This year, residents of Valencia and Alicante faced unexpected changes to their familiar holiday calendar. Official events dedicated to the Day of the Valencian Community, originally scheduled for October 9, had to be postponed. The reason was adverse weather conditions: meteorologists issued an orange alert due to heavy rains that hit the region.
Traditionally, thousands gather in the center of Valencia on this day to take part in a large procession with the Senyera flag, the symbol of autonomy. However, this year, after an emergency meeting of city services, it was decided to cancel the parade. City officials determined that it was unacceptable to risk the safety of participants and spectators amid heavy rain.
The official part of the celebration, usually led by the head of the autonomy, Carlos Mazón, will also not take place in its usual format. Instead, he will address regional residents remotely. The question of awarding the annual honors for service to the community remains undecided—the date of the ceremony will be determined later, once the weather situation stabilizes.
Last year, the region already experienced the effects of devastating downpours, so the current precautionary measures appear well justified. For many residents and visitors, the cancellation of public events was disappointing, but most understand the necessity of such decisions. Authorities emphasize that public safety is the top priority and promise to hold all planned celebrations as soon as the weather permits.
