The Councillor for Festivities, Pilar Ramirez; the elder member of the Brotherhood of the Nazarene, Antonio Lara; and the president of the Peña Caballista, Cristobal Palomo, presented the program of the Feria Virgen de la Cruz, which will take place in Benalmadena Pueblo from 11 to 15 August. 'From Festejos we have been waiting a long time to celebrate with normality the festivities in honor of our Virgen de la Cruz, patron saint of Benalmádena Pueblo, a fair that comes loaded with enthusiasm and desire to live it in the street,' Ramirez began.

Election of Reina, Caballeros and Damas Infantiles

'We will start the program on Friday, August 5 in the Jardines del Muro at 21.00 hours with the election of Reina, Caballeros and Damas Infantiles, animated by the local music group Rompeolas and a bar,managed by the Hermandad del Cautivo,' she reported.

Romería

'On Sunday August 7 we will have a long-awaited pilgrimage, which will flood the streets with joy and color with various carts that will accompany the Patron Saint, with departure at 10.30 am from the Jardines del Muro, and concentration of all participants in the Plaza España at 11.00 am, from where we will begin the journey to Finca Casablanca, 'said Ramirez.

'In the pilgrimage will also be held the election of the Reina, Caballeros and Damas Juveniles, which will be announced at the Finca Casablanca after concluding the tour,' added the Counciller, who also detailed that the music groups that will perform are New Day and Trenzao.

'In our fair will not miss the competitions, such as Speed Painting, which this year will celebrate its 25th edition, in addition to the competition Rincones de Benalmádena, in which neighbours will participate by decorating their homes, ' she continued.

Feria de Día

As for the Feria de Día, this 2022 each day will be enlivened by  Los Papitos, Escuela de Baile Municipal de Benalmádena Pueblo, Coro de la Peña Virgen de la Cruz and, for the first time, concerts by local bands such as Sótano Sur, Querencia and Callejón. The bar will be managed by Peña Caballista.

'We will once again be holding children's parties, with a cucaña*, foam party and the traditional ribbon race,' Ramírez recalled.

(*Cucaña: A long, slippery stick that has to be walked on if it is horizontal or climbed on if it is vertical in order to pick up an object tied to its end as a prize.)

Feria de Noche

The Feria de Noche will be held at Los Nadales fairgrounds from 11 to 15 August, and will feature by the local band Nuevo Día each day. 'This year we will have the stellar performances of

Mojinos Escozíos (11 August)

Maki y María Artes (12 August)

Nyno Vargas (13 August)

El Canijo de Jerez (14 August)

and Paco Candela (15 August),' announced the councillor for Festivities.

'And on 15 August will be the big day of our patron saint, the Virgen de la Cruz, with the traditional procession through the streets of the town: we will enjoy the festival in the best way possible after these two years of hiatus', concluded Ramírez.

Religious ceremonies

For his part, Antonio Lara described the liturgical events in honour of the Virgen de la Cruz. 'We begin on Saturday 30 July, a day on which the women will have the honour of carrying the Virgen en un Rosario de la Aurora, in which 24 women will carry the patron saint on their shoulders through the main streets of the town,' he began.

'Then we will have the Triduo in honour of the Virgen de la Cruz:

on Thursday 4 we will have the accompaniment of the Choir of the Hermandad del Rocío de Arroyo de la Miel,

on Friday 5 we will have the Santo Domingo de Guzmán Parish Choir,

and on Saturday 6 August we will have the School of Drummers of Benalmádena', detailed the Councillor, who recalled thaton  all the days will begin at 8 pm.

After the pilgrimage on Sunday 7 August, on 14 August the floral offering will take place in the Jardines del Muro at 8 pm, with the musical entertainment of the Peña de la Cruz Choir.

'On 15 August, the Patron Saint's big day, will begin at 10.00 am with the pealing of bells to announce the festivity, and at 12.00 the mass in honour of the Virgen de la Cruz will be celebrated with the musical background of the Coral Nuestra Señora de la Paz de Málaga', said Lara.

'After the mass, at 20.00 the procession will begin, which will pass through all the streets along its usual route, and we hope that the whole town will join in as usual, decorating façades and balconies,' he concluded.

Peña Caballista

The president of the Peña Caballista has informed that they will begin their activity on the 7th August at the Romería, with their traditional ride to the Finca Casablanca country park accompanying the Virgen de la Cruz. On that day they will also take part in the traditional ribbon race.

'On 13 August, the first day of the Feria de Día, we will have the traditional horse ride, a concentration of horse riders; and on 14 and 15 August we will manage the bar of the Feria de Día', Palomo explained.