As the fiesta draws into the last few days things start to hot up. That is where “Tío del Tractor” comes in because if you are in the right place at the right time you can enjoy a cold beer free of charge.
It won’t really matter though if you miss him because stroll along Calle Antonio Pérez Gálvez at about half past twelve and you can enjoy a cold beer and a tapa for 1.50€. Our favourites yesterday were the bacon and eggs on half a small baguette. It was like having a mini English breakfast at noon. Today we will go for something different.
At 7:30pm one of the most beautiful parades of the Fiesta will take place. At that time, children and adults, many in traditional costume will parade along Calle Purisima to the outside of the church and offer flowers to San Joaquín .
Then at 11pm, the Town Band will present their concert to honour San Joaquín in the Plaza de la Constitución. You need to be in good time to get a decent seat and prepared to be amazed by their special programme of music.
Having thoroughly enjoyed the concert by the band, you can then move on to the Parque Huerto del Cura to watch the JUBARS DE BIGASTRO who will be performing at 1am.
Saturday promises to be another great day.
At 11am the finals of the Caliche competition will take place at the Plaza de la Concordia. Saturday will also be the last day to catch a free beer from the tractor or enjoy a tapa or two on Calle Antonio Pérez Gálvez.
You must be in place for about 9pm on Calle Purisima to see the comparsas parade in fancy dress and watch out especially for chief scout John who will dressed as an Egyptian in the pensioners group.
What ever you do though, don’t go home when the parade is finished because at 1am you can either take part in or watch the traditional Alborada when the people of Bigastro will parade from the Plaza Ramón y Cajal to welcome in the day of San Joaquín. Almost exhausted by all this you should then saunter across to the Parque Huerto del Cura to see the Grupo Bolero 7.
On Sunday, if you are not going to church for Mass, be prepared for the Mascletá at 1pm. You will see it being set up in the Plaza de la Constitución and if not, you should certainly hear it. These are not pretty fireworks, they are loud fireworks set off in a particular rhythm.
Later on, at about 8:30pm, go down to the Plaza de la Constitución to see the brotherhood of San Joaquín carry the statue of the patron saint around the streets accompanied by thousands of people carrying candles. For those who have witnessed the Easter parades where the pasos are carried on the shoulders, this will be a familiar sight. If your Spanish is up to it, you can then watch the comedian Paco Calonge, perform in the Parque Huerto del Cura.
The party won't finish then though because the disco in the park will continue until dawn and on Calle Mayor, that cage will be the scene of mayhem as the young people set off their fireworks in a supermarket trolley.
You can expect the streets of Bigastro to be very quiet on Monday morning as people sleep off this year’s fiesta. San Joaquín will be safe and sound in his place in the church until next year.
For those of you who sadly cannot be here, I will post as many pictures as I can on this blog. You will need to be patient though because it does take time to process all those images.
PS I hope Germán is having a restful holiday because I will have plenty of photos for him to sift through on his return!
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