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Date Published: 21/11/2022

ARCHIVED - Alicante becomes first Spanish city to turn on its Christmas lights

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Alicante pipped other province capitals to the post to become the first Spanish city to switch on its festive lights

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Alicante becomes first Spanish city to turn on its Christmas lights

Alicante has become the first Spanish city to turn on its Christmas lights with a colourful and dazzling illumination show on Friday November 18.

To the delight of crowds who gathered for the festive switch-on, almost 200 streets and squares were lit up with with more than 2.5 million LED bulbs forming 2,220 arches, garlands and other Christmas features.

This year's festive budget has been increased by 200,000 euros to almost 1.3 million, and in addition to the traditional 18-metre high Christmas tree in Town Hall square, the council has this year unveiled a giant 12-metre Christmas bauble with more than 8,000 LED lights and a sound system which is located on the Esplanade and is big enough to enter.

The festive decorations are reaching more city districts and rural neighbourhoods than in previous years, explained Alicante Mayor, Luis Barcala, although electricity consumption has been cut by 30% in response to government calls for energy savings.

With the exception of the main holidays, such as Christmas Day, the lights will only be turned on from 7pm until 12am during the week and will remain illuminated until 4.30am at the weekends.

Prior to the big turn-on, Barcala said the inaugurating of the lights had been brought forward deliberately "to serve as an incentive for the Black Friday shopping campaign (November 25) and to boost tourism in the city centre".

"Alicante is the capital of Christmas," he added.

And to capitalise on the hordes of visitors expected to descend on the city in the run up to Christmas, the council has this week launched its Edusi Christmas campaign with competitions and workshops.

Activities will take place in the area between the castles of Santa Barbara and San Fernando "to boost economic recovery and at the same time promote creativity and sustainability, both in shops and within communities".

"After the success of the last Christmas campaign in which 35 establishments participated, the council has launched the 'Christmas Shops EDUSI Territory' contest, with 3,000 euros in prizes," said the local authority.

Registrations can be made until November 24 via an online form at: http://bit.ly/3V696LH or in person at the Edusi Office in Calle Sevilla, No. 2 (in Casa de la Misericordia in Cigarreras). Participating shops will display posters in their shop windows.

More news: Almost 45,000 Brits, locals and other tourists pack the streets for Benidorm Fancy Dress Party

Image: Ayuntamiento de Alicante

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