The General Assembly of the Society of Festers of the Most Holy Christ of the Agony has approved the modification of the text of the Statutes in order to establish a transitional regime that recognizes the merit of the festeres who, for chronological reasons, cannot yet meet the general requirements for obtaining the Silver Badge.
This update responds to the need to correct the comparative grievance generated by the literal application of article 64.b) of the Regulation, especially taking into account that the incorporation of women as full participants in the Moors and Christians Festivals of Ontinyent did not occur until 1989.
In this way, and on a transitional basis until 2039, festival participants who, upon reaching the age of 65, prove uninterrupted participation for a minimum period equivalent to the years elapsed since 1989 will be entitled to the automatic award of the Silver Badge, provided that they do not already possess it. This minimum will increase annually until it is equivalent to the required 50 years of participation:
- 2026: 36 years of participation
- 2027: 37 years
- …until you reach 50 years of age in 2039

From this date, the transit provision will cease to have effect and article 64.b) will apply on equal terms for partygoers and partygoers.
With this reform, the Society of Festers reaffirms its commitment to justice, equality and the balanced recognition of a festival trajectory that has shaped the identity and tradition of the Moors and Christians Festivals of Ontinyent for decades.

The Ontinyent City Council has granted a subsidy of €20,000 for the activity “Commemorative Parade Music – 2025 International Tourist Interest Festivities.”

📣 Information Sessions on the 2025 Parade.

The festival evolves, and the times demand reflection, rigor, and commitment. Therefore, the Festival Society presents a proposal aimed at ensuring a more sustainable, balanced, and vibrant parade for everyone.

👉 Come and learn in detail about the proposal that will be presented to the Assembly.

🗓️ November 20th and 27th
📍ASSEMBLY HALL OF THE FESTIVAL SOCIETY
⏰ 8:00 PM

Due to the weather forecast, our Fester Concert will change venue.
We'll see you on Wednesday, August 20th, at the Echegaray Theater, at 7:30 p.m., until capacity is reached.
We look forward to seeing you with the same energy and enthusiasm to keep the party going strong!

Ontinyent will be filled with music, gunpowder and color for another year with the return of the traditional old parades, which will once again roam the streets of the city on the weekend of July 26. On this occasion, the comparsas of Cruzados, Contrabandistas, Chanos, Benimerins and Abencerrajes will parade along Sant Antoni Street until they reach the Plaza Mayor, where the castle that is the emblem of our festivities and which this year turns 40 will shine. In addition, on Saturday August 16 at 00:00, a very special parade will take place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Mudejar comparsa. Starting from the confluence of Dos de Maig and Martínez Valls streets to Plaça de la Concepció, this route will kick off a series of festivities that this year are receiving recognition as a Festival of International Tourist Interest. The old parades once again turn Ontinyent into a unique setting where tradition and celebration go hand in hand, inviting residents and visitors to enjoy a festive atmosphere that grows in participation and projection every year.

The governing board of the Festers Society has reported that this year the 2,900 euros collected in penalties and fines arising from breaches of holiday regulations have been allocated to the Valencian Association of ELA (ADELA CV)This decision was made through an automatic commission created within the Festers' Society itself, composed of the troupes that have held office for the past two years. On this occasion, they were Llauradors, Arquers, Mudéjares and Omeyas.

The sanctions correspond to the infractions that occurred during the 2024 Festivities, including numerous warnings to the comparsas for various reasons. With this initiative, the Festers Society continues the solidarity line begun in 2019, allocating the proceeds from the sanctioning processes to charitable entities.

In previous years, the funds had been allocated to organizations such as ADIEM, AMO, Inclou-TEA, Cáritas Ontinyent and AFAO, thus consolidating the commitment of the festival institution to the social and solidarity fabric of the city and the Valencian Community.

The Festeros Society of the Santísimo Cristo de la Agonía organizes, once again this year, our beloved Children's Squad Leaders School 🥳, aimed at all boys and girls aged 7 to 13 who want to learn and experience the magic of our festivals from the inside!

📚 The school will include:
✅ Learning the basics of squad leader.
✅ Christian march, Moorish march and 'pasodoble'.
✅ Squad mastery and guidance.
✅ Use of the saber, club, spear, knife and more!

🗓 It will take place on Saturdays, July 5, 12, and 19, with accreditation for all participants 🎖

💥 Don't miss this unique opportunity! We look forward to seeing you! 🙌

Last Saturday, June 21st, in a moving ceremony held in Ontinyent, Rafa Ferrero Terol received the 2025 Cervino Award, an award recognizing his long and valuable career in service to the Moors and Christians Festival. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Festival Society, the City Council, festival officials, friends, and family.

“This award not only recognizes what you've done, but who you are and what you represent,” emphasized Ricardo Calabuig, president of the Festival Society, during his speech. “It's a well-deserved recognition for a lifetime of festival-going, generously dedicated to serving our festival.”

Rafa Ferrero has been a key figure in the recent history of Ontinyent's festival. He has served as president of the Festival Society, its flagship event, director of the Festival Museum, author of several books and articles, promoter, town crier, and lecturer, as well as a regular contributor to the media and all kinds of initiatives related to the festival world. His leadership was instrumental in the celebration of the 150th anniversary of our festival, the year in which it was awarded the status of Festival of National Tourist Interest.

This year, with Ontinyent recognized as a Festival of International Tourist Interest, this tribute to Ferrero takes on special significance.

With this award, the city recognizes not only their past contributions, but also the living legacy that continues to inspire new generations of festival-goers.

The Governing Board of the Society of Festivals of the Most Holy Christ of Agony has agreed to award the 2025 Cervino Prize to Rafa Ferrero Terol for his long and committed career in the Moors and Christians festivals of Ontinyent, both in the cultural and organizational and informative fields.

The Cervino Award annually recognizes individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to the promotion and preservation of the festival. It bears the name of Joaquín José Cervino, author of the embassy verses recited since 1860 and declared an Asset of Intangible Cultural Interest by the Valencian Council.

Rafa Ferrero, associated with the Benimerins comparsa since childhood and currently an active member of the Mudéjares, has developed an exemplary career. Author of pioneering books, the festival's youngest announcer, director of the Museu Fester, co-director of the official program-magazine, and president of the Societat de Festers (2007–2011), he promoted numerous initiatives such as the 150th anniversary and the festival's recognition as a Festival of National Tourist Interest.

He has also excelled in the field of research and dissemination of Valencian textile heritage, as managing director of the Fundació Museu del Tèxtil de la Comunitat Valenciana, in addition to being a town crier and speaker at numerous cultural festivals and forums.

The award ceremony will take place at the Casino de la Societat de Festers on June 21, 2025.

In keeping with the collaboration initiated last February, during the visit of the Regional Minister of Innovation, Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, Marian Cano, the president of the Festival Society, Ricardo Calabuig, met yesterday with the regional secretary of tourism, José Manuel Camarero, to discuss the status of preparations for the upcoming Moors and Christians Festival in Ontinyent.

The session, marked by a constructive atmosphere and full institutional harmony, allowed for the presentation of the main management principles that, year after year, ensure the development of celebrations declared Festivals of International Tourist Interest. Without going into technical details, both parties agreed on the importance of coordinating efforts to preserve the cultural, heritage, and economic value of these festivals.

"The international declaration of our festivals helps position tourist destinations that preserve their culture, traditions, and heritage," emphasized the regional secretary, José Manuel Camarero.

For his part, President Ricardo Calabuig emphasized that "at the Festival Society, we are working closely with the authorities to provide them with new support to strengthen our work and that of the groups involved."

The meeting concluded with a commitment to maintain a technical agenda for upcoming contacts that will allow for further discussion, in due course, on logistical and financing issues. The Festival Society thanks the Regional Secretary of Tourism for his receptiveness and reiterates its willingness to continue raising funds for the benefit of the festivals and Ontinyent.

The city of Ontinyent celebrated the recent official declaration of its Moors and Christians Festival as a Festival of International Tourist Interest. Last Saturday, April 5, more than 1,000 people participated in a historic parade that wound through Daniel Gil Avenue and the historic city center.

“This is a historic moment that fills us with pride. International recognition confirms that what we have experienced and loved for generations is of great value. It is a tribute to all the people of Ontinyent.” — Ricardo Calabuig, president of the Ontinyent Festival Society

The event, which drew a large audience, was structured into thematic sections that depicted the evolution of the festival from its origins to the present day. A tribute was paid to maestro José María Ferrero Pastor, composer of the Moorish march "Chimo," performed jointly by all the participating bands.

Before the parade, nine former presidents of the Festival Society participated in a roundtable discussion where they analyzed the future of the festival and debated the importance of this international recognition. The need to adapt the event program and improve logistical organization was emphasized.

Festival expert Rafa Gandia opened the weekend of events with a lecture in the hall of the Festival Society, in which he highlighted the tourist attraction that the festivals represented even before official recognition, emphasizing their potential for international projection and their economic and cultural impact.

Finally, on Sunday the 6th, the Contraband, the Smugglers' Dance, the Moor and Christian Embassy, and the Llauradors' Dance were performed.

From April 4 to 6, 2025, Ontinyent will experience a very special weekend to commemorate the recent declaration of its Moors and Christians Festival as a Festival of International Tourist Interest. The events will begin on Friday with the lecture "Foreigners, Spectacle, Tradition, and Dissemination: The Phenomenon of Tourist Interest Before It Was of Tourist Interest," by Rafa Gandía Borredá. On Saturday morning, a roundtable discussion will be held with former presidents of the Festival Society, and in the afternoon, an Extraordinary Parade will fill the streets with music, color, and excitement.

On Sunday, the celebration will culminate at the North Wall with a festive reenactment featuring the Smugglers' Ball, the Moorish and Christian Embassies, and the Llauradors' Dance. A weekend to celebrate who we are, what we do, and how we share it with the world.

Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia, will sponsor the events commemorating the declaration of the Moors and Christians Festival of Ontinyent as a place of International Tourist Interest, which will take place on April 5 and 6 in the city. This will be the result of the Royal Household issuing a statement officially accepting the formal proposal made in this regard by the Festival Society, through its president, Ricardo Calabuig.

The Mayor of Ontinyent, Jorge Rodríguez, emphasized that the fact that the King and Queen have agreed to sponsor this commemoration "is a source of pride for the entire city and represents support at the highest level to continue spreading this recognition that gives international exposure to our festivals." The Councilor for Fairs, Festivals, and Traditions, Àngels Muñoz, highlighted the City Council's involvement in organizing an event on which "we have been working closely with the Festival Society for weeks, with the aim of making this celebration a memorable experience for the citizens and for those who visit us."

The president of the Festival Society of the Most Holy Christ of Agony, Ricardo Calabuig, emphasized that "this historic milestone for our festival motivates us to continue working to make it even greater. Having the patronage of the Kings gives us a presence that reinforces the prestige of our festivals." The commemorative events will include a large themed parade, concerts, exhibitions, and historical reenactments. Among the highlights will be a roundtable discussion with former presidents of the Festival Society, a presentation on the influence of the festival on society, and a special parade that will be the highlight of the celebration, in which the City Council and the Festival Society have invited the public to actively participate.

He Ontinyent City Council and the Society of Festeros They have scheduled a set of activities that will take place over the weekend from April 4 to 6 to commemorate the historic declaration of the Moors and Christians Festival as Festivals of International Tourist Interest.

In a media appearance in front of the large mural commemorating this declaration in Coronation Square, the city's mayor, Jorge Rodríguez, highlighted the twofold objective of this celebration: "On the one hand, to invite all citizens to participate in this historic event, and on the other, to open the doors to visitors so they can experience a concentrated experience, a showcase, of what our Semana Grande is all about." Rodríguez recalled the collective effort that went into achieving this recognition and wanted to praise the work of the Festival Society in summarizing the richness of the festivities in one weekend: "We want visitors to mark the month of August in their diaries to return to Ontinyent and fully enjoy the festivities." He also emphasized that the scheduled activities are designed so that all citizens can feel part of this historic milestone.

For its part, Ricardo Calabuig, president of the Festival Society, detailed the program of events, which will include an official opening on Friday, April 4 with a presentation by the Moorish-Navy festival-goer Rafa Gandía BorredaThis lecture will address the influence of the festival and its progress toward its declaration of International Tourist Interest. Afterward, a glass of wine will be offered to attendees at the Festival Society's Casino.

A meeting will be held on Saturday morning round table with former presidents of the Society, chaired by the vice president, where the challenges and evolution of the festival will be discussed. In the afternoon, a grand special parade, divided into several thematic blocksThe first section, "We Are History," will pay tribute to all the lost comparsas and historical costumes that have fallen into disuse. This event will then be reenacted during the "Entrance of the Bands," with a performance dedicated to Maestro Ferrero, composer of the Moorish march "Chimo," performed by the Ontinyent Artistic Musical Union.

The parade will then recreate a section dedicated to the Christian Entry and another to the Moorish Entry, as well as segments dedicated to the Embassies, the Descent of Christ, Smuggling, and the Publication, which will symbolize the announcement of the declaration of International Tourist Interest. Finally, all participating bands will perform the Moorish march "Chimo." The day will conclude with a party organized by the City Council, which will include live music by the local group Germans Brothers and a disco.

On Sunday, April 6, the following events will take place: carry out historical representations from one of the towers of the recently restored northern wall, including the Smuggling, Embassies and the "Llauradors" Dance.

The Councilor for Festivals, Angels Muñoz, highlighted the City Council's involvement in organizing this event. "For weeks, we've been working closely with the Festival Society to make it a city-wide celebration," he explained. Muñoz emphasized that the main objective is to extend the commemoration to all citizens and visitors. "We want them to feel part of this commemoration, because this declaration is not only a recognition for the festivities, but for all of Ontinyent," he stated.

In addition to the main activities, throughout the weekend you can enjoy various exhibitions and cultural activities related to the history and evolution of the Moors and Christians Festivals. Hundreds of musicians from both local and other municipal bands will also participate.

Mig Any Concert Program of the Societat Unió Artística Musical de Ontinyent.