Week in News: Valencia’s Birthday Celebrations
Bon dia! It’s Valencia’s birthday week, but rain is forecast for the October 9 holiday, reports Las Provincias.
Fireworks, light shows, and more are planned to celebrate, though events may be affected by the weather. Here’s a link to the full program of events, leading up to the midnight fireworks on October 8 and the Moros y Cristianos Parade on October 9. Remember that shops and businesses will be closed on Thursday.
9 d’Octubre Holiday
Celebrations began over the weekend with hundreds gathering in the city center to sing the regional hymn. Levante-EMV has video of “The Most Beautiful Hymn in the World.” Meanwhile, the regional government stirred debate by using the slogan “Vixca” in its official holiday campaign — a spelling not recognized in Valencian.
More reading in Spanish:
El País – The Consell employs “Vixca” in a non-normative Valencian for its 9 d’Octubre campaign
Floods, Recovery & Accountability
The fallout from last year’s DANA continues. New testimony suggests President Mazón was directly in command of the CECOPI crisis center, while a video shows the alert was planned two hours earlier than officially acknowledged, reports El País. A judge has also requested data to compare last year’s flood with the recent storm, but Mazón has declined to publicly contrast the responses. Meanwhile, a new Levante-EMV poll shows more than 80% of the respondents want Mazón to resign.
More reading in Spanish:
El País – The judge asks the Generalitat for information on the most recent storm
Protest for Palestine
Around 10,000 people gathered in Plaza de Colón to demand an arms embargo and a break in relations with Israel, calling it a legal obligation under international law, Las Provincias reports.
More reading in Spanish:
Valencia Plaza – Protest demands arms embargo and end of ties with Israel
Economy & Housing
Unemployment in the Valencian Community has fallen to its lowest September level since 2007, with a 6.5% drop over the past year, reports Valencia Plaza. Though the local economy is growing, Valencia’s GDP per capita is more than 15% below the national average, according to Valencia Plaza.
Meanwhile, Valencia’s property tensions continue. A Ruzafa block of apartments sold in just 48 hours to a co-living operator, reports Las Provincias. Room rentals now average over €1,400, according to Levante-EMV.
Italians have now overtaken the British as the largest group of foreign visitors to Valencia, according to mobile phone data cited by Valencia Plaza. Italians make up more than 15% of all foreign tourists, followed by visitors from the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France, and the United States.
More reading in Spanish:
Valencia Plaza — Italians surpass the British and now lead foreign tourism in Valencia
City & Infrastructure
Calle Alicante, by Valencia’s Plaza de Toros, has finally reopened after months of construction, reports Las Provincias. At Parc Central, however, promised sports facilities have been delayed until mid-2026.
More reading in Spanish:
Valencia Plaza – Central Park sports complex won’t open until mid-2026
Crime & Investigation
The Valencian administration is facing a surge in cyberattacks, with around ten attempted breaches each day, reports Las Provincias.
Separately, mystery surrounds the discovery of a burned body in Oliva. The victim, identified as Beatriz Guijarro, was found in a ravine with personal items nearby, reports Las Provincias. The Guardia Civil is investigating.
More reading in Spanish:
El País – Guardia Civil investigates discovery of burned corpse in Oliva
Fallas Fashion Dispute
A well-known indumentarista faces a €3,000 fine for his sudden decision not to dress members of the Fallera court, throwing the elaborate world of traditional dress into disarray.
More reading in Spanish:
7 TeleValencia – Fabuel renounces dressing the Fallas court
Enjoy Valencia’s Birthday Celebrations! I’ll be updating the City Calendar with events.
