Features » Special Events
CHRISTMAS FAYRE IN ALTEA 8 - 11 DECEMBER
Contributor / 2011-11-26 19:14:03
If you really want to enjoy Christmas, you look for presents at the beginning of December. And where better than in Altea's Christmas Fayre, where Amata will set up a Craft Market in front of the Town Hall, from 8 to 11 December? A Christmas Fayre with live music, donkey rides, a merry-go-round, children's games, street and infant theatre and a juggler who blows amazing giant soap bubbles and huge flames (but not at the same time). As the 6th and 8th are bank holidays in any case, most Spanish will not be working very much that week, and so will have time to enjoy their "puente" (or bridge). You can join the good burghers of the town in their festive promenade around the Fayre.
Amata, with the slogan "Artesanía de Autor" (craft work direct from the craftsman), has carefully chosen some 30 craftsmen and women to set up their stalls. As with all Amata fairs, everything on sale has to be the work of the person at the stall - no cheap imports from other countries here, no mass-produced goods. Amata tries to bring as much variation as possible, and here you can look at (and buy!) such unusual items as didgeridoos and furniture made out of cardboard, but also decorated glass, pottery, wood and leather, toys and games, hand painted T-shirts (the ultimate in designer clothes) and - of course - candles for Christmas. Quite a few of the people at the stalls will bring along their tools and equipment, and spend their time - four days - at work.
You can watch them, ask them to explain what they're doing, perhaps learn something and often order an item to suit your particular need.
An item with your (or someone else's) name on it, a shawl in a particular colour or a designer candle.
There will be other stalls with cheese direct from the farm, herbs, spices, dried fruit and a vast variety of sausages - alll made to family recipes perfected over the centuries. For the hungry and thirsty visitor there will be a tavern - with its own barbecue - and a pancake stand.
The market starts at 11 am and is open all day, till about 9 pm, although things quieten down a bit between 2 and 6 pm. You will find the Town Hall along Altea's main shopping street (parallel to the N332 thoroughfare), with plenty of parking space behind the Town Hall. Or you can travel with "el trenet" (the little train) that runs from Alicante to Denia and even stops just behind the Town Hall. People in the Torrevieja area also have the option to join an organised coach trip to Altea and the market - information / reservations call Coachtrips SL on 966 785 910.
You can get more information (also in English) by phoning 639 979 678 or you can look at Amata's web site www.amata.es, which will also post changes to the programme if the weather looks like causing problems.
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