ASdTorrevieja Information - tourist guide: Feria de Mayo a resounding success

Feria de Mayo a resounding success
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Keith Nicol on 10 May, 2010 09:30:00

Visitors to the feria had a choice of 22 different ‘tents’ to pick and
choose between for a quick tapa, a cool drink, even a full lunch or dinner.

Torrevieja’s Feria de Mayo is over for another year and for five days all
thoughts of the present crisis were set aside to celebrate a Sevillanas festival
of music, dance, entertainment, eating, drinking and merriment, which continued
to establish the city as the largest Sevillanas Fiesta on the Costa Blanca.
On May 5, the opening night celebrations were well attended for the formal
switching on of the lights and traditional firework display followed by Flamenco
performances from the Municipal Dance School and flamenco company. Entertainment
on the following nights treated the audience to performances from Los
Chichos,Escuela Municipal de Danza, the academy from Mª Dolores Morales, the
cuadro flamenco de El Torero, La Negra, María del Ángel and closed with a
performance from the traditional Alba Rociera Chorus.
Visitors to the feria had a choice of 22 different ‘tents’ to pick and
choose between for a quick tapa, a cool drink, even a full lunch or dinner.
Prices for food and beverages had been lowered this year and although the
overall cost to each exhibitor was in the region of 4,000 euros, all reported
having covered their costs and on Friday and Saturday night, waiters had
difficulty in persuading their patrons to drink up and leave at closing time.
With the planned movement of the Feria away from the Harbour to an area close to
the Antonio Soria Park for 2011, some visitors and exhibitors wondered if this
most colourful of Torrevieja’s fiestas would be as popular away from the
hustle and bustle of the city centre.
On the weekend, the Feria enjoyed displays of horses and carriages, giving rides
to local children, splendid in their Sevillanas costumes, an equestrian
exhibition and a somewhat controversial running of Bulls. The President of the
Feria Francisco Boj "El Salinerito" also held a traditional lunch for the
organizers, exhibitors and members of the Spanish Press, as a thank you for
making the 2010 Feria de Mayo another resounding success.
Keith Nicol