The Moors and Christians Festivities of Villena officially begin today, September 4th, with the traditional concert by the Villena Municipal Music Band at the Chapí Theatre. The definitive kickoff for the celebrations will take place tomorrow, Saturday, September 5th, with the official proclamation at midday.
This year, the proclamation will be delivered by Emi Millá Romero, a prominent figure in the field of social assistance and local associativism. A graduate in Pedagogy and doctor in Psychology, Millá Romero has dedicated 43 years of her professional career to APADIS, where she served as director of the Centre for Child Development and Early Intervention, among other roles.
Millá Romero has also been a key figure in the creation and leadership of professional associations at regional and state levels, such as the Valencian Association of Early Intervention Professionals and the Spanish Federation of Associations of Early Intervention Professionals. Her university involvement includes 22 years as co-director of the Master's Degree in Child Development and Early Intervention at the University of Valencia and teaching postgraduate courses at 11 Spanish universities.
Her prolific literary output includes co-authoring the White Paper on Early Intervention and numerous scientific articles. She has actively participated in national and international congresses and has received accolades such as the State Honorary Award for Early Intervention from the GAT Federation and the ONCE Foundation, in addition to distinctions from the Conselleria de Servicios Sociales.
Following the proclamation from the balcony of the Town Hall in Plaza de Santiago, the Villena Municipal Music Band will perform the national anthem, followed by a grand firework display and the pasodoble ‘Villena Festera’. Subsequently, the Pasodoble Festival will take place, a parade led by the Mayoresses and the Municipal Band.
At 4:00 PM, the sound of the bass drum will mark the start of the Gran Entrada (Grand Parade), featuring 12,000 festivity participants and 5,000 musicians. The route will begin at Calle Nueva with Avenida de Elche, with the Moorish phalanx followed by the Christian one, and the parade concluding with the Senior and Junior Mayoresses. The festivities will continue with street parties at the various comparsas (factions).
