Alcoi prepares for its grand Moors and Christians festivities under the threat of rain

Alcoy residents are anxiously watching the skies as the upcoming days approach. This Saturday, May 3rd, marks 'La Entrà', the main day of the Moors and Christians festivities, and the weather forecast is far from promising.

The State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) predicts a 90% to 95% chance of rain accompanied by storms in Alcoi this Saturday. This is unwelcome news for the approximately 13,000 participants expected at the event, as well as the tens of thousands of spectators who will fill the streets of Alcoi to witness the spectacle.

Everyone is hoping that the rain does not spoil a parade that traditionally begins at 10:30 AM from the Partidor with the procession of the Christian troops, who march down Sant Nicolau Street towards Espanya Square (the Captain arrives at the square around 11:15 AM to receive the keys to the Villa), continuing along Sant Llorenç Street, and ending at the end of País Valencia Avenue.

Following them, the Moorish troops take their turn, starting at 5:00 PM from the same location. If there are no delays during the route, the Moorish Captain arrives at the square around 5:45 PM, following the same itinerary as the Christian Entrada.

One of the main concerns for those coming from outside the city to see the event is transportation. In this regard, the city council has prepared a special mobility plan to reduce car travel within the city. The operation includes a shuttle bus service available to the general public and with specific schedules for the festival participants and musicians.

On Saturday, May 3rd, the day of the Entradas, this service will operate from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM for the Christian Entrada and from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM for the Moorish Entrada. The route will run between the intersection of El Camí with Sant Mateu and that of Músic Pérez Laporta with Músic Carbonell. For safety reasons, the access restriction from Placeta Les Eres towards Sant Vicent Ferrer is maintained, a measure that has proven effective in previous editions.

To avoid congestion in the city centre, free parking areas have been set up both at the southern and northern entrances of the city. In the south, parking will be available on Filà Verds, Filà Navarros, and Vicente Balaguer streets. In the north, the Cotes Baixes industrial estate, the Cotes Altes industrial estate, and Tirant lo Blanc street will be available.

These areas will be connected to the fairground by shuttle buses, operating every 15 minutes at the northern entrance and every 30 minutes at the southern entrance. The first buses will depart at 7:50 AM and 8:00 AM respectively, with the last service offered at 11:00 PM from the fairground (north) and at 11:30 PM (south). The ticket price will be the same as the regular fare, €0.50, free for pensioners and children under four years old.

Additionally, the regional bus service connecting Alcoi with Cocentaina and Muro will extend its schedules. On the night from Friday, May 2nd to Saturday, May 3rd, there will be departures every hour between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM from Alcoy and also from Muro. This same arrangement will be repeated on the night from Saturday, May 3rd to Sunday, May 4th. During Saturday, special departures will be added at 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM, and 10:00 PM, along with a special departure at 10:00 PM heading to Alicante, passing through Ibi, Onil, and Castalla.

Food trucks and street food stalls will also have a place in the festivities. The gastronomic fair known as Tapa i Festa will be located in the Glorieta. This year, there will be a total of 20 food trucks offering a variety of cuisines: Asian, Mexican, American, Japanese, and, of course, Mediterranean. It will open on April 30th at 6:00 PM and will be open daily from 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM until May 5th inclusive.

Meanwhile, on Els Alçamora Street, there will be 90 stalls selling products and crafts, and there will also be a specific food area in the Nofre Jordà alley (opposite Cervantes Park) with food trucks offering Argentine, Mexican, burgers, sandwiches, or potatoes, with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Lastly, another 5 food stalls will be set up in Emili Sala Square (Post Office).