a special children’s Moros y Cristianos parade starting at 8:00 p.m., bringing this chapter of the celebrations to a close.
Santíssim Ecce-Homo
However, the festivities don’t end there. For the first time, the official closing of the summer programme will coincide with the celebration in honour of Pego’s patron saint, the Santíssim Ecce-Homo. On Tuesday 1 July, locals are invited to visit the chapel where the image of the saint will be on display throughout the day. At 7:00 p.m., the figure will be carried in procession to the Church of the Assumption. Later in the evening, at 8:00 p.m., local band La Clandestina will give a concert at the Hermitage of San José, followed at midnight by a mascletà (a traditional Valencian fireworks display) and the aurora, a candlelit singing procession in honour of the Ecce-Homo, leading into another verbena in Pla de la Font with live music from the orchestra No Coment.
The final day of the festivities, Wednesday 2 July, known as the Día de la Sang, begins with a floral offering at the local care home and a mass at the Church of the Assumption, followed by another midday mascletà. The evening procession of the Ecce-Homo at 9:00 p.m. marks the spiritual end of the celebrations. The closing act will be a firework display, lighting up the night sky as Pego bids farewell to its summer fiestas.
As councillor for festivities Paula Orihuel has said, this year’s programme has been “designed by and for the people, with the active participation of local associations, neighbours, and events for all ages.”
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