The Candidate Parade at Alicante's Hogueras Includes a 'System' to Protect the Grass at Rico Pérez

Rico Pérez Stadium is set to change its function this weekend. The blanquiazul stadium is preparing to host the parade of candidates for the "bellea del foc" of Alicante's Hogueras. This infrastructure will take centre stage for two days before the Hércules vs Alcorcón match scheduled for this Sunday.

In response to potential concerns from members and technicians, the Federació de les Fogueres de Sant Joan has issued a message of reassurance: the already installed parade features a 'system' to protect the field's grass. Plates have been installed under the stage legs, and it will be dismantled 'expressly' to ready the field before the match.

The goal, according to the managing body of Alicante's Hogueras, is to ensure everything is 'in perfect condition' to welcome the blanquiazul club's fans this Sunday.

This also aims to repeat the location for the next foguerer exercise in 2026. The president of the Federació, David Olivares, reiterated the dream of this initiative, which is to merge Hércules with the Hogueras through this event, and his intentions for it to endure in the future.

Regarding this change of location, he explained that 'it has been well received by the world of les Fogueres' and the repetition of this space will be voted on in assembly before requesting Rico Pérez again from the sports club.

In this vein, Olivares also revealed that the Federació is exploring possibilities with Hércules to 'have more time for the assembly and disassembly of the parade'. The negotiation, he confesses, will also involve the League, 'as it sets the team's matches'.

Moreover, if the candidate gala is repeated at Rico Pérez, 'solutions will be sought to expand the capacity' - which in this edition is expected to reach 6,200 attendees, the president of the Federació also announced, as has happened for this weekend's parade, which has seen an increase in invitations for the commissions, going from 22 free entries per foguera to a total of 50.

The countdown for the candidate gala, on this parade, is underway. It will be this Friday when the girls aspiring to succeed Martina Lloret Rocamora as the "bellea del foc infantil" will parade on the 150-metre-long infrastructure. The turn for the adult candidates will be on Saturday, with the parade closing by Alba Muñoz.

In total, 150 women with fiery eyes will make their debut just a week before the election of Alicante's "bellea del foc", an exciting moment they will also experience with significant novelties.

Among them, the firing of a fireworks display as a climax to both galas. The president of the Federació, David Olivares, detailed that Pirotecnia Turis will be responsible for the pyrotechnic show, turning the background of José Rico Pérez Stadium - the Preferente stand - into a curtain of colour.

Olivares also emphasised that bringing back gunpowder to this event is 'a source of pride', especially due to the contrast between the darkness of the Alicante night and the hues offered by Pirotecnia Turis, specialists in manufacturing coloured gunpowder.