The Calp Fishermen's Guild will be 100 years old in 2024. On the 6th of April 1924, the regulations of the Calp Fishermen's Warehouse were presented to the Civil Government of the Province with a social and protective purpose for the seafaring class.
Article 1 of the first regulation stated that "The Calp Fishermen's Warehouse is a corporative association of fishermen that pursues the complete redemption of this class, extending the culture among its associates, establishing in their favour the different social insurances and exploiting, without the help of intermediaries, the fishing industry". Since then, the Fishermen's Guild has been a key institution in the history and life of the municipality.
To celebrate the anniversary, the Town Council and the Fishermen's Guild itself have already set about preparing a programme of activities throughout the year. This week, taking advantage of the start of the festivities to celebrate the Virgen del Carmen, the mayoress met with the patron saint, Paco Catalá, and the president of the festivities of the Mare de Dèu del Carme, José Garín, to establish a calendar of events.
Among the proposals are to request a commemorative Once coupon and to resume the project to install a sculpture at the access to the port. The Mayoress, Ana Sala, wanted to convey to the Guild the commitment and support of the Council to the seafaring community.
The Fishermen's Guild of Calp, through the Comissió Festes Mare de Dèu del Carme, and with the collaboration of the Town Hall, intends to give a new impulse to the traditional festivities of the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of the sea, and for this purpose a wide programme of events has been prepared.
On Friday, the Culture, Fiestas and Fishing departments are sponsoring a performance by Willy Burret X-Perience at 7 p.m. and DJ Raül Albi at 9 p.m. at the Paradero.
On Saturday, the Comissió de Festes Mare de Déu del Carme de Calp has programmed traditional events such as the "aquajocs" and the popular cucañas to be held from 10:30 am in the fishing port or the traditional caldero contest, made exclusively with "Peix de Calp". This will be enlivened by the colla de xirimiters "El Carellot" and has several prizes with a total prize of 350 euros. From 7 p.m. onwards there will be performances by Xaranga La Bomba Show and at 10 p.m. by Swag. These performances are sponsored by the Town Hall.
On Sunday, the patron saint's day, the events will be concentrated in the old quarter with a parade and mass at 12 noon in the Virgen de las Nieves church. Afterwards, a mascletà (firework display) will be set off in the Plaza Mayor.
In the evening, at 20:30 hours, the events will once again concentrate on the fishing port with the traditional floral offering to the Virgen del Carmen, followed by the seafaring procession and a tribute to the shipwrecked sailors who died at sea. The procession will include the participation of the "El Carellot" xirimiters group and the Calp-Ifach Musical Union. The festivities will culminate with a firework display by the Dragón pyrotechnics.