The Vice President of the Provincial Council of Almería, Fernando Giménez, was in charge of giving the opening speech for the festivities in honour of the Virgen del Carmen de La Alfoquía, in Zurgena. Thus, at the Zurgena Train Station, Giménez highlighted the significance of being the town crier for him: “For me it is a great honour to have been appointed as the town crier for your festivities in honour of the Virgen del Carmen. It makes me immensely happy because, in addition, an urban centre with the history and weight of La Alfoquía highlights the importance of the municipalities of the province.”
He also thanked the presence of mayors and deputies such as José Antonio García, Carlos Sánchez and Ana Lourdes Ramírez, as well as the mayor of Zurgena, Domingo Trabalón, for «giving me this opportunity, and above all, for the excellent work he is doing as mayor.» He also highlighted the fact that in just one year, major projects have been launched, with the support of the Provincial Council, such as the works on Calle Francia, the historic request for the Puente de los Llanos del Peral, which has already been approved in the Plenary Session, the enhancement of the Molino Harinero or the remodelling works on the Church of La Alfoquía.
As Fernando Giménez has pointed out, “the La Alfoquía festivities are a valuable moment to vindicate the work of all those who have preceded us, our elders, because they have built with their effort the land that we enjoy today. They also become the perfect occasion to strengthen the ties that unite us as a community, as a town and province, and to highlight our customs, traditions and roots. To feel deeply proud of who we are, of our way of understanding life, of the land that we love and of being from Almería.”
For these festivities, the City Council has prepared an extensive and complete programme of activities that began on 6 July with the Pilgrimage to Llanos del Peral and will continue until Tuesday 16 with the long-awaited procession, “festivities that, due to their length in the calendar, have nothing to envy of those of any large city”, as the vice-president.
Finally, as herald, Fernando Giménez has asked, encouraged and invited everyone to “get involved in the festivities, in every activity, to enjoy the whole programme, the street parties, the churros, the live music, the attractions, the foam party, the painting exhibition, sports, among other activities…”
In addition, after the proclamation, it was time for the gala to elect the queen of the 2024 festivities, which put the finishing touch to this emotional night with which the festivities in honor of the Virgen del Carmen begin.