The town of Jesús Pobre, located in the Marina Alta region, is once again hosting the August Cultural Festival. This event highlights its agricultural tradition of grape scalding for raisin production. This year, the festival runs from August 6th to 30th and includes not only the revival of this ancestral practice but also musical performances, excursions, and activities designed for younger attendees.
The scalding process, declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage Asset (BIC) in 2018, will take place on August 22nd and 30th. These events, promoted by the Associació de Veïns i Veïnes de Jesús Pobre and the Eatim, attract numerous visitors to the traditional Riurau del Senyoret.
The program features notable performances, including a concert by singer-songwriter Pau Alabajos and a show by the renowned magician and mentalist Toni Bright. The first event will be an excursion to the mills of Jesús Pobre on Thursday, August 6th, departing from the Riurau at 8:30 PM.
For the younger audience, a workshop to make lanterns will be held on Wednesday, August 12th, from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM. On the same day, at 8:00 PM, magician Toni Bright will perform his show; he is considered one of the country's top mentalists.
On August 22nd, at 8:00 AM, the traditional scalding will take place. The process involves briefly immersing grape bunches in boiling water with soda, then spreading them on drying racks (canyissos) to dry naturally in the sun for about two weeks, transforming them into raisins.
On August 28th, the Riurau de Jesús Pobre will host Pau Alabajos's concert at 8:00 PM. The singer-songwriter will present his project «Versos a la vietnamita», an adaptation of poems from anti-Franco Catalan poetry.
The August Cultural Festival will conclude on Sunday, August 30th, starting at 10:00 AM, with the grand scalding event, which annually draws many curious visitors. Afterwards, the Grup de Danses de Jesús Pobre and La Colla la Xareta will perform. Throughout the morning, local festival organizers will provide bar service.
