The Torrevieja Festivals Department is facing significant administrative hurdles after failing to finalise a fireworks contract in time for the city’s traditional summer-welcoming pyromusical show. Although the awarding process for the city’s entire festive pyrotechnic calendar is in its final stages—with bids from two companies already evaluated—the paperwork could not be completed for the major event scheduled for Wednesday night, 23rd June.
The Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Festivals, Rosario Martínez Chazarra, confirmed that officials will work to ensure the large-scale display can be rescheduled for sometime later this summer. The spectacular show, planned for the Paseo Juan Aparicio, traditionally draws thousands of spectators to watch a 20-minute display launched from the natural pools dam, featuring a 300-kilo explosive charge synchronized with music and water surface effects at a cost of 38,031 euro.
This marks the third time since 2019 that the event has missed its usual date due to the lack of a formal contract. Unlike smaller fireworks displays for the May Fair, Corpus Christi, or the Sacred Heart festivities—which cost barely 5,000 euro each and can be directly contracted through budget reserves—the tonight’s pyromusical show approaches 40,000 euro. Awarding an event of this financial scale directly without prior planning, safety certifications, and a formal supply contract would be irregular. Smaller events, such as the mascletà scheduled for tonight in the Plaza del Molino for the Hoguera del Calvario, are permitted to proceed using direct budget methods due to their lower cost, even if it is not administratively ideal.
The bidding process for this extensive year-long contract was initiated by the City Council almost six months ago on February 17th, following the advance notice timelines required by the Public Contracts Law. The process divided the tender into two lots: one for the fireworks displays and another for the necessary technical plans, safety projects, and certifications. Bids were submitted and evaluated from two fireworks companies, Hermanos Ferrández and Pirotecnia Ferrández, a standard practice in the Vega Baja region, but the process has stalled just before the final official awarding.
The annual budget for the standard festival calendar, running from the May Fair to the Procession of the Encounter during Holy Week, is 154,219 euro. If the two planned extensions are utilised, the total estimated value for the three-year contract reaches 462,657 euro.
Because the contract remains unfinalised, earlier events on the calendar had to rely on budget reserves, which will now require an omission report from the auditing body. These included the May Fair fireworks on 7th May, 2026, costing 5,928.22 euro; the Corpus Christi display on 7th June, costing 2,559.22 euro; and the Sacred Heart of Jesus fireworks on 14th June, costing 3,073.65 euro. The calendar also included a mascletà for the Bonfire of Saint John on 24th June at 3,648 euro, and the Cremà of the Bonfire on the same day for 748 euro.
If the contract can be formalised by 16th July, it will cover upcoming scheduled events for the Virgen del Carmen, including a 6,774 euro display in Torrevieja and a 5,228 euro display in Torrelamata. The August schedule includes the Virgen de la Estrella on the 1st for 2,105 euro, alongside displays for San Emigdio on the 2nd and San Roque on the 16th, both costing 3,073 euro.
The festive programme continues into autumn and winter:
- October 2nd: Local Police Day fireworks (4,274 euro)
- October (Various): Virgen del Rosario de Torrelamata fireworks (6,228 euro), a nighttime mascletà in the Plaza de la Constitución on the 5th (4,132 euro), and an aerial mascletà for Guardia Civil Day on 12th October (4,728 euro)
- November: Christmas lights switch-on display (1,716 euro)
- December 7th: Patron Saint Festivities of the Immaculate Conception mascletà (6,228.22 euro)
- December 8th: Immaculate Conception fireworks display (9,998 euro), the second most expensive event on the calendar
- December 31st: New Year’s Eve show (1,285 euro)
- January 5th, 2027: Three Kings arrival display (1,837 euro)
- March 28th, 2027: Procession of the Encounter (2,105.65 euro)
In total, the annual fireworks displays under this contract will cost 116,781 euro per year.
