The Alicante Municipal Symphonic Band, conducted by Pedro Lara, opened the Hogueras 2026 Band Parade last Saturday. The performance of the pasodoble ‘Gastón Castelló’, by José Alfosea, served to remember the multifaceted hogueras artist, who passed away 40 years ago. Along the official route, the band also performed the pasodoble ‘Ramón Marco i les Fogueres’, a composition by Antonio Ferriz, honoring another of the great names of the Hogueras, on the 20th anniversary of his death. ‘Valcárcel, ¡Viva Alacant!’, another work by Alfosea, was also heard.
Mayor Luis Barcala highlighted the significance of this parade, the one with the longest history in the 98 years of Hogueras, emphasizing the value of the bands' music. "The Official Festival would not be understood without this soundtrack," he stated, underscoring that the scores performed by the Municipal Symphony serve as a reminder of three great figures of the festival: Gastón Castelló, Ramón Marco, and Tomás Valcárcel.
The Belleas del Foc, María Pastor and Leire Arellano, along with their Dames d'Honor, led the procession, accompanied by members of the Federació de Fogueres, presided over by David Olivares. From the grandstand set up on La Rambla, they watched the passing of the various hogueras and barracas commissions with their respective music bands or groups of dolçainers and tabaleters.
“"This parade, the one with the most history in 98 years of Hogueras, highlights our music and, as in the case of the Symphony, remembers three 'greats' of the Festival"
In the band category, the top three prizes went to Benalúa (Sociedad Musical La Amistad de Villafranqueza), Baver-Els Antigons (Sociedad Musical La Paz de Sant Joan), and Port d'Alacant (L'Aliança de Mutxamel). In the dolçaina and tabal group section, the first position was awarded to the José María Py group (San Blas). Regarding the commission parade, the barraca Tot Bacores received the first prize.
