ARCHIVED - November 18-December 11 San Javier fiestas 2022
The traditional patron saint festivities in San Javier will have all their pre-pandemic activities back this year
The Patron Saint fiestas in San Javier are due to be held from Friday November 18 to Sunday December 11, on weekends and public holidays, promising three weeks of activity-packed fun in the Mar Menor town.
San Javier’s Department of Festivities chose the iconic Dornier that adorns the courtyard of the Museum of San Javier to present the programme of the San Javier fiestas as a symbol for the celebration to “take wing once again”, returning to pre-pandemic normality.
Long-established customs will be reinstated for the 2022 fiestas, such as the election of queens and ladies of the fiestas and the parade of floats, among many others.
Town Mayor, José Miguel Luengo, along with the Councillor for Festivities, Isidoro Miñano and the president of the festival committee, Ricardo Luna, presented “a programme agreed and worked on with the fiesta clubs of San Javier so that we can all enjoy these festive days.”
The presentation, which included representatives of the festival committee and the creator of this year’s poster, Loli Pérez, was also attended by the parish priest of San Javier, Juan Prieto, who recalled the coincidence with the 400th anniversary of the canonisation of the town’s patron saint, St. Francis Xavier, and the commemorative events being held as the I Javierada of the Mar Menor.
This year’s chosen town crier is Manuel Martínez, a resident of San Javier who was Councillor for Festivities for 12 years, between 1995 and 2007, whose role it will be to harangue people to enjoy the fiestas from the balcony of the Town Hall, where the festive proclamation returns on the evening of Friday November 18, to kick off a weekend in which the queens of the fiestas will be chosen and crowned.
Activities at the San Javier fiestas 2022
On the same day, the “Día Huertano” will be held in the morning in the Plaza de España, with the group Coros y Danzas Mar Menor performing their songs and dances.
The following weekend, on Friday November 25, the marquee and the barracas will be opened in the fairgrounds, providing food and refreshments, and the town will also celebrate the act of recognition of the Pirate, Peasant and Sailor of the Year, which is awarded to outstanding personalities in the local area.
Music is also an important part of the programme, recalled the Councillor of Festivities, Isidoro Miñano, “with concerts for all tastes”, ranging from the traditional concert of the Music Unit of the AGA, the day of the Patron, to Diego Martin, the tribute to ABBA and the Canijo de Jérez (formerly of Los Delinqüentes), among others. There will also be music festivals such as the acclaimed INTEMPO, which will take place on Saturday November 26.
The festival programme also includes special events for the elderly, children’s day, youth day, Peñas day, and this year also for children and young people with disabilities, which will include a noiseless day at the funfair to cater for people with autism.
In keeping with San Javier’s proud aeronautical heritage, there will be a day of aeromodelling exhibitions, ultralight flying and tethered balloons.
Special fiesta foods will consist of the traditional tasting of the giant Cierva cake and on this occasion also the typical ‘caldero’ (stew), with the collaboration of the Cofradría de Pescadores. The Ruta de la Tapa, which will be active from November 18 to December 5, offers exquisite tapas in a route that every year continues to gain followers in the participating bars and restaurants of San Javier.
The president of the festival committee, Ricardo Luna, also announced one of the novelties of this year’s Winter DJ Fest, scheduled for December 5, a charity concert with tickets priced at 5 euros with proceeds going to the Único association, which cares for abandoned cats and dogs, and to AFA Levante, dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease.
So, be sure to get down to the San Javier fiestas events on the weekends and public bank holidays between November 18 and December 11, 2022 for some good, local fun!
Image: Ayuntamiento de San Javier
