Local & Spanish

Local & Spanish

Finestrat / 10 December 2025
Finestrat is preparing to welcome the festive season with the return of its much-loved Christmas Market, taking place from 12th to 14th December in Plaça de la Unió Europea. The square will once again be transformed into a magical winter setting, filled with more than 50 stalls, festive decorations, artisan products, traditional cuisine, and a magnificent Christmas tree that will serve as the heart of the celebrations.
Adding to the excitement, Santa Claus has confirmed his visit, accompanied by his postmen and toy makers. Children will have the opportunity to hand him their letters and take a special souvenir photo.
The Market was officially presented today in Plaça de la Unió Europea by Acting Mayor Nati Algado, Councillor for Markets Donna R. Plummer, and members of the Associació de Dones de Finestrat, chaired by Teresa Climent.
A Festive Programme for All Ages
This year’s event offers a full programme of entertainment, including children’s activities, live music, storytelling, circus performances, festive parades, and roaming characters who will bring Christmas to life throughout the market. Highlights include:
Councillor Donna R. Plummer said:
“We are counting down to our sixth Christmas Market, and we couldn’t be more excited to return to Plaça de la Unió Europea. With more than 50 stalls, live performances, workshops, parades, children’s characters, and Santa Claus himself, Finestrat will once again become a place to discover, experience, and dream this Christmas.”
The event is organised by the Department of Markets with support from the Associació de Dones de Finestrat, the Comissió de Festes La Xirimbela, and local educational centres.
New This Year: Christmas Competitions
Visitors can take part in several festive competitions:
Transport and Parking
To make access easier for residents and visitors, bus transport will be available:
A shuttle bus will run from the La Foia Sports Complex car park to the Market throughout the weekend.
A dedicated bus from La Cala and nearby residential areas will operate on 13th and 14th December, stopping at developments including Sierra Cortina, Terra Marina, Golf Bahía and Balcón de Finestrat.
The Salt car park (Sella–Relleu–Orxeta crossing) will also be open for public use.
Opening Hours
The market opens:
Throughout the event, children can enjoy hands-on workshops, attractions, games, roaming performers, Santa’s house, and even festive snowfall.
The Finestrat Christmas Market promises a magical celebration for families, residents, and visitors — marking the start of a joyful Christmas season in the town.
The Costa Blanca heads into another huge week of summer, with beaches busy, nightlife in full swing and a packed programme of festivals, sport, culture and family entertainment across Benidorm and the Marina Baixa.
The big talking point this week is the 12 August solar eclipse, with Benidorm and the surrounding coastline preparing for an extraordinary evening as the Moon covers almost the entire face of the Sun.
Hotels are also enjoying strong August demand. Latest regional forecasts put Benidorm's August hotel occupancy at around 92%, underlining the strength of the peak summer season.
☀️ BENIDORM
🏖️ Beaches & Summer Activities
Levante, Poniente and Mal Pas remain at the heart of Benidorm's summer action, with swimming, water sports, boat trips and beach activities continuing throughout the week.
Popular activities include:
🏄 Paddleboarding and kayaking
🚤 Boat trips to Benidorm Island
🪂 Parasailing
🌊 Jet ski experiences
🏐 Beach volleyball
🏖️ Family beach activities
🌅 Sunset cruises
The giant BENIDORM letters on the Tamarindos Promenade continue to provide one of the city's newest photo opportunities, with the installation made from recycled fishing nets recovered from the Mediterranean.
🎿 Benidorm Cable Ski – 60 Years
The legendary Benidorm Cable Ski continues its 60th-anniversary celebrations, marking six decades as one of Europe's pioneering cable-ski facilities.
🎶 Entertainment & Nightlife
Benidorm's famous entertainment scene remains in full summer mode, with live tribute acts, cabaret, comedy, karaoke, DJs, rooftop venues, beach clubs and late-night shows continuing throughout the week.
On Friday 14 August, BRESH takes over SkyFest Benidorm, bringing its mix of pop, reggaeton and commercial music to the city.
Sunday night also brings La Casita de Lo Perreo to KU Benidorm, with reggaeton, DJs and poolside summer entertainment.
🌞 THE BIG EVENT – 12 AUGUST SOLAR ECLIPSE
Wednesday 12 August is set to be one of the most unusual evenings of the summer.
In Benidorm, the eclipse will be partial but exceptionally deep, with approximately 99.5–99.6% of the Sun covered at maximum eclipse around 8.34pm. The Sun will remain very low above the western horizon and will set while the eclipse is still in progress.
This means the Costa Blanca will not experience totality in Benidorm itself, but the dramatic near-total eclipse should still create a striking change in the evening light.
Special eclipse experiences are being organised locally, including an e-bike tour through Benidorm, Albir and Altea, with an evening stop in Altea for eclipse viewing.
For those wanting to experience totality, specialist excursions are also being offered from the Costa Blanca towards areas where the eclipse is total.
⚠️ Never look directly at the Sun without proper certified eclipse protection.
🌿 ALBIR & L’ALFÀS DEL PI
The Albir coastline remains a favourite for visitors looking for a quieter alternative to Benidorm.
🚶 Monday Healthy Walk
Tonight, Monday 10 August, l’Alfàs del Pi continues its weekly healthy walking programme.
The walk begins at 8.00pm from the Anchor at Racó de l’Albir beach, with Costa Blanca Balla coordinating the August routes.
No booking is required and the activity is designed to encourage exercise, wellbeing and social interaction.
♿ Accessible Beach Service
The accessible bathing service at Racó de l’Albir continues until the end of September, offering adapted equipment and assistance for people with reduced mobility.
Visitors can also enjoy the famous Albir Lighthouse Trail, coastal cycling, outdoor activities, restaurants and evening entertainment.
🏰 GUADALEST
The spectacular mountain village of Guadalest remains one of the Costa Blanca's most popular day trips.
Visitors can explore:
🏰 Guadalest Castle
🏛️ Historic museums
⛰️ Mountain viewpoints
🌿 Walking routes
☕ Traditional cafés
🛍️ Local shops and crafts
The municipality is also continuing its work towards becoming a Smart Tourist Destination, focusing on digitalisation, sustainability and smarter tourism management.
🍫 VILLAJOYOSA
Colourful Villajoyosa continues its summer programme with culture and entertainment for residents and visitors.
Highlights include the historic old town, colourful seafront, chocolate heritage and the Valor Chocolate Museum, alongside summer cultural activities.
On Friday 14 August, the town hosts “Manouche Melodies”, a jazz performance by Le Jazz Hot at the Auditori La Barbera dels Aragonés.
On Saturday 15 August, an outdoor screening of Imaginary Friends is scheduled at the same venue.
🎉 LA NUCÍA – FESTES D’AGOST
One of the biggest local celebrations gets underway this week as Les Festes d’Agost de La Nucía run from 14–18 August.
The programme combines traditional celebrations, music, processions, fireworks, family activities and late-night entertainment.
Friday 14 August
The festivities officially get underway with a packed programme of traditional and family activities, followed by evening entertainment.
Saturday 15 August
The programme includes:
⛪ Mass for the Feast of the Assumption
🎺 Procession
🎆 Night-time mascletà
🎶 Live music including Arre-Ak and Malifeta
🎉 Late-night festivities
Sunday 16 August
The celebrations continue with:
🎺 Despertà
⛪ Mass for San Roque
🌸 Floral offering
💃 Traditional dances
🎶 Los Manolos live
🎆 Night-time mascletà
🎮 Free gaming and family activities
The official programme confirms that the festivities continue through 18 August.
🌅 FINESTRAT
🏐 49th La Cala Beach Volleyball Tournament – 15 August
One of the Costa Blanca's great sporting traditions returns to La Cala de Finestrat on Saturday 15 August.
The 49th edition of the tournament will feature men's and women's 4x4 beach volleyball, bringing together high-level players, amateur competitors and spectators.
The tournament has become a major fixture of the summer sporting calendar and is expected to attract large crowds to La Cala.
🎭 Summer Culture
Finestrat's summer cultural programme also continues, with concerts and performances taking place around the historic village and Auditori del Castell.
On Friday 14 August, the Auditori del Castell hosts a concert by Rondalla Cordes i Veus Font del Molí and La Dolça Parranda de Tibi.
The town is also preparing for its major Patron Saint celebrations, which begin on 15 August and continue until 24 August.
🎭 ALTEA
Following the huge Castell de l’Olla fireworks spectacular last weekend, Altea returns to its summer rhythm of art, culture, music and tourism.
The historic old town remains a major attraction, with its whitewashed streets, galleries, restaurants and famous church square.
Visitors can also enjoy:
🎨 Balconades – outdoor art displayed around the old town
🛍️ Evening artisan market
🎶 Summer concerts
🍷 Waterfront dining
🌅 Sunset walks
The Balconades exhibition continues to turn balconies and façades in the old town into an open-air art gallery through August.
🚔 SUMMER SAFETY
With visitor numbers at their seasonal peak, enhanced policing and emergency arrangements remain in place across major tourist areas.
Following the recent fireworks incident at Castell de l’Olla, visitors are also reminded to follow official safety advice at large public events and to rely on information from local authorities and emergency services.
The high summer wildfire risk also remains an important consideration. Visitors should follow local restrictions, avoid fires or barbecues in prohibited areas and report smoke or suspected fires immediately.
📅 THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
🌞 10 Aug – Monday healthy walk, Racó de l’Albir
🌒 12 Aug – Near-total solar eclipse visible from Benidorm
🚴 12 Aug – Special eclipse experiences around Albir/Altea
🎶 14 Aug – BRESH at SkyFest Benidorm
🎭 14 Aug – Manouche Melodies, Villajoyosa
🎉 14–18 Aug – Les Festes d’Agost, La Nucía
🎭 14 Aug – Rondalla Cordes i Veus, Finestrat
🏐 15 Aug – 49th La Cala Beach Volleyball Tournament
🎬 15 Aug – Imaginary Friends, Villajoyosa
🎶 16 Aug – Los Manolos, La Nucía
🌴 Every evening – Live music, entertainment and nightlife across Benidorm
🌴 QUICK SUMMARY
✅ Peak August holiday season
🏖️ Beaches and water sports in full swing
🌞 Near-total eclipse on 12 August
🧜 Summer attractions continue across Benidorm
🎿 Benidorm Cable Ski celebrates 60 years
♿ Accessible bathing at Albir continues until September
🏐 La Cala hosts its 49th beach volleyball tournament
🎉 La Nucía's major August fiestas begin
🎨 Altea's summer art and cultural programme continues
🎶 Live music and nightlife across the Costa Blanca
🌤️ WEATHER & SUMMER ADVICE
The Costa Blanca remains firmly in summer mode, with hot Mediterranean conditions expected.
Visitors should stay hydrated, use high-factor sunscreen, seek shade during the hottest part of the afternoon and take particular care during outdoor activities.
For the eclipse, certified solar viewing protection is essential. Ordinary sunglasses are not suitable for looking at the Sun. In Benidorm, the eclipse will remain partial, despite the exceptionally high level of coverage.
The message for the week is simple: beaches by day, fiestas and entertainment by night – and on Wednesday, look to the sky. 🌴🌞🌒


Local & Spanish


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