Feria de Mayo a resounding success

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

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