Local & Spanish

The Christmas Star will debut costumes in the Three Kings Parade, the work of the Benidorm designer, Marcos Ruiz

The Christmas Star of Benidorm, one of the most iconic and emblematic elements of the city's Three Kings Parade, will debut new costumes tomorrow. A dress made by the young Benidorm designer Marcos Ruiz that was presented this morning in the Mayor's office and that tomorrow the designer Cristina Rodríguez, a native of Benidorm and internationally recognized, will wear in all its splendor. She will be the person who embodies the star that guided the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem.

Both have expressed their satisfaction for having “such relevant and important roles” in the Parade at the reception they had this morning with the mayor, Toni Pérez, and the Festival Councilor, Mariló Cebreros.

The new costume of the Christmas Star will be one of the main novelties of this Three Kings Parade that will begin tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the Elche Park and will conclude in the Julio Iglesias auditorium. In addition to the traditional floats with associations, local entities and children's floats, the Parade will be led by the Star, who will be followed by the royal entourage of Their Majesties

Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar.

At the entrance to the auditorium there will be the Christmas Star herself who, through a large screen, will explain to the children the role of the royal postman, the animals and even the story of King Herod. “The truth is that I am very happy to be here because this is my town and here are my roots,” said Cristina Rodríguez, who reiterated on several occasions during the reception “the pride that comes with representing the Christmas Star in the Parade of my city.”

Rodríguez recalled that “I have been away for many years, but my city and my town is Benidorm” and that is why he stressed that it is “super important to do things in Benidorm because I feel very homesick and I need to be here. It is a privilege and luck.”

The designer has compared “the love I have for my people and the love my people have for me with winning the lottery. And she touched me with this.” “I hope we have a great time,” she concluded.

For his part, the creator of the Christmas Star costume, Marcos Ruiz, said he was “very excited” because “I am very excited that they trust me now that I am starting out in the world of fashion.” The young stylist explained that for the design of the suit “many ideas came to mind, but in the end it has to be something that can be seen from the float, that is striking.” Therefore, for the design, he specified “we thought of rhinestones so that it would shine as much as possible. Furthermore, a hallmark of my brand is tulle and therefore creating an entire layer of tulle was necessary.” That cape will have a length of four meters while the top part, the dress, will also have a train that is one and a half meters long. Finally, Marcos Ruiz has expressed his “enormous joy” at the fact that it is Cristina Rodríguez who plays the Christmas Star “because on a personal level I have a great bond with her.”

🌴 What’s On This Week – Costa Blanca

(Benidorm & surrounding areas)

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

Wednesday and Sunday main street markets (large general markets for clothing, food, and goods)
Old Town craft stalls operating in the evenings
Night markets becoming more active as tourist season builds

Cultural activity

Early preparations and signage for the Medieval Market coming soon in central Benidorm
Small pop-up performances in Old Town squares (musicians, street entertainment)

Nightlife and entertainment

Live music every night across the main strips (cover bands, tribute acts, karaoke)
DJ sets and bar entertainment increasing toward peak season
Rooftop bars and terrace venues reopening more consistently

Overall feel

Benidorm is in an active pre-summer phase with strong nightlife and steady tourist flow.

ALTEA – Cultural and coastal atmosphere

Old Town and culture
Art galleries and artisan shops open daily
Small exhibitions and cultural displays in local venues

Live music

Acoustic and low-key live music in bars around Old Town and seafront areas
Occasional weekend performances in Irish and cocktail bars

Sea activities

Boat trips operating from Altea harbour including:
Coastal cruises
Sunset sailing trips
Swimming stops depending on weather conditions

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

Friday weekly street market with food, clothing, and household goods
Nearby Sunday markets in Altea also attract visitors from the area

Live music

Regular pub and bar entertainment, especially in Irish and rock-themed venues
Weekly live bands and acoustic performances across multiple venues

Cultural venues

Casa de Cultura hosting small theatre events, exhibitions, and community activities
Regular local group meetings and social clubs

Overall feel

Balanced area with both relaxed daytime atmosphere and active evenings.

LA NUCÍA – Local and sporting focus

Markets

Sunday rastro (large flea market with antiques, tools, clothes, and food stalls)
Entertainment
Occasional live music in local bars, mostly weekends

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

Beach bars and restaurants increasingly open in the evenings
Sunset dining season beginning again

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

First for the latest UK & Spanish news on the hour every hour!

BENIDORM WEATHER

Local & Spanish

Cool Playlist

The Christmas Star will debut costumes in the Three Kings Parade, the work of the Benidorm designer, Marcos Ruiz

🌴 What’s On This Week – Costa Blanca

(Benidorm & surrounding areas)

First for the latest UK & Spanish news on the hour every hour!

Latest Music Video's

Spain's More Music Variety

A Shine Media Spain Radio Station : 2026

A Shine Media Spain Radio Station : 2025

A Shine Media Spain Radio Station : 2026