The town of Bérchules hosted its unique August New Year's Eve this midnight, a celebration that began in 1994 after a power outage prevented locals from hearing the midnight chimes and now multiplies its usual population tenfold.
Mayor Ismael Padilla confirmed that the festival proceeded without incidents and with attendance exceeding previous years, surpassing 7,000 people. The Berchulense Association for New Year's Eve in August (ABNEA) and the City Council promote this event, which transforms the town in early August, combining summer heat with Christmas elements like shortbread, the Three Kings' parade, party favors, and lucky grapes.
For the first time in a decade, the grapes distributed by the City Council ran out before eleven at night, a significant indicator of the event's success, although many participants come fully prepared. Padilla highlighted the positive reception from local businesses, with many bars and restaurants exhausting their supplies.
The celebration includes street parades, distribution of anise and polvorones, the visit of the Three Kings, and the midnight chimes commemorating the original 1994 event. The mayor emphasized the positive impact of this 33-year-old tradition on the region's economy and employment, with neighboring municipalities assisting in visitor accommodation and transport.
An increase in organized groups from Málaga, Almería, and Seville has been observed, alongside a family-oriented tourist profile that stays for several days to enjoy rural tourism. This year's edition introduces a New Year's Concert performed by the Unión Musical de Ugíjar.
After achieving regional recognition in 2019, the City Council will process the declaration of August New Year's Eve as a festival of National Tourist Interest.
