There is a parade that starts at 7pm today. There are a lot of events during this festival that start at 10pm or later - too late for us. So this seems reasonable. Maybe we should get here around a little after 5pm to get a prime spot. We go to the same parking lot as for restaurant Lami. There are still a few spots. We walk up to the streets that are designated the parade route, and discover we are way too early. All three of the Parade streets are lined with white plastic chairs. How much? - we ask at a restaurant. they are not sure - maybe 5 or 10 Euros. What a blessing - I was dreading standing up for 2-3 hours.
At about 15 minutes before 7pm people start claiming chairs. I have my eye on on chairs right at the corner of the first turn. Michael has had problems with the level of sounds during this fiesta - so he wants to sit right at this corner so he cam escape if the noise gets to loud. So I am trying to think photographically what is the best position to be in.
We were at the beginning of the parade route. Participants should be fresh and have a lot of energy. The Moors marched first - and there were a lot and I mean a lot of groups in the parade. The first hour and a half was just the Moors. These photos/videos are in no particular order. There are a lot more Moor's groups as we got desperate for a bathroom about 2 hours in. To see more about how these groups are organized and everything that is involved in participating see my husbands blog: http://de-intimidator.blogspot.com/2025/10/eldership-2025-spain-moors-and.html
The streets of El Campello are filled with these Moors and Christians decorations. I suspect they are also used for Christmas.
These groups are very inclusive - all ages are encouraged to participate.
I wish I had been doing a video of this group. They were walking with all of them holding the rope when suddenly they all fell down! I wish I knew what that symbolizes.
These guys were scary.
The backs of the outfits are just as interesting as the fronts. I liked the line of the same costumes.
Details of some gold and white costumes.
The line leaders were so dramatic. Their job was to be engage the audience and keep the line of people behind them in a row. They guided the group around corners by indicating that the outside people needed to move faster and those on the inside should take shorter steps.
We summarized that these were the king and queen of the Moors.
Kids were an integral part of the parade.
I started thinking that people were part of several bands as I saw them walk back to the staging area after they had been through the parade route. But I don't know - maybe they were just going to get their instrument case. We saw buses at far away parking places - we thought maybe that buses were used to bring in groups of Moors or Christians or band members from a distances. There were so many groups of Moors they must have been from other communities around the area. El Campello has something like 23 groups. There were a lot more.
So many line leaders with attitude.
Even a toddler with attitude!
This guy definitely had attitude and swagger.
These had to be the pheasants. I love their step pattern.zzsw3w
A little shy!
And then, finally the Christians arrive!
And finally after an hour and a half the Christians show up.
Some very dramatic costumes.
And some not so dramatic costumes.
A closeup of a detail. At first I thought this must be Moorish - but no - Arabic was spoken by the Christians as well.
We bailed from the parade about 2 hours in. Of course we had arrived a little after 5pm which meant we had been there a long time.
Maybe next year we will go to the first parade - when the Christians go first - and my photos will be all of the Christians instead of the Moors. But I do have to admit the Moors costumes were more interesting!
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