Local & Spanish

Local & Spanish


Benidorm / 9 December 2025
The La Barqueta Cultural and Recreational Association has once again marked the start of the Christmas season by unveiling its much-loved traditional nativity scene, an annual event held on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. At six o’clock in the evening, the association opened the doors of its headquarters on Tomás Ortuño so that residents and visitors could admire the display, created entirely by members over recent weeks.
The Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, and the Councillor for Festivals, Mariló Cebreros, attended the inauguration alongside the Senior and Junior Queens of the Patron Saint Festivities, Paula Pascual and Aitana Pérez, who were given the honour of lighting the nativity scene and officially opening the premises to the public.
A large part of the municipal council was present, together with regional deputy José Ramón González de Zárate, the president of the 2026 Festival Commission, Ramón Cano, and numerous residents eager to see this year’s creation. The 2025 display includes more than 60 new pieces, bringing the total to almost 400 figures. As part of the celebration, La Barqueta offered pastries and mistela, while traditional Christmas carols were performed outside by musicians playing the xirimita i tabalet, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The nativity scene features a detailed and expansive recreation of the Birth of Jesus with several mechanised elements. Visitors will find classic biblical scenes such as the Nativity, the Annunciation, King Herod’s castle, the arrival of the Three Wise Men, and various traditional trades and village scenes from the period.
The public can visit the nativity scene at La Barqueta’s headquarters on Tomás Ortuño daily until 6 January, with opening hours from 10:00 to 13:00 in the morning and 17:00 to 21:00 in the afternoon.
Overview
This week across Benidorm, Altea, Albir, Finestrat, and La Nucía is mainly:
Weekly markets and street trading
Live music in bars and small venues
Early spring coastal tourism activity (boat trips, promenades)
Small cultural events and exhibitions
Gradual build-up toward May festivals in Benidorm
BENIDORM – Events and Activity
Markets and street life
Cultural activity
Nightlife and entertainment
Overall feel
Benidorm is in an active pre-summer phase with strong nightlife and steady tourist flow.
ALTEA – Cultural and coastal atmosphere
Live music
Sea activities
Overall feel
Quiet, scenic, and cultural with a strong focus on relaxation rather than nightlife.
ALBIR / ALFÀS DEL PI – Mixed expat and local activity
Markets
Live music
Cultural venues
Overall feel
Balanced area with both relaxed daytime atmosphere and active evenings.
LA NUCÍA – Local and sporting focus
Markets
Sports activity
Large sports complex hosting training camps, tournaments, and weekend events
Overall feel
Quiet residential town with activity concentrated around weekends and sports events.
FINESTRAT – Beach and market lifestyle
Markets
Tuesday and Saturday markets in La Cala area with a mix of local produce and goods
Beachfront activity
Entertainment
Low-key live music in beachfront bars rather than organised events
Overall feel
Relaxed coastal town focused on beach life and casual evenings.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Benidorm: busiest area with nightlife, markets, and entertainment
Altea: cultural, scenic, and relaxed
Albir / Alfàs del Pi: balanced mix of live music and expat social life
La Nucía: local, quiet, and sports-focused
Finestrat: beach-oriented and low-key

Local & Spanish


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