‘Carxofers’ returned in procession to Plaza de la Constitución to serve a traditional ‘picaeta’ to attendees. Credit: Benidorm Ciudadano
Benidorm’s old town came alive on Sunday 16 November with the traditional Festa de la Carxofa, one of the town’s oldest celebrations. The festival takes place each year on the Saturday following the Festes Majors Patronals in the Plaza de la Constitución, the former site of the town’s market. The event began with the ‘penjà’ of a giant artichoke and ended at midnight with its ceremonial ‘cremà’, marking the start and finish of a day packed with activities, including a floral offering to the Virgen del Sufragio, food tastings, drawing and beer-drinking competitions, and a lively evening dance with music from a DJ.
A historic celebration in the heart of the old town
Mayor Toni Pérez, Councillor for Festivals Mariló Cebreros, and other members of the municipal council, including regional MP José Ramón González de Zárate, joined members of the Carxofa association and its 2025 president, Andrea Ripoll, for many of the day’s events.
The morning began with festival-goers gathering at 9am to hang the artichoke in the centre of Plaza de la Constitución, following Friday night’s traditional pastry tasting. Thirty minutes later, accompanied by local authorities and the queens of the 2025 Festes Majors Patronals, Paula Pascual Sánchez and Aitana Pérez Gutiérrez, along with their courts of honour, the participants led a parade through the old town to the church of Sant Jaume i Santa Anna. There, they offered flowers to the patron saint and attended the regular Saturday mass held in her honour.
A spectacular finale to mark a new festival cycle
After the service, the ‘carxofers’ returned in procession to Plaza de la Constitución to serve a traditional ‘picaeta’ to attendees and kick off the day’s festive activities, which continued throughout the afternoon and evening.
Finally, after 11.30pm, under the strains of the Valencian Community anthem, the Festa de la Carxofa president lit the ceremonial fuse and fireworks, reducing the giant artichoke to ashes and marking the start of another festival cycle.
Mayor Toni Pérez and Councillor Mariló Cebreros congratulated Andrea Ripoll and all those involved for “keeping alive, once again, the spirit and tradition of this much-loved and cherished festival for the people of Benidorm.”