Upcoming Alterations in Alicante's Hogueras Festival
The Alicante City Council has announced a new decree aimed at reshaping the structure of the Hogueras de San Juan public festivities. This move is in response to concerns related to safety, overcrowding, and commercialization.
The key changes in the decree pertain to the regulations for racós (temporary social gathering spaces during the festivities) and mesones-bares (temporary bars and taverns).
For racós, the emphasis is on reducing overcrowding, limiting commercialization, and introducing stricter requirements for licensing, operation times, and compliance with health and safety standards. The decree also highlights racós as spaces for community gathering and enjoyment.
In a significant shift, the new decree eliminates mesones-bares, standalone bar stalls, from public areas during Hogueras.
The number of racós has been limited by the decree. Special and First Category commissions are allowed to organise occasional markets and may install a maximum of three racós each, while all other categories are limited to one racó. First and Second Category fogueras (Hogueras sculptures) are allowed two racós each.
The limitations are based on the category of each foguera (Hogueras sculpture). The council intends to preserve the traditional character of the festival by scaling back commercial activities. Safety, coexistence, and responsible use of public spaces are emphasized in the decree.
The impact of these changes will be evaluated after the 2026 Hogueras to determine how to adapt future celebrations to evolving urban and social needs. The decree aligns with existing cultural heritage protections and city ordinances and took immediate effect on July 31.
These modifications are part of ongoing efforts by the City Council to enhance the overall organization of the Hogueras festival due to increasing visitor numbers and previous incidents related to overcrowding and unregulated commercial activity. The changes are aimed at creating a more orderly and culturally-rooted celebration of Hogueras de San Juan.
Further details on the exact new rules for racós and mesones-bares, such as size limits, permitted locations, or specific operational restrictions, have been instituted to further regulate noise, waste management, and crowd density. However, precise clauses were not detailed in the available sources.
Politics and general news unfolded in the city of Alicante as the City Council announced a new decree, aimed at shaping policy-and-legislation for the Hogueras de San Juan public festivities. The changes encompass strict regulations for racós and the elimination of mesones-bares, all in efforts to address concerns related to overcrowding, commercialization, and safety.
