Petrer Moors and Christians and the fiesta year

The 2027 Moors and Christians of Petrer already have an official date: from Thursday 13 to Monday 17 May, according to the Unión de Festejos’ programme of events. Petrer is one of the few towns in the area to publish it so many months ahead. The other big date of the year is the patron saint’s fiesta, in October.

Moors and Christians in honour of St Boniface

In Petrer the fiesta is officially called the Fiestas Hispano-Árabes de Moros y Cristianos in honour of San Bonifacio Mártir, and it is organised by the Unión de Festejos San Bonifacio Mártir. The rule is simple: Thursday to Monday, on the weekend closest to 14 May. In 2026 it ran from 14 to 18 May, and in 2027 it will run from 13 to 17, with the Bendición de la Palma (the blessing of the palm) on Wednesday 12.

The 2027 programme starts on Thursday 13 with the Entrada Saludo de las Bandas de Música and continues on Friday with the Alardo, the Bajada del Santo (the saint’s descent) and the Moorish Embajada. On Saturday come the Christian entrance and the procession, on Sunday the Desfile de Honor and the Moorish entrance and on Monday the Christian Embajada, the Subida del Santo (the saint’s return) and the proclamation of the new officers. If you want to know what each event means, the glossary has the alardo, the embajada and the Moorish and Christian entrance.

The tourist-interest designation came in 1966, according to the Generalitat’s register, and Turisme Comunitat Valenciana now presents them as being of National Tourist Interest.

Ten comparsas

Petrer has ten comparsas (troupes). On the Christian side are the Tercio de Flandes, the Marinos, the Vizcaínos, the Estudiantes and the Labradores. On the Moorish side, the Moros Viejos, the Moros Nuevos, the Beduinos, the Berberiscos and the Moros Fronterizos. They are the ones who fill the Christian entrance on Saturday and the Moorish one on Sunday.

The Virgen del Remedio, in October

In October come the Patron Saint Fiestas of the Virgen del Remedio. The Town Council’s official leaflet for 2025 put the pregón (opening speech) on the 5th, and the DOGV records 7 October 2026 as a local holiday, “Virgen del Remedio”. Each year’s programme is published by the Town Council.

The two local holidays

In 2026 Petrer’s local holidays were 18 May, the Monday of the Moors and Christians, and 7 October, for the Virgen del Remedio. They are decided every year by the full council. For 2027 something curious happens: the dates of the fiesta are already official, but the local holiday is not yet, because the resolution of local holidays comes out in the DOGV (the regional official gazette) between November and December.

If you are in a comparsa

With the 2027 date already set, Petrer’s committees can book lunches and dinners in good time. If you are looking for kitchen and bar in a marquee, for 40 or for 500 guests, see our catering for Moors and Christians, the guide to the comparsa or filà meal and the page on catering in Aspe and the Vinalopó. May fills up early: get a quote once you are clear on the day and the numbers.

And just next door, the Moors and Christians of Elda and the whole calendar.