The festivities commenced at eleven o’clock on the dot when Emma Hall, the Residents’ Councillor, cut the tape assisted by the Mayor of Nerja, José Alberto Armijo. With more than 50 stands, this year’s Residents’ Day had something for everyone with an important representation of clubs, associations, charities and businesses from the Axarquía area. The SUR in English Nerja Office also had a stand and staff were on hand to meet and talk to readers and advertisers who popped by to pick up a copy of the newspaper.

The stands were open from 11 a.m. till 3 p.m. and the bar and stage area, which opened at the same time, continued with the celebrations until 7 p.m. On stage the thousands of spectators were treated to a fantastic selection of live music (classical and modern); dance exhibitions (Nerja Theatre Workshop, Casa Argentina, Nerja Pensioners’ Home and Juani and Elena’s Spanish Dance Academy) and a fencing demonstration.

This year the Residents’ Day returned to the centre of Nerja, the Paseo Nuevo (the new space created above the municipal car park, behind the Town Hall) after four years in the Verano Azul Park. The new location was a huge success and the date, slightly later than in other years, was appreciated as the weather was perfect for such an important open-air event.