Starting at 1:00 p.m., the groups of people began gathering in Plaza de España to celebrate the fact that our carnival is of national tourist interest. For the first time, Carnival was being held outside its usual date. Throughout the afternoon, color, joy, and celebration filled the town’s downtown areas.

In Square of Spain around 8 p.m., groups of people, officials, street masks, and people in costume gathered again to participate in one of the most important events of the day, the Gala commemorating the declaration of the Miguelturra Carnival as a Festival of National Tourist Interest. At 8:30 p.m., the procession headed to the Carnival Palace, the usual venue for most of the town’s carnival events.

With the Carnival Palace practically full, the procession arrived and the event began, in the presence of the Mayor of the town, Victoria Sobrino, members of the Municipal Corporation, the Minister of Economy, Employment and Business of the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha, Patricia Franco, President of the Provincial Council of Ciudad Real, José Manuel Caballero, Vice President of the Association for the Development of Campo de Calatrava, María Jesús Villaverde, as well as the most representative political figures who wanted to be present to support the declaration and celebrate that our Carnival is a Festival of National Tourist Interest.

Of course, the King of Carnival, Serafín Delgado, President of the Miguelturra Carnival Association, Raúl Domínguez, members of the local carnival groups, senior masks from every year, relatives of the previous carnival kings, José Gornés and Amalio Segura, presidents and various members who have led the Association of Groups over the years were also present.

The honorary town crier of the Miguelturra Carnival, Guillermo Summers, regretted not being able to attend the event, but he offered us a few words of gratitude, affection, and devotion to the town and its people.

The event began with a few words from the Mayor, Victoria Sobrino, the Regional Councilor, Patricia Franco, the President of the Provincial Council, José Manuel Caballero, and the President of the Miguelturra Carnival Association, Raúl Domínguez, who agreed that the Miguelturra Carnival deserved this designation as one of the carnivals with the most history and tradition in our country.

We must remember that the Miguelturra Carnival has been celebrated uninterruptedly throughout time, that its history has been lost over the years, there are documents from the 19th century that prove its existence and that none of the various prohibitions that have tried to prevent its celebration have succeeded in stopping it in Miguelturra, despite the persecution suffered by street masks by the Serenos and the Civil Guard.

Throughout the Gala, various audiovisuals were shown showcasing the traditions and history of the Churriego carnival, especially our signature symbol, the Street Mask.

There was no shortage of music at the event. The Comparsa la Victoria de Puertollano, winner of the Miguelturra Carnival Murga and Chirigota Competition for the last two years, brought the audience to their feet with their performance, especially when they mentioned the Miguelturra Carnival.

The Gala also served to show the town’s recognition of all the people and institutions that have made this declaration possible. The Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha, the Provincial Council, the Association for the Development of Campo de Calatrava, and Román Rivero Nieto received the award on behalf of all the corporations that have been part of the Miguelturra Town Council.

Also receiving recognition were various media outlets, all the Association of Peñas’ past presidents, current peñas, civil protection, Carnival kings, and of course La Máscara Callejera.

Once the Gala was over, the party continued in Doctor Fleming Park until late into the night, with the Sonital Orchestra providing a lively atmosphere and bringing the Carnival to a close.