"We are going to have San Ginés festivities." This was announced by the Arrecife Festivals Councilor, Alfredo Mendoza, who stated that the program will be more extensive than last year's, in which there was only an opening speech and mass. However, they will be "very controlled" festivities, which will only last for five days.
Specifically, the festivities will kick off on the 20th with the opening speech and will extend until the 25th, San Ginés Day. During that time, according to the councilor on Radio Lanzarote-Onda Cero, there will be a sports program, folklore, a concert and "small events" in the neighborhoods.
As for the speaker, Mendoza has not yet revealed his name, although he has pointed out that he is a man and "a personal friend." "We were trying to get her to be the speaker, which would have been wonderful, but it's a man," the councilor indicated, noting, however, that it will be "a speech that is in no way diminished."
Regarding the sports program, he stated that it will begin with the San Ginés tournament and that there will also be handball on the beach. "And then events such as the folklore festival, which we are organizing with groups from here, from Arrecife, exclusively," he added.
He also stated that there will also be "a concert in a very intimate format in the theater." The folklore festival will also be held in this space, and they are trying to have the opening speech take place there as well, where there will also be a performance, given that "the capacity of the City Council plenary hall is very small."
In any case, the councilor indicated that all events will be "broadcast on television and streaming on channels that everyone can watch."
"It is not yet the time for large outdoor events"
"We wanted to do events on the street, but the problem with the street is that it is Arrecife and Arrecife is not a town like Teguise, Tías or Tinajo, where you control everything that happens very well. In Arrecife we are 65,000 inhabitants and, as soon as you generate a little expectation, you can find yourself with 2,000 or 3,000 people on the street that you cannot control," explained Alfredo Mendoza, who believes that "it is not yet the time for large outdoor events, at least in Arrecife."
In addition to highlighting that they will be festivities with "controlled events," he also highlighted that they have opted to hire local artists "to encourage this sector, which is a bit downcast." "I am very happy because it has been very difficult, but we have managed to have our festivities," he added.
On the other hand, the Festivals Councilor stated that a company has submitted a request to set up a fair in the Arrecife Fairgrounds, which would be within the San Ginés festivities. "There is another one about dinosaurs too, which have requested permits, and we are collecting the necessary information for authorization," explained Alfredo Mendoza, who also wanted to highlight that there will be "small events in the neighborhoods, so that the festivities reach all places."
