Arrecife inaugurated this Saturday the Arrecife City Christmas Fair. During the first hours, more than 6,000 people have already passed through this fair, which turns the city into the epicenter of Christmas in Lanzarote.
The mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, accompanied by the vice president of the Cabildo, Jacobo Medina, the councilor of Commerce and Tourism of Arrecife, Eli Merino, and the director of Navilan, Yurena Martín Torres, cut the inaugural ribbon that starred the girl Alba. The mayor asked little Alba, with the permission of her guardians, to be the godmother of the inauguration. Coincidentally, little Alba starred in the inauguration of Navilan in its first edition, last year.
This second edition has premiered great novelties, including a huge Ferris wheel, slide, an igloo with snow area, the artisan market and booths where gastronomic proposals are made, with the presence of products and wines from Lanzarote, among others.
A crowd waited, from hours before the opening, in the area of the Charco de San Ginés to witness the cutting of the inaugural ribbon and be the first to make use of the new attractions. The Nutcracker musical band accompanied the authorities throughout the tour.
Moments before the inauguration, the mayor, together with the vice president of the Cabildo, and the councilor of Commerce and Tourism, made statements to the many news media that covered the opening.
Mayor Yonathan de León stressed that "we have proposed that Arrecife be the third capital of the Canary Islands and we are achieving it with great events. We see it here today with the good magnitude and quality of this Christmas fair, such as the many dynamization activities that we have launched during this time of mandate. The data on employment, opening of shops, and establishment of new companies, prove that Arrecife is growing and the economy helps the welfare of the families of Lanzarote".
The first mayor had "a few words for the opposition party, which from the origin and creation of Navilan marked them with criticism." And he added " In Arrecife we are doing things well, and we managed to revive a city that seemed dead in the past. Now, we see that in other cities of the Canary Islands have copied Arrecife creating another Christmas fair." The mayor remarked that "With Navilan, we make Christmas live in Arrecife, throughout the island".
The vice president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Jacobo Medina, said that this fair "is a major attraction for both residents and those who visit us, making it possible for Arrecife and Lanzarote to offer good activities so that you do not have to go outside." Medina González remarked that "the collaboration between public-private administrations, as well as the involvement of the Art, Culture and Tourism Centers that my colleague Ángel Vázquez directs, the support of Tourism of Lanzarote, and the dynamization of the City Council of Arrecife make Navilan a fair loved by the population".
For her part, the Councilor for Commerce and Tourism, Eli Merino, whose department sponsors Navilan, remarked last night that tour operators and travel agencies have confirmed, and have already closed tourist packages to come to the fair combining excursions in the city, which will make it possible for artisans and restaurateurs to market their creations. For Eli Merino, getting more tourists to visit Arrecife is to support commerce and hospitality. Opening ourselves as a tourist destination remains one of our priorities to relaunch Arrecife as the capital of leisure and shopping.
Eli Merino remarked that "these agreements with tour operators will allow many more tourists to come to our city during these Christmas holidays, thus generating synergies for merchants and hotel establishments".
The director of Navilan, Yurena Martín Torres, on behalf of the group that carries out all the organization and production, declared that every day there will be animations and shows for all audiences, and the attractions, such as the great Ferris wheel or the skating rink, have affordable prices. She said that 60 young people have been hired for the activities and services at the fair, supporting the creation of youth employment.
During the opening ceremony, together with the mayor, the vice president, and the councilor of Tourism and Commerce, several councilors of the Municipal Government were present.
Inclusive day
From the City Council of Arrecife has been planned so that the day of December 26 is an inclusive opening. Ensuring that everyone can enjoy the attractions, activities and facilities of Navilan. For the first time in Lanzarote, the fair has a spectacular 40-meter-high Ferris wheel, offering impressive panoramic views of Arrecife illuminated by Christmas, in this year where the city is commemorating the 225th anniversary of the founding of the municipality.
Details of the attractions
·More than 20 food and craft stalls, ideal to enjoy local gastronomy and discover products created by artisans.
·A natural ice rink to enjoy skating in a festive atmosphere.
·A giant slide that guarantees strong emotions for the most daring.·An Igloo where the little ones can enjoy a true winter experience.
· Fun for the little ones, with attractions and surprises that will make their smiles shine.
The Navilan Ciudad de Arrecife Christmas fair is sponsored by the Arrecife City Council, through the Department of Commerce and Tourism, the collaboration of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Turismo Lanzarote, the Tourist Centers of Lanzarote, and the Government of the Canary Islands through Promotur (Turismo de Canarias) and the General Directorate of Youth.
