The Orihuela City Council has presented the program of the festivities in honor of the Virgin of Monserrate, which will be held from September 6 to 21. The departments of Festivities, Tourism and Culture have worked together with the Archconfraternity to shape a program that unites tradition, devotion and novelty, with the aim that all citizens and visitors can enjoy the celebrations in honor of the Patron Saint of Orihuela.

The Councilor for Festivities, Rocío Ortuño, explained that from the City Council "we support the Archconfraternity in the organization of the parade, both in the Pilgrimage of descent and in the subsequent serenade, which will take place at 10:00 p.m. in the Plaza Ramón Sijé. This year it will be in charge of the Orcelitan Lyric Union, together with the soprano Carmen Muñoz, an artist of great relevance in our area and I take this opportunity to invite all Oriolanos and visitors to attend". The concert will focus on lyrics, zarzuela and copla.

Ortuño also stressed the importance of being aware of fireworks, especially for the welfare of animals. "Both on the 6th and the 8th and the 21st there will be pyrotechnic shows at different times, which we will announce through the social networks of the City Council so that everyone takes it into account," he explained. In the same way, the mayor of Festivities has valued the work carried out jointly with the councilors of Youth and Culture, Tourism and Commerce, Anabel García, Gonzalo Montoya and Vicente Pina, in the organization of the 'Tardeada'. "With this we expand the activities around the Virgin of Monserrate and we make September a little more musical month," he concluded.

The program combines the traditional acts of the Archconfraternity with different proposals, Gonzalo Montoya, mayor of Tourism has explained that the objective is to add value to the festivities through a diverse program, "to the traditional activities a whole cultural program is added, playful, tourist and festive".

Montoya also highlighted the unprecedented tourist route organized by his area, "for the first time you can visit the dressing room, the wardrobe with a waitress of the Virgin, see one of the costumes and see part of the trousseau of the Patron Saint".

As for the new 'Tardeada' Orihuela Festival, which will be held on September 19 and 20, he said, "we want Orihuela to become a national benchmark for indie music within the framework of these patron saint festivities".

For his part, the vice-president of the Archconfraternity, Francisco Serna, mentioned that, "this year's events have a novelty, and that is that the Pilgrimage is going to be jubilee". He also advanced details of the procession of the big day, "the procession will leave the Cathedral and go to the Old Bridge, because when I arrive at the New Bridge will be when the fireworks show that is offered to the Patron Saint takes place."

Highlights

Among the most significant events of these festivities is the Pilgrimage of the Virgin of Monserrate, which will take place on September 6 from 9:00 p.m., starting from the Sanctuary to the Cathedral. That same night, at 10:00 p.m., the traditional serenade will be held in the Plaza de Ramón Sijé. On September 7, the Cathedral will host at 9:00 p.m. an organ and voice concert in honor of the Patron Saint, organized by the Department of Tourism.

The big day will come on September 8, the feast of Our Lady of Monserrate, with the general ringing of bells and salutes in her honor at noon. In the afternoon, at 7:00 p.m., the solemn Eucharist will be celebrated in the Cathedral, after which the general procession through the streets of Orihuela will begin. The day will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display on the New Bridge as a tribute to the Patron Saint.

Within the cultural program, on September 12 the concert "By candlelight" will take place at the María Moliner Library at 9:45 p.m., organized by the Department of Culture. For its part, on September 19 and 20 the "Tardeada" Orihuela Festival will be held at the "Los Huertos" fairgrounds.

Finally, on Sunday, September 21, at 7:00 p.m., the pilgrimage of the return of the Virgin to her Sanctuary will be held, thus closing the program of festivities in honor of the Patron Saint of Orihuela.

Complete program of the festivities of the Virgin of Monserrate (September 6 to 21)

September 6

Tourist route The Treasures of Our Lady of Monserrate (11.00h, departure from Plaza de Monserrate).
Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Monserrate to the Cathedral (9:00 p.m., from the Sanctuary).

Serenade to the Virgin of Monserrate (10:00 p.m., Plaza de Ramón Sijé).

September 7

Organ and voices concert in honour of the Virgin (9.00pm, Cathedral).

September 8 – Feast Day

General ringing of bells and salutes in honour of the Virgin (12.00h).

Solemn Eucharist and general procession (7:00 p.m., Cathedral).
Route: Calle Mayor, Puente con Puente, Plaza Nueva, Calle San Pascual, Calle Calderón de la Barca, Calle Loaces, Calle Alfonso XIII and return along Calle Mayor.

Great fireworks show at the New Bridge.
 

September 12

Concert By candlelight (9.45pm, María Moliner Library).
September 13

Tourist route Cultural walk and Sanctuary of Our Lady of Monserrate (10.00h, departure from Arco de Santo Domingo).
September 14

Tourist route The Almohad Walls and the Hermitage of Monserrate (10.00h, departure from Plaza del Carmen).
Concert Musicals in Concert by the Ginés Pérez de la Parra Choir (8:00 p.m., Teatro Circo).
September 19

"Tardeada" Orihuela Festival with children's performances, workshops, inflatables, La Hornet and Partir La Pana (Tribute to Estopa) (7.00pm–00.30am, "Los Huertos" fairgrounds).
September 20

Festival "Tardeada" Orihuela with performances by Shinova, Dorian, La Habitación Roja, Marlena, Varry Brava, Efecto Pasillo, Despistaos, Deuve, Solar Dj, Glaziar, Arnicoco and Las Hienas (4.30pm–04.30am, "Los Huertos" fairgrounds).
September 21

ACAMDO exchange concert (12.00h, La Lonja).
Pilgrimage of the return of the Virgin to her Sanctuary (7:00 p.m., from the Cathedral).