CalpeNoticias EN

Calpe Town Council, through its Department of Social Welfare, has promoted various initiatives at the La Casa Roja family respite centre, which cares for people with cognitive degeneration problems. The improvements include planting trees to provide natural shade for the grounds and plans to widen the perimeter pavement to facilitate mobility for users.

In addition, there are plans to provide the centre with a new minibus, adapted for the transport of users.

The ‘La Casa Roja’ Family Respite Unit runs a Specific Programme for people with Alzheimer's and other similar conditions, managed by the recently renewed multidisciplinary team at Tacte Social. The team consists of a psychologist and centre coordinator, together with two assistants whose job is to adapt the activities to the individual needs of each user.

The therapies include innovative ideas such as cooking workshops, in which users participate in preparing recipes. These activities stimulate the senses, such as taste and smell, while improving coordination and procedural memory, which are key aspects in slowing the progression of cognitive degeneration.

This centre, which was inaugurated in May 2023 in the Casa Roja, has a maximum capacity of 15 users, although there are currently up to 18 registered users, as not all of them attend every day. An average of 12 people are attended to each day. It is a free service for citizens as it is fully funded by Calpe Town Council at an annual cost of £49,500. The council also offers a free municipal transport service to these facilities, located in the Cocó district, which are also open to users in summer.

The Councillor for Social Welfare, Itziar Doval, emphasised that: ‘We are committed to the well-being of our citizens, and these improvements at La Casa Roja are a clear example of this’. ‘Cognitive stimulation activities are essential for these people and also represent an important relief for their families.´

It should be noted that the centre also provides support services for the families of sick people and prepares them for the changes they will have to face as a result of the progressive deterioration of these diseases. The centre also provides respite for these families, who will have more time to rest.

The councillor added that this programme has also made use of the Casa Roja, a municipal building constructed some 15 years ago that was only used occasionally as accommodation for volunteers during the excavation campaigns at the medieval Pobla d'Ifac site.

Friday, 22:
•    From 5pm to 8.30pm – Blood donation day. Calpe Red Cross headquarters (C/ María Jorro, 1. Local 10).
•    From 6pm to 1am – Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (Fossa beach).
•    8.30pm – Summer concert by the Colla de Xirimiters del Carellot. Plaza de la Villa.
•    Balconadas in the historic centre of Calpe. Purísima, San José, Justícia and Dos de Mayo streets and Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España squares.
•    Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museum of Collecting.
•    Exhibition ‘Llúria. Lords and Ladies of the Land’. Until 31 August. ‘Jaume Pastor i Fluixà’ Cultural Centre.
•    Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ by Paqui Colomina. Until 30 August. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
Saturday, 23rd:
•    From 6pm to 1am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (Fossa beach).
•    8pm - Travelling concert by CLAUdeFA CALPE. Starting from Plaza Colón on the seafront promenade of Arenal-Bol beach.
•    Balconies in the historic centre of Calpe. Purísima, San José, Justícia and Dos de Mayo streets and Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España squares.
•    Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museum of Collecting.
•    Exhibition ‘Llúria. Señores y Señoras de la Tierra’ (Llúria. Lords and Ladies of the Land). Until 31 August. Casa de Cultura ‘Jaume Pastor i Fluixà’.
•    Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ by Paqui Colomina. Until 30 August. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
Sunday, 24th:
•    From 6 pm to 1 am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (Fossa beach).
•    Balconies in the historic centre of Calpe. Calles Purísima, San José, Justícia, Dos de Mayo and the squares Mosquit, Miguel Roselló and Plaza de España.
•    Exhibition ‘Banys de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museum of Collecting.
•    Exhibition ‘Llúria. Lords and Ladies of the Land’. Until 31 August. ‘Jaume Pastor i Fluixà’ Cultural Centre.
•    Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ by Paqui Colomina. Until 30 August. Exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell.
 

Calpe Town Council has published on the State procurement platform the tender for the drafting of the Calpe Housing Plan, with a budget of €48,400 and a completion period of seven months.

According to the documentation, the purpose of the contract is to draft a Municipal Housing Plan that will study the housing situation in the municipality of Calpe, with special attention to the analysis of the population and residential demand, the municipality's housing stock, the housing supply and market, and the impact of territorial and urban planning on the residential sector. In addition, the plan must consider the study of municipal resources and instruments - for example, subsidies, acquisition of housing by the local administration, etc. - at the service of housing policies. The Plan will also propose a suitably scheduled action programme.

The ultimate goal is to address one of the most pressing problems in the municipality: the lack of housing. To this end, an external specialist firm has been hired to draft the Municipal Housing Plan, a document that will study the housing situation in the town and propose a programme of actions to address the problems identified in the assessment.

The aim of this initiative is to facilitate access to decent housing for citizens. The lack of housing in Calpe has become a structural problem in the municipality, aggravated by the increase in tourist accommodation and prices, compounded by the fact that the municipality has a limited and highly urbanised territory. The situation has led to sectors such as tourism being unable to find workers due to a lack of affordable housing.

This strategic plan will be a roadmap with short-, medium- and long-term measures and is intended to have a cross-cutting approach, i.e. urban, social and economic, and to be adapted to the characteristics of the municipality.

In this regard, the study of the housing situation provided for in the plan should include an analysis of the population and the housing needs of families residing in Calpe, especially those used as primary residences, with a specific section on individuals and groups at risk of social and residential exclusion, as well as on the situation regarding evictions. Likewise, an analysis of the housing stock in the municipality will be carried out, reflecting its state of repair, tenure (rental, ownership, transfer of use, etc.), as well as empty or disused dwellings and second homes. Inadequate housing and substandard housing will also be included, and an analysis of the housing market and its supply (volume, regimes, prices, type and location, among other parameters) will be carried out. Special consideration will be given to the situation of social housing.

The proposals for action will include a report justifying and describing the set of actions planned and their coordination with other social, economic and environmental strategies. The Plan must include an economic and financial assessment with a description of the material resources available to the municipality to implement the Action Programme and must define the mechanisms for the implementation, development, monitoring and evaluation of the Plan.

With all this, strategies will be established to carry out an action programme aimed at achieving access to decent and adequate housing for all citizens. The Councillor for Housing, Mireia Ripoll, has stated that "the Calpe Town Council is pleased to announce that the service for drafting the Strategic Housing Plan for our town is now available on the contracting platform. This plan stems from an urgent need to find effective mechanisms to improve access to permanent housing in Calpe. We know that it is a major challenge for many families to find a home to live in all year round, which is why we are committed to a cross-cutting approach that not only seeks urban planning solutions, but also includes social measures and the promotion of long-term rentals so that there are more homes available to buy or rent all year round".
 

Last Saturday, the Auditorium of the Casa de Cultura in Calpe became a musical epicentre for film and soundtrack lovers, thanks to the concert ‘Made in Spain 3’, the highlight of the seventh edition of the prestigious SONAFILM festival.

 The evening, featuring the Universal Symphony Orchestra conducted by maestro José Martínez Colomina, offered an unforgettable experience to an audience that completely filled the auditorium.

The programme included some of the most representative scores of contemporary Spanish cinema, performed with great sensitivity and artistic excellence.

The most emotional moment of the evening was the presence in the hall of the composers themselves: Arturo Cardelús, Iván Palomares, Isabel Royán, Josué Vergara and Óscar Araujo. In total, seven pieces were premiered worldwide during the concert.

The performance also featured the participation of multi-instrumentalist Fernando Mosquera, a specialist in ethnic instruments, who brought a unique sound dimension to the show. Another highlight was the attendance of French composer Ludovic Bource, winner of the 2012 Oscar for the soundtrack of The Artist, who received a warm tribute from the audience.

The Councillor for Culture of the Calpe Town Council, Guillermo Sendra, closed the event by highlighting ‘the Town Council's commitment to promoting audiovisual music made in Spain’ and emphasised that Made in Spain ‘has established itself as the most important event of its kind at the national level’. With a ‘sold out’ sign, the concert ended with a long - standing ovation from the audience, who celebrated the artistic quality and talent of the guest composers.

The mayor of Calpe, Ana Sala, has sent a directive to the Human Resources department to draft technical and administrative specifications for hiring a service to monitor and track sick leave recorded at the Calpe City Council. The document also establishes that the service will be for two years, with the possibility of extension.

 The aim of this measure is to reduce absenteeism in the local administration as much as possible. The document states that the Human Resources department has found that the level of absenteeism in the Calpe Town Council is 10%, which is above the average for the sector. For this reason, the mayor's office has considered it necessary to improve the management of the sick leave monitoring process. The council has a workforce of around 500 employees. The mayor, Ana Sala, has pointed out that "we have been aware for some time, thanks to the reports provided by the Mutual Insurance Company, that the level of absenteeism exceeds the average for the public administration sector and that there is no way to reduce these rates.

 The time has come to remedy this situation. Obviously, there will be justified absences and there will be those that are not justified, but all we want to do is monitor and check that these absences are real and effective. We need to optimise the Council's resources; we cannot afford this level of absenteeism. I have tried, through the Mutual Insurance Company, to monitor and verify that these absences are genuine, but the Mutual Insurance Company is doing what it can, the Social Security does not have the necessary mechanisms to prevent this, and a public administration, which manages public money and resources, cannot afford these levels of absenteeism".

The mayor of Calpe, Ana Sala, has sent a directive to the Human Resources department to draft technical and administrative specifications for hiring a service to monitor and track sick leave recorded at the Calpe City Council. The document also establishes that the service will be for two years, with the possibility of extension.
 The aim of this measure is to reduce absenteeism in the local administration as much as possible. The document states that the Human Resources department has found that the level of absenteeism in the Calpe Town Council is 10%, which is above the average for the sector. For this reason, the mayor's office has considered it necessary to improve the management of the sick leave monitoring process. The council has a workforce of around 500 employees.

The mayor, Ana Sala, has pointed out that "we have been aware for some time, thanks to the reports provided by the Mutual Insurance Company, that the level of absenteeism exceeds the average for the public administration sector and that there is no way to reduce these rates.

 The time has come to remedy this situation. Obviously, there will be justified absences and there will be those that are not justified, but all we want to do is monitor and check that these absences are real and effective. We need to optimise the Council's resources; we cannot afford this level of absenteeism. I have tried, through the Mutual Insurance Company, to monitor and verify that these absences are genuine, but the Mutual Insurance Company is doing what it can, the Social Security does not have the necessary mechanisms to prevent this, and a public administration, which manages public money and resources, cannot afford these levels of absenteeism".

Friday, 15:

•    Exhibition ‘Baños de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
•    Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ by Paqui Colomina, in the exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell until the end of August.
•    Exhibition ‘Llúria. Señores y Señoras de la Tierra’ (Llúria. Lords and Ladies of the Land) at the Casa de Cultura ‘Jaume Pastor i Fluixà’ throughout August.
•    Calpe Pop Festival 2025. (doors open at 10 pm) 10:30 pm – Gava i Nico, followed by Figa Flawas. Closing act: DJ Capde
•    From 6 pm to 1 am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (Fossa beach).

Saturday, 16:
•    9 a.m. – Free Zumba class. Plaza Colón (Arenal-Bol beach).
•    Exhibition: ‘Baños de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30 December. Museo del Coleccionismo
•    Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ (Paint and you will paint) by Paqui Colomina, in the exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell until the end of August.
•    SONAFILM VII Marina Alta Film Music Festival presents ‘Film Music. Made in Spain 3’ with the Universal Symphony Orchestra conducted by José Martínez Colomina. 8 pm in the Auditorium.
•    Calpe Pop Festival 2025. (doors open at 8:30 pm), 9:30 pm – Nacha Pop. Followed by: El Drogas. To close: DJ Abraham Pla & DJ David
•    From 6pm to 1am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (Fossa beach).

Sunday, 17th:
•    Exhibition ‘Baños de la Reina, la huella romana’ (The Queen's Baths, the Roman footprint). Until 30th December. Museo del Coleccionismo
•    Painting exhibition: ‘Pinta que pintarás’ by Paqui Colomina, in the exhibition hall of the Ajuntament Vell until the end of August.
•    From 6pm to 1am - Craft markets. Calle Alemania (Arenal-Bol beach) and Plaza Mediterráneo (La Fossa beach).
 

This week, Calpe's Department of the Environment has begun cleaning up the Quisi and Pou Roig ravines, specifically in the area around the Casanova bridge towards the sports area. The aim is to have the ravines clean before the autumn rains and prevent possible flooding.

Excavators are currently working on the ground as part of this preventive emergency action. The aim is to remove the Arundo Donax reeds that are proliferating in the bed of this ravine and thus prevent possible obstructions that could lead to the river overflowing.

The Councillor for the Environment, Pere Moll, stressed that: "we are carrying out the clean-up of urban ravines, clearing the riverbeds so that we can have peace of mind this autumn, with clean riverbeds and water that can flow easily. It should also be noted that, in the part of the river known as the Casanova bridge towards Benissa, through the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation, solarisation tarpaulins are already being installed to prevent the growth of reeds. The strategy is to reach the end of Benissa. In addition, we have applied for funding from the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and in September we will know whether or not we have been awarded the funding requested for the naturalisation of the ravine, although the strategy is already defined and we are working in phases".

Last June, the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation carried out renaturalisation work on the Barranc del Quisi, specifically the section between the bridge and the treatment plant. This part of the ravine is considered non-urban and is therefore the responsibility of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation. The work consisted of removing the invasive reeds, then covering their roots with an opaque tarpaulin and soon planting native species.

This step responds to constant requests from the Town Council, which is currently tendering for the renaturalisation project for the urban section of the Quisi and Pou Roig ravines. This will involve the removal of invasive species and their replacement with native vegetation in order to increase the biodiversity of the environment and improve and guarantee the safety of the ravine. The technical project has a base budget of €30,000 and the planned work has a budget of €170,000.
 

This week, the tender for the reconstruction works for the access road to the Balcón de Bernia residential area has been published. This is the road whose retaining wall collapsed because of the rains in 2022. The road is currently completely undermined in the area where the wall collapsed. Although a reinforced concrete wall has been built by the community of owners of the residential development, the services are in a precarious state, with temporary connections and completely exposed to the elements.

The works will consist of demolishing the road surface affected by the collapse of the wall, filling in the wall, compacting the fill, aligning the kerbs and replacing the existing services. Subsequently, the asphalt layer will be laid, the pavements will be rebuilt, and the road will be painted.

The supply network, which is currently laid provisionally, will also be replaced, a new drainage grate will be installed at the lowest point of the road to improve drainage in the area, and work will be carried out to channel the underground low-voltage line.

This work has a base tender budget of €219,404 and a completion period of three months. This is one of the projects that will be financed with the surplus from last year's budget.

The mayoress, Ana Sala, said that "it was always my intention to tackle this project and carry it out as soon as possible, but circumstances such as the lack of technicians in the infrastructure and projects department have delayed us until now. The project was finalised just a few months ago, we have had a shortage of qualified technicians in the department, and the time has come to put it out to tender. We hope that reputable companies will submit bids so that we can carry out the work as soon as possible and return that area of the Empedrola development to normal. The owners were very concerned about the rain, which caused a lot of damage and forced residents to be evacuated. I hope that everything will soon return to normal".

Calle La Niña marks the end of the Quisi and Pou Roig ravines until they flow into Arenal-Bol beach. The riverbed is uncovered and remains dry in the absence of rainfall. However, the prefabricated frames installed after the 2007 floods are at a lower level, causing water to rise from the water table and accumulate at the end of the riverbed.

At the same time, sand accumulates at the mouth of the frames due to the effect of the waves, and this sand concentrates inside the frames, causing rainwater runoff to stagnate and, at high temperatures, generating biofilm and bad odours.

To prevent these bad odours, but also to minimise the possible arrival of pollution in the bathing area, it is necessary to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water in the last section of the frames on Calle La Niña. For this reason, Aguas de Calpe has a manhole at the frames, at the level of the road between the Rio and Costa Blanca buildings, to allow access with the hoses of the self-priming tanker trucks. This morning, company workers carried out this operation to remove stagnant water from the channel.

Aguas de Calpe also has a facility for connecting various portable pumps inside the frames and transferring the accumulated volume to the sewerage network. It should be noted that the low water level inside the frames prevents the installation of high-flow submersible pumps.

Last Friday, a meeting was held at the Town Hall in which municipal technicians and technicians from Aguas de Calpe studied various measures to prevent possible odours or spills. After the meeting, it was decided that in order to maximise pumping capacity, Aguas de Calpe will install a Godwin pump on the surface and install suction pipes from inside the frames to pump the water into the municipal sewerage network. The capacity of the Godwin pump, which exceeds 100 m3/h, and the diameter of the pipes to be installed, 110 mm, will minimise the time that water remains stagnant inside the frames.

The measures indicated, together with continuous monitoring for the accumulation of water in the last section of the frames on Calle La Niña, will minimise both the possible generation of bad odours and the possible arrival of pollution in the bathing area.

The Calpe Maritime Surveillance and Intervention Unit (UVIM) carried out another rescue this morning in the same area of Penyal d'Ifac where on Wednesday it assisted a man who fell into the sea while trying to access a cove. On this occasion, a couple of tourists who were paddle surfing called for help from officers who were patrolling the area after a wave swept one of them against the rocks, causing injuries that left him unable to leave the area on his own.

One of the officers jumped into the sea to rescue the two swimmers and take them to the boat, while the other officer remained in control of the boat due to the rocky nature of the area. The injured tourist suffered bruises to her legs from the collision with the rocks.

This week, the expansion works on the municipal cemetery have been completed, a project that represents an investment of €196,976.59 and adds 111 new niches and substantially improves the existing facilities.

The project, which was awarded to Vías y Obras Aitana, involved the construction of a new level with capacity for 111 additional niches distributed across four modules, all on a plot adjacent to the newest part of the cemetery. The project also includes significant aesthetic and functional improvements, such as the creation of green areas with dry stone walls and the installation of a new irrigation system.

This project, which responds to population growth and the current needs of the municipality, is part of a broader improvement plan. "This project is only the first step on a longer journey. We have new phases planned that will shape our vision of a cemetery that is more than just a place of farewell. We want to create a space where serenity and beauty invite reflection, where gardens and traditional stone walls help us feel at peace," said Marco Bittner, councillor responsible for the Parque del Descanso Eterno.

The mayoress, Ana Sala, accompanied by councillor Marco Bittner and municipal technicians, visited the works yesterday to check on their progress.

Today, installation of beach hammocks and sunshades began on Arenal-Bol beach after the Town Council awarded the contract to SEAWOLF TEAM, S.L. for an annual fee of 280,000 euros. This week, the areas where these services will be located are being marked out and will be operational on both beaches on 12 August. The installation of these beach services has been delayed by several administrative appeals filed by different bidding companies.

Following the resolution of the appeals for reconsideration filed by the various bidders in the award procedure, an initial award proposal was made. However, the bidder proposed as the successful tenderer did not provide the required documentation or the final guarantee, so it was understood that it was withdrawing its bid due to failure to prove its technical solvency, and the Contracting Department proposed a new successful tenderer, which is the one that will finally provide the service.

Seawolf Team will provide sunshade and sunbed services for four seasons. As a new feature, this company offers environmental education staff to carry out awareness campaigns on the beach.
In addition, this year the appearance of the services will change so that the sunbeds, a total of 900 units, will be sand-coloured, more in keeping with the environment, and the sunshades, a total of 700 units, will be made of natural fibre.

A 60-year-old man was rescued yesterday at midday after falling into the sea while trying to descend to a cove from a rocky area of Penyal d'Ifac. The new Maritime Surveillance and Intervention Unit of the Calpe Local Police (UVIM) took part in the operation. After receiving a call from 112, they headed to the area around Penyal and managed to locate the injured man.

Once the boat was anchored, one of the officers jumped into the water to rescue him, while the other remained on board directing the manoeuvre. The victim, who suffered blows to his back, chest and head, said he had fallen approximately five metres while trying to descend to a cove.

In addition to several officers from the Calpe Local Police, firefighters, medical services, a lifeguard from the EULEN company and even a paddle surfer who was in the area took part in the evacuation of the injured man.

As is traditional on Fadrí Day, Calpe has a new mayor. This morning, 18-year-old festival-goer Salva Femenía became the town's first councillor after Mayoress Ana Sala handed him the baton in front of the members of the festival committee, who cheered their new municipal representative.

Although he will only be in office for 24 hours, he has prepared a programme of measures that will be in force throughout the day. After thanking the “festeros”  for their trust, the new mayor said that his goal is to work for a more ‘festive’ Calpe.

The young mayor addressed those present - members of the committee and citizens - from the balcony of the Town Hall and presented several of his proposals, such as extending the hours of the festival shows, banning controls and making it compulsory to have fun during the festival days.

This event marks Fadrí Day, a day when young “festeros” take charge of the municipality. In his speech from the plenary hall, Salva Femenía also called for more days of festivities.

The Director General of Coasts, Ports and Airports, Marc García, chaired the first meeting of the Calpe port round table, which was attended by Calpe Town Council, the Fishermen's Association, the Royal Yacht Club of Calpe, Varadero Marine Spirit and Avramar, the company that manages the fish farm in Calpe.

This is the first meeting between the Director General and the various port stakeholders to hear their concerns and worries. The mayoress of Calpe, Ana Sala, criticised the slow response to the requests submitted by the Town Council to Ports and the fact that the Regional Government returns little of the fees that Calpe pays them every year to the local port. She also took the opportunity to reiterate the Town Council's opposition to the fish farm installed off the coast of the municipality.

Similarly, the head of the fishermen's association, Paco Catalá, and the association's secretary, Santos Pastor, called for greater speed in the processing of files and more support from the regional government in improving the port's infrastructure, ‘one of the most visited in the Valencian Community in both winter and summer’. They cited as an example the importance of improving the fish market, a building that is over 30 years old. The fishermen's association also warned of the lack of space in the port due to the presence of boats from other ports and the increase in tourist activity.

Representatives of Varadero Marine Spirit and Avramar also highlighted the delay in resolving applications and raised the possibility of establishing access control on Avenida del Puerto - from the Royal Yacht Club to Cala del Racó - to avoid traffic jams on this road.

The president of the Royal Yacht Club, Juan Belliure, explained to the director general the sporting successes achieved by the club and the educational work carried out in schools to promote water sports, and informed him of the 50th anniversary of these facilities next year.

The director general invited all those present to submit detailed proposals in relation to the demands made.

 He also reported that the Ports budget has increased by 15% this year, in addition to the intention to reinforce the service with 11 people, which he hopes will enable a more responsive service to be provided in relation to requests and enquiries concerning the 35 ports managed in the Valencian Community. He added that the Calpe fish market is the only one in the region built and paid for by the fishermen of Calpe themselves, ‘something that must be taken into account’, and assured that it ‘will be a priority’ for the Regional Government.

In addition to Mayor Ana Sala, the meeting was attended by the Councillor for the Sea and Land, Mariola Mulet, and the Councillor for Territory, Juan Manuel del Pino.

On Monday, Calpe hosted the first ‘Calpe Drumt’ with great success, an innovative musical event that brought the spirit of Belgium's famous ‘Kortrijk Drumt’ to the Costa Blanca. The initiative, which coincided with Belgium Day celebrations, brought together dozens of drummers in a unique show that fused Belgian and Valencian culture.

‘Calpe Drumt’ originated in Kortrijk, Belgium, where drummer Gino Kesteloot has been organising ‘Kortrijk Drumt’ for more than 10 years, a mass gathering of rock drummers who play in unison. This Belgian musical tradition found the perfect stage for its international expansion in Calpe.

The celebration enjoyed the special collaboration of the local Belgian community, the third largest among Calpe's foreign residents, who actively participated in organising the catering. As an ambassador of Valencian culture, a giant paella was served for 400 people, symbolising the gastronomic fusion of both cultures, along with authentic Belgian beer to accompany the day of conviviality prior to the concert.

The event was attended by Trui Steenhoudt, Councillor for Mobility for the city of Kortrijk and a percussion enthusiast, who actively participated in the choral drumming session. The Mayor of Calpe, Ana Sala, performed the ‘honorary kick-off’ of the event, playing the first rhythmic bars on the main drum under the direction of Gino Kesteloot.

One of the big surprises of the night was the participation of renowned drummer Neil Cooper, member of the famous band Therapy, who accompanied the local and international participants on stage. All the participating artists, including Cooper, generously waived their fees to make this charity event possible.

The evening also featured a pro bono collaboration from the resident DJs of Calpe Municipal Radio, who left the studio to entertain guests during the pre-concert gathering and between musical performances with the best rock music of recent decades.

The event began with the reading of a manifesto by representatives of the Belgian community on the occasion of Belgium Day, followed by the performance of the Belgian national anthem.

The concert was structured in two distinct parts. The first included percussion pieces by rock legends such as Bon Jovi, Rammstein and AC/DC, while the second part featured popular Belgian songs, notably ‘Mooi, 't Leven is Mooi’ (‘Life is Beautiful’), which was particularly well received by the Belgian community in attendance.

The event brought together approximately 75 drummers from different countries. Most were from Belgium, but it also featured Brazilian drummers led by Alexei Leão and the participation of 10 local drummers from Marina Alta, demonstrating the international and inclusive nature of the event.

The concert ended at 11 p.m. and the clean-up was completed in record time, respecting the neighbours' rest and demonstrating the organisers' commitment to the environment. Both at the beginning and at the end of the event, it was announced that this will most likely not be the last edition of the event in Calpe. The Town Council is already working on ‘Calpe Drumt II’, recognising that due to the heat and the high season dates, many people were unable to participate for work or weather reasons.

The Councillor for Residents, Marco Bittner, described the event as ‘a moment of encounter between Belgian and Valencian culture, exemplifying the welcoming and tolerant spirit of the people of Calpe’. The initiative brought together foreigners and locals in a concert never seen in the area, consolidating the celebration of Belgium Day in style.
 

Calpe will celebrate a new edition of the Calpe Pop Festival on August 15 and 16, which this time will feature stellar performances by Nacha Pop and El Drogas, who marked an entire era of Spanish pop and rock with their songs, as well as the trendy Catalan duo that has revolutionized urban music, Figa Flawas.

The event, which has been held in Calpe since 2021 coinciding with the Ascension bridge during the peak tourist season, combines performances for an adult audience with others aimed at new generations. Thus, alongside Nacha Pop and El Drogas, the participation of young performers who are making a name for themselves in the music scene is also planned, such as Figa Flawas, Gava i Nico and DJ Capde, in addition to the performance by local DJ Abraham Pla.

The festival will kick off on August 15 with Figa Flawas, Gava i Nico, and DJ Capde. It will continue the next day with Nacha Pop and El Drogas, who was the singer, bassist, and leader of the urban rock band Barricada. The event will close with DJ Abraham Pla. 

The Calpe Pop festival will take place in the Parc de la Creativitat. The entrance is free, and the doors are scheduled to open at 10 PM on August 15 and at 8:30 PM on August 16.

From 2 August, the municipal swimming pool will be temporarily closed to carry out various maintenance and improvement works on the facilities. The swimming pool will reopen on 1 September with classes and free swimming, although on 28 and 29 August the facility will be open exclusively for registration for the new season's courses.

During the month of August, various works are planned for these sports facilities, including repairs to the dehumidifier and four diesel boilers to ensure service in the event of a biomass boiler failure. In addition, electrical panels will be replaced, and distribution pumps will be repaired. The automation of all the machinery using PLC systems is also planned, with an application that will allow the status of the swimming pool to be monitored at all times.

All this work represents an investment of €78,484.77 and was announced in March when the swimming pool was refurbished. The final execution has been delayed until now as it required the closure of the swimming pool and August is the month that least affects normal activity.

In addition, a 57.2 kW photovoltaic system will be installed on the roof, with an inverter that will allow it to be self-sufficient in the event of a power failure. This represents an investment of €22,100 and has been awarded to the company Energías Renovables HG, from Ondara. This month, turnstiles will also be installed for automatic access control, with an investment of €16,100.

Finally, under the maintenance contract signed a couple of months ago, the mouldy roof panels will be replaced and the entire deteriorated agglomerate side strip will be repaired. The entrance floor will also be replaced with epoxy and the iron door to the car park will be replaced. All this will cost €18,500.

In September, once the swimming pool has reopened, the entire exterior façade will be cleaned and the windows washed. All this work will ensure that the swimming pool is completely renovated and ready for its reopening on 1 September.

Calpe will celebrate its patron saint festivities in honour of its patron saint, the Virgen de las Nieves, starting this Thursday, 31 July. One of the most traditional and heartfelt celebrations in the town begins, organised by the 2025 festivities committee and Calpe Town Council.

The day will begin with the Entrada de la Murta, an event that kicks off the festivities and in which the members of the committee parade through the streets of the old town dressed in traditional costumes to the Miguel Roselló square. There, the queens of the festivities will perform the ‘Crida a la festa’ from the balcony of the Town Hall. In the evening, the Plaza Mayor will host a performance by DJ Fely & Macro Discomóvil SOS.

On Friday 1 August, the ‘Día del Fadrí’ will be celebrated, when young revellers will take over the Town Hall and the ‘vara de mando’ (symbol of authority) will be handed over to the 2007 revellers, who will rule the streets of the municipality for a day. At 6pm there will be Aqua-jocs followed by a foam party for the little ones in the Parc de la Creativitat. Welectric, Dj & Orquesta Óxido will perform that night in the Plaza Mayor.

On Saturday 2 August, ‘El Día de las Comisiones’ (Commissions Day) will be celebrated with cucañas, traditional games and a candy parade in the morning in Calle Llibertat. In the afternoon, there will be a children's mini-disco on Calle Cervantes and, from 11.30 pm, ‘DJ Night’ with performances by Sergio Salinas, Sansixto, Brian Cross and Omy Cid in the Plaza Mayor.

On Sunday 3 August, ‘Children's Day’ will be celebrated with various activities for the little ones. There will be a children's wake-up call, water games and a foam party in the Parc de la Creativitat, and in the afternoon, the traditional musicals will be held in the Plaza Mayor, with a children's Disney show featuring Gisela at 7.30 pm and the Hollywood musical at 11 pm in the Plaza Mayor. This will be followed by a huge mobile disco with Marsal Ventura ‘Technoflamenco’ in the Plaza Mayor.

On Monday 4 August, the eve of the main festival, at 8 pm there will be a parade with the queens and members of the 2025 Festival Committee, which will end at the parish church where the Offering of Flowers to the Virgin of the Snows will take place. In the evening, there will be a large night-time mascletá (fireworks display) by Pirotecnia Caballer, followed by a performance by the Orquesta Alaska on Tour in the Plaza Mayor.

On Tuesday 5th, the feast day of the Virgin of the Snows, patron saint of Calpe, the festivities will begin with an aerial bombardment by the Caballer pyrotechnics company. At 11 am, there will be a parade by the Festival Committee and a mass in honour of the Virgen de las Nieves. At 1 pm, there will be a mascletá in the Plaza Mayor. At 7.30 pm there will be another parade prior to the solemn procession in honour of the patron saint of Calpe, which will pass through the streets of the old town and will be followed by the famous Castell a la Mar organised by the Festivities Department, an ‘aero-aquatic’ fireworks display launched from the breakwater at Arenal-Bol beach. At 12:30 a.m., the Plaza Mayor will once again be the meeting point with a performance by the ‘Matrix’ orchestra.

 On Wednesday 6 August, Saint Salvador's Day, the traditional Valencian pilota match will be held in Calle García Ortiz. In the afternoon, the festival-goers and authorities will move to the chapel of San Salvador, where the traditional mass in honour of Saint Salvador will be held. This will be followed by a wine reception in Calle La Ermita.

From 6 to 13 August, the traditional ‘Bous al carrer’ (bulls in the street) will be held in Calle Conde de Altea with afternoon and evening sessions organised by the Associació Festera Bous al Carrer. And on Sunday 10 August, there will be a grand parade with floats from Calle Benissa to Plaza Colón.

The festivities will come to an end with free concerts on 15 and 16 August with the CalpePop Festival. On 15 August with Figa Flawas, Gava i Nico and DJ Capde. And on 16 August with Nacha Pop, El Drogas and DJ Abraham Pla from Calpe. These concerts will be held in the Parc de la Creativitat and are free of charge.