he Moors and Christians will be parading in Elda from the 13th to the 17th June 2024. Almost 6,000 local residents take part in these parades. The fiesta serves to commemorate the invasion by the Moors and their 8 centuries of occupation before their expulsion by the Christians in 1492. The centuries of occupation were not peaceful, there were continuous wars and attacks. The fiestas recreates these battles, military marches and parades bringing the past alive.
The programme for this years Moors and Christians Fiesta is:
Thursday 13th June
- 20:00 Entrance of the Music Bands. Route: Plaza del Zapatero, Dahellos, Ortega y Gasset, Nueva, Colón and Plaza Constitución.
- 00:00 Retreat Parade Route: Juan Carlos I, Plaza Sagasta, Jardines, Dahellos, José Mª Pemán, Antonino Vera and Padre Manjón
Friday 14th June
- 10:30 Parade to collect the statue of San Anton, accompanied by the firing of the blunderbus guns. Route: Nueva Ortega y Gasset, San Francisco, Plaza Sagrado Corazón, Andrés Amado, Independencia arriving at the Ermita de San Anton.
- 11:30 Transferral of the statue of San Anton. Route: Ermita, Independencia, Andres Amado, Espoz y Mina, Plaza Constitución, Colón, Nueva, Ortega y Gasset, San Francisco finishing at the Iglesia de Santa Ana.
- 19:00 Children’s Parade. Route: Juan Carlos I, Plaza Sagasta, Jardines, Dahellos, José Mª Pemán, Antonino Vera and Padre Manjón
Saturday 15th June
- 10:00 Alardo de Arcabucería, Firing of the Muskets. Route: Antonino Vera, Padre Manjón, Avenida de Chapí, Antonio Maura, Nueva and Colón finishing in the Plaza Constitución.
- 11:30 Estafeta y Embajada Moors, Moorish Negotiation & Embassy. Route: starting from the castle in the Plaza de la Consitución, then along Calle Colón until the crossing of Calle Ortega and Gasset.
- 18:00 Entrance of the Christians. Route: Juan Carlos I, Plaza Sagasta, Jardines, Dahellos, José Mª Pemán, Antonino Vera and Padre Manjón.
Sunday 16th June
- 08:00 Diana Parade (joyful early morning procession). Route: Plaza Constitución, Colón, Nueva, Antonio Maura, Avenida de Chapí, Padre Manjón, Antonino Vera, José María Pemán, Dahellos, Jardines, Plaza Sagasta and Juan Carlos I.
- 11:30 Flower Offering Parade. Route: Juan Carlos I, Plaza Sagasta, Jardines, Ortega y Gasset, Nueva, Colón finishing at the Iglesia de Santa Ana. I
- 12:30 Mass at the Templo Santa Ana, followed by Gran Mascleta (day time rockets) and a parade along Calle San Francisco, Ortega and Gasset.
- 18:00 Entrance of the Moors. Route: Juan Carlos I, Plaza Sagasta, Jardines, Dahellos, José Mª Pemán, Antonino Vera and Padre Manjón.
Monday 17th June
- 10:00 Alardo de Arcabucería, Firing of the Muskets. Route: Antonino Vera, Padre Manjón, Avenida de Chapí, Antonio Maura, Nueva and Colón finishing in the Plaza Constitución.
- 11:30 Estafeta y Embajada Cristiana, Christian Negotiations & Embassy. Route: starting from the castle in the Plaza de la Consitución, then along Calle Colón until the crossing of Calle Ortega and Gasset.
- 18:30 Solemn Procession in honour of San Anton. Route: Iglesia de Santa Ana, San Francisco, Pedrito Rico, Antonino Vera, José Mª Pemán, Dahellos, Ortega y Gasset, Nueva, Colón to the Plaza de la Constitución. Once the statue arrives at the doors of the Ermita, there will be a fireworks display.