The forthcoming event will take place at Villena Culture House starting at 18:30, organized under the leadership of Francisco Rosique Pardo, who serves as the chair of the Central Board of Festivals for the Moors and Christians in this city. The gathering will feature a round table discussion with prominent figures including Maria Christina Hernandez, a former City Council Member of the Festivals Council; Gabino Ponce, historian of the Turks group; Joseph Francis Rico, a notable contributor to the festivity community; Maricruz Rojas, a member involved with Labradores in Villena; and Mary Seva, a representative of the Maseros de Castalla. The mix of voices aims to bring layered insights into how these celebrations are shaped by local history, community memory, and contemporary cultural practice, offering attendees a chance to hear varied perspectives on the traditions that animate Villena and its surroundings.
The meeting is extended an invitation by Julia Parrin, the Vice President for Culture, who urged residents to join and participate in this dialogue. The organizers highlighted that the Juan Gil-Albert Cultural Institute supports this initiative as part of its broader program of cultural activities across municipalities in the province. They emphasized that the festivals form a vital thread of local identity and deserve thoughtful analysis, critical reflection, and a cultural approach to understanding their significance within the wider fabric of regional life. The goal is to create a space where questions about preservation, adaptation, and meaning can be explored openly, ensuring that the conversations surrounding these events remain accessible to people from different generations and backgrounds.
The provincewide festival cycle began last March with the intention of making visible the rich diversity and importance of celebrations across the territory. The program uses this moment to highlight the shared heritage that has evolved through generations, and to reflect on the experiences brought by recent global challenges. It seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of festival life by considering the historical roots, current practices, and future prospects for these events, while acknowledging how communities have adapted in response to social change and public health considerations. The cycle is designed to frame festivals as living expressions of cultural identity, capable of evolving while maintaining a sense of continuity that resonates with residents and visitors alike, and it invites audiences to engage with the evolving narrative of these regional celebrations while appreciating their enduring cultural value. [Cited source: cultural programming notes from the Juan Gil-Albert Institute and related municipal cultural offices.]