Monday, October 27, 2025
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Articles by Santiago Carneri

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Spook-tacular Halloween fun across the Costa Blanca: find your nearest event
Technology

Spook-tacular Halloween fun across the Costa Blanca: find your nearest event

Halloween is creeping up fast, and the Costa Blanca is set to come alive with frightful fun, wickedly good parties, and eerie entertainment for all ages. Whether you’re an expat looking to dance the night away, show off your karaoke skills, or enjoy a family-friendly evening with the kids, there’s something hauntingly good waiting for you this spooky season. A ghostly night at The Irish Tavern, Albir On Thursday October 31, The Irish Tavern will be bringing back the legendary FUBAR spirit for one unforgettable Halloween bash. From 8pm until 2am, party-goers can expect spine-tingling surprises, top dance tunes and an atmosphere that’s anything but dead. Advance tickets cost €10 or €15 at the door, so get yours early to secure your spot at one of the liveliest Halloween parties on the Costa Blanca. Karaoke and costumes at The Church Bar & Bistro, Albir If you fancy something a little more interactive, Wednesday October 30 is your night. The Church Bar & Bistro in Albir is hosting a Halloween Karaoke Party from 8pm to 11.30pm, hosted by the ever-entertaining Tony Bee. Expect spooky cocktails, a free shot for every brave soul who sings, and a prize for the best costume. Entry is free, but tables fill up fast—so book ahead for a hauntingly good time. Family fun at Baby Shark, La Nucia Halloween isn’t just for grown-ups! On Thursday October 31, Baby Shark in La Nucia will host a special evening for little monsters and their families. From 6pm to 9.30pm, children (and adults!) are encouraged to dress up for a night of fun, food and games, with prizes for the best costumes. The event includes a meal and drink per child, making it a perfect family treat. Dare to enter the Tunnel of Terror at Camping Almafra, Benidorm For those who love a thrill, Camping Almafra in Benidorm promises an evening packed with eerie excitement. From 6pm until nearly midnight, guests can explore the resort’s terrifying Tunnel of Terror, enjoy a Halloween-themed menu, and dance the night away at the Clubhouse. Tickets are €10 per person, and early booking is recommended—only the bravest will make it through unscathed! Pasaje del Terror in Calpe The celebrations kick off with the Pasaje del Terror, a spine-chilling haunted house featuring live actors and immersive horror scenes that will test the courage of even the bravest visitors. For families seeking a lighter experience, Plaza Central Calpe will host a daytime Halloween event on Saturday October 30, complete with costume contests, fun activities, and a festive atmosphere suitable for all ages. Halloween fair in Javea From October 31 to November 3, the Placeta del Convent will transform into a Halloween fair with over 20 food and craft stalls, games, and activities designed to entertain the whole family. Spooky walks in Denia Denia offers a mix of street carnivals, ghost tours, and family-friendly events that bring the town’s Halloween spirit to life. Visitors can enjoy spooky walks and seasonal activities, with something happening for everyone, young or old. The activities will take until Friday October 31, filling various parts of the town with a festive and mysterious atmosphere. Children’s zone with games in Gandia In Gandia, Halloween en la Alquería del Terror takes place on October 31 and November 1 at Alquería Laborde. This popular event features a children’s zone with games, face painting, bouncy castles, a terrifying passage, music, and magic shows, providing a perfect combination of fright and fun for families. Halloween entertainment in a resort, Oliva Finally, Oliva celebrates Halloween at Alannia Resorts, where weekends from October 31 to November 10 are packed with themed activities. Guests can explore a terror corridor, join costume contests and parades, and enjoy special Halloween entertainment. The resort offers a festive atmosphere for both children and adults, making it an ideal spot for families looking to celebrate the season together.

Denia celebrates the Spoon Days with 20 restaurants and over 70 dishes
Technology

Denia celebrates the Spoon Days with 20 restaurants and over 70 dishes

Since Sunday October 20 to Saturday December 7, Denia hosts a new edition of the Spoon Days, a well-established gastronomic event that has become a highlight of the city’s culinary calendar. This year, 20 restaurants — eight more than last year — will take part, offering a rich and varied showcase of dishes where the spoon takes centre stage. Throughout the event, each restaurant will serve different specialities during the week, with a total of 76 recipes available at the unbeatable price of just €5.90 per dish. From hearty stews and creamy rice dishes to seafood soups and international creations, there will be something to please every palate. Participating establishments include El Mosset Denia, El Cantó, Llorens, No Ni Poc, Les Monges, Balandros, Bocafí, Mr Kapriz, La Barra del Puerto, L’Estació, La Taberna del Mirall, El Redolí, Tasca Carme, Canela, El Secreto de Loreto, La Cuarentena, El Greco Bistrot, La Cambra del Senyoret, Bar Bus and Ca Chema. Rice, mussels and chickpeas The event’s wide range of options includes local favourites such as arròs amb fesols i naps, suquet de monkfish with prawns and mussels or potaje de chickpeas with cod and spinach, as well as innovative creations like creamy fideuà with oxtail or risotto with guanciale and wild mushrooms. Diners can also enjoy international specialities such as Moroccan cous cous and Greek gyuvetsi, alongside several vegetarian alternatives including lentil stew with seasonal vegetables and seaside-style chickpeas. The Spoon Days highlight the culinary richness of Denia — recognised by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy — and the commitment of its chefs to preserving traditional recipes while embracing innovation and creativity. A unique opportunity to taste Denia Among the most popular offerings are seafood stews from La Taberna del Mirall, creamy rice dishes from El Redolí, the fishermen’s gazpacho from La Cambra del Senyoret, puchero with meatballs from El Mosset Denia and monkfish stew with prawns and mussels from El Cantó. This long-awaited gastronomic event invites both residents and visitors to savour authentic flavours reinterpreted by Denia’s talented chefs. The Spoon Days represent a unique opportunity to taste the city’s culinary essence — a celebration of flavour, creativity and the enduring charm of Denia’s traditional cuisine.

Ondara’s historic Fira de Fires returns with music, shopping, crafts and animals
Technology

Ondara’s historic Fira de Fires returns with music, shopping, crafts and animals

Ondara will celebrate its long-standing Fira de Fires, since 1690, this November 2025. The event will take place over two main weekends — Saturday 8 to Sunday 9 and Saturday 15 to Sunday November 16— while the funfair will remain open until Sunday November 23 on Calle Naciones sin Estado. The fair will close that day with the National Dog Show in Plaza del Convento. The event includes a wide range of activities combining music, art, shopping, gastronomy and tradition. The mayor, José Ramiro, and councillor Raquel Mengual presented the full programme alongside representatives from local associations and businesses. The official 2025 poster was created by local designer Hugo Giner. The Festeros de la Soledad y Cristo 2026 will host gastronomic spaces in Plaza del Convento, while November 12 and 19 will be Children’s Days with discounted fairground rides. First weekend: neighbouring towns united The opening weekend will feature the VIII Marina Alta Fair, the Feria de Ferias concert, and the III Quick Painting Competition “The Colours of Ondara.” The Marina Alta Fair, held at the Prado building, will unite neighbouring towns such as Ondara, Els Poblets, El Verger, Beniarbeig, Denia, Pedreguer, Pego and La Vall de Laguar to promote their local crafts, traditions and tourism. Throughout the weekend, there will be talks and workshops highlighting regional culture and enterprise. The Quick Painting Competition, organised by ADAMA and the Town Hall, will take place on Sunday 9 November. Artists will compete for prizes including €500, €250, and a trip for two to the Balearic Islands, with additional awards for local and regional talent. Music lovers can enjoy the Feria de Ferias concert on Saturday 8 November at the bullring, featuring La Fúmiga, Ramonets and Abril. With 2,500 tickets already sold out, the show promises a vibrant evening of festive and family-friendly music. Second weekend: Ondara Traders and Business The following weekend will include the 38th Trade and Shopping Fair, the Medieval Market, the Animal Fair, and the Classic Vehicle Exhibition. The Trade and Shopping Fair, held at the Prado, will showcase more than 25 local and regional businesses, including shops, artisans and service providers. The Ondara Traders and Business Association (ACO) will also organise a charity hamper to support traders affected by last year’s DANA floods in Valencia. Surrounding the fair, visitors can stroll through the Medieval Market filled with artisan stalls and food stands, or visit the Animal Fair in the bullring, featuring livestock and traditional cart rides for children on Sunday 16 November. Car enthusiasts can enjoy the 20th Classic Vehicle Exhibition on Avenida Doctor Fleming, with cars, trucks and Vespas on display, followed by a parade at midday. The National Dog Show on Sunday 23 November will mark the official closing of the 2025 Fira de Fires. This year’s edition promises to fill Ondara with life, colour and community spirit, blending centuries-old tradition with a modern celebration of culture, creativity and commerce.

Immigrants don’t take jobs – they create them with 400,000 businesses in Spain
Technology

Immigrants don’t take jobs – they create them with 400,000 businesses in Spain

Immigrant self-employment has become a driving economic and social force in Spain, challenging the anti-immigration rhetoric. In 2024, nearly 400,000 foreign self-employed workers were registered in Spain — around ten per cent of the national total of freelancers and 15 per cent of all immigrant Social Security affiliates — according to the report Migration and Self-Employment in Spain: Challenges and Opportunities for Social and Territorial Cohesion by the Intersectoral Confederation of the Self-Employed (CIAE). Sandra Said, a Moroccan-born doctor, has lived in Spain for 35 years. She began working as a carer for children and the elderly, later as a cook, and eventually as a self-employed doctor once her qualifications were recognised. Now approaching retirement, she reflects from her home in Andalusia: “Most of us immigrants spend so much time working that we don’t have time to answer the lies told about us,” she told Euro Weekly News. The growing economic weight of immigration in Spain Immigrants account for around 12 per cent of all employment in Spain and show a higher activity rate than the national average (73.2 compared with 58.6). The number of foreign Social Security affiliates rose by 7.9 per cent in 2024, reaching 2.86 million, with non-EU workers making up 69 per cent. These figures underline the growing economic weight of immigration and its role as a pillar of the Spanish labour market, effectively countering the xenophobic narrative pushed by certain political sectors. “We have the same rights and obligations as the local population, and most of us comply with them. The law always falls harder on those without money for lawyers or a support network,” adds Said. One in ten freelancers in Spain is an immigrant, representing 15 per cent of foreign Social Security registrations. Far from taking jobs, immigrants create them — by opening businesses, becoming self-employed, and contributing to social security. The report stresses that their contribution “is not circumstantial but structural, tied to the sustainability of the care system, the vitality of urban commerce, and the continuity of agricultural activity in rural areas.” The CIAE study highlights that immigrant self-employment has become a vital route to integration, playing a key territorial role by “revitalising declining urban neighbourhoods and sustaining basic services in depopulated rural areas, thereby reinforcing social and demographic cohesion.” New business models and a more diverse range of services Beyond the numbers, immigrant entrepreneurs bring dynamism to the economy, introducing new business models, management strategies, and a more diverse range of goods and services. Commerce — especially retail — and hospitality account for over 40 per cent of immigrant self-employment, followed by transport, construction and care work. Yet, the report also points out vulnerabilities that need to be addressed. Mario arrived in Denia, in the heart of the Costa Blanca from Colombia three years ago. Although he is still waiting for his documentation, he has worked continuously as a waiter and dishwasher, and has even learned English to better serve tourists. “I understand that we must work hard, but our rights should also be respected. When we’re given opportunities for training and employment, we make the most of them,” he tells Euro Weekly News while folding umbrellas at the restaurant terrace where he works. Despite their high activity rate, immigrants face higher unemployment (15.8 per cent compared with 12 per cent), showing an active yet vulnerable integration. Sectors such as retail, hospitality and care work offer easier access but also involve greater competition and lower profitability. The survival rate of immigrant businesses beyond three years is between ten and fifteen points lower than that of nationals, mainly due to difficulties in accessing finance, limited support networks, and concentration in low-margin sectors. The exception is among highly educated immigrants, whose business survival rates match those of Spanish entrepreneurs. Gender disparities add another layer to this inequality. Self-employed immigrant women face triple discrimination — by gender, origin and legal status — and are often confined to undervalued sectors such as care and domestic work, with limited protection. Aiming for a more cohesive, inclusive and sustainable Spain by 2030, CIAE calls for “comprehensive policies that transform current vulnerability into opportunity.” The next five years, it says, should focus on professionalising the care sector, improving access to inclusive finance, ensuring full social protection, and strengthening immigrant entrepreneurship as a key factor in rural repopulation and the green transition. In short, the report shows that immigrants are not a threat to employment, but an essential force sustaining the economy, strengthening social cohesion, and securing Spain’s future.