La Fiesta Homenaje a Pedro Velarde en Camargo del 1 al 4 de mayo con 85 propuestas.
Camargo will celebrate the Tribute Festival to Pedro Velarde from Thursday, May 1st to Sunday, May 4th with 48 hours of activity and 85 proposals aimed at families.
This was announced on Wednesday by the mayor, Diego Movellán, who presented the program content designed by the City Council along with the councilor of Cultural Dynamization and Festivities, Laura Ara, and the area coordinator, Juan Ramírez.
«These are days that allow us to attract thousands of visitors, show that we know how to do things very well, and that our future in tourism lies in our past,» Movellán asserted, stating that «thanks to the figure of Pedro Velarde, Spain is what it is today.»
In a meeting where representatives of associations, cultural groups, and artists who have been involved in this festival also participated, Movellán referred to the event as a «claim of the role of the people of Camargo in history.»
«We do it through a character born here next to the Town Hall, in Muriedas, who was able to turn around an invaded country, restore its freedom, at the cost of his own life,» highlighted the mayor, inviting anyone who wants to know «firsthand» what happened in 1808 to participate in this «commitment» of the Camargo City Council «to historical tourism and reenactments.»
FIESTA
The Tribute Festival to Pedro Velarde on May 2nd will take place in four different locations: the Goyesco Market, with over 60 stalls, will be located on Calle Constitución, while the Napoleonic Camp, with 24 reenactors, will be set up in Parque de Cros.
Additionally, the official tribute ceremony to Pedro Velarde by civil and military institutions will take place in what was his family home, now occupied by the Ethnographic Museum of Cantabria, and finally, the Grand Freedom Parade will change its route this year to allow, for the first time, the arrival of the troops and the united people crossing the access bridge to Maliaño.
This modification of the Freedom Parade is one of the novelties this year, but not the only one, Movellán pointed out, referring to the two concerts that will take place on Friday, May 2nd, and Saturday, May 3rd, featuring the Asturian bagpiper Hevia and Demarco Flamenco.
Furthermore, the mayor emphasized that one of the central axes of this event is the historical reenactments, immersive activities that transport the public to the turbulent year of 1808 and the key moments of the War of Independence.
Four large horses and nearly thirty reenactors will star in two large-scale shows, ‘The Assault on Monteleón’ and ‘The Last Light,’ on both Friday, May 2nd, and Saturday, May 3rd, where key scenes of the May 2nd uprising and the consequences of the conflict are dramatized with great realism.
Additionally, this year’s festival will highlight ‘The Parade of Fireflies,’ an activity organized by the 2 de Mayo Recreation Association that, according to the mayor, «will make the municipality a reference for a joint reflection on peace» on the night of May 2nd, when a vigil will take place in Plaza de la Constitución.
«The square will be dark, and attendees can participate in a silent walk, carrying a lit candle symbolizing the souls of those who fell in the uprising against the Napoleonic troops on May 2nd, 1808, and, by extension, all those who died in armed conflicts,» he explained.
Additionally, for the first time, those who visit the Goyesco Market this year will find a Tourist Information booth about the Tribute Festival to Pedro Velarde and the resources that Camargo offers to visitors.
The mayor also drew attention to the City Council’s commitment to make this event an inclusive festival, «accessible to everyone.» This is why, in this edition, the ‘Silent Hour’ will be extended, without music or gunfire, and both sign language interpretation at relevant moments and reserved seating for people with mobility difficulties will be maintained, as well as a visit that will allow visually impaired individuals to discover daily life in the Napoleonic Camp through touch.
Finally, Movellán noted that 14 hospitality venues will participate in the gastronomic route «El Buen Yantar,» offering special tapas related to the festival.
An initiative that has been joined by Café Bar Astoria, Café Bar Refugio, Bar la Oficina J&Puy, Bar Nuevo Candela, Cafetería Dejá-vu, Pulpería La Bodeguilla, Café Bar Velarde, Bar Las 3 Amigas, Cafetería Prisma, Vermutería Hoyuela, Hotel Boutique Albus San Luis, Nacho’s Tavern, Ciudad Bonita Plaza, Café Medina, and Restaurante El Galeón.
The winning tapa, in addition to having the support of the public, will also have to impress chefs Fernando Sainz de la Maza and Diego Bilbao, who will serve as judges.
