The Santa Cruz City Council has already sent to the General Directorate of Public Health, and to Fecam, the draft of its program of events for Christmas 2021, a document in which a fortnight of events are listed, including, as the mayor of Fiestas, Alfonso Cabello, had already advanced, the reception of the Three Wise Men in the stadium and the Parade. For the first, a capacity of 18,000 people is set, “less than 80% of the 22,948 spectators of the current capacity of the stadium”, specifies the City Council. It is detailed that, in this case, there will be access control, pre-allocation of seats, traceability of attendees, mandatory mask and other sanitary measures. Also, there will be no interaction with the public. Access and exit will be done in a staggered manner, by zones and sectors. In any case, the current protocol for the celebration of professional football league matches with the public will be respected. The show, which will last one hour and will begin at five in the afternoon, will have the corresponding Contagion Prevention Plan.
As for the Parade, which will begin as soon as the stadium event ends, it will be made up of 12 floats, which will be accompanied by various parades, choreographic groups and extras. All participants must wear a mask. The procession will go through various streets of the city, with a route of approximately 3.5 kilometers, which is consistent with the one before the pandemic.
The continuous support of civil protection personnel and the municipal police will help to comply with the measures included in the prevention plan that is included, among them, the recommendation to use the mask for all people over six years of age, if the set safety distance is not maintained. Candy will not be delivered and masks will be distributed to promote their use among spectators. All this will also include a prior communication campaign to raise awareness among potential attendees of the need to use a mask and enjoy a safe Christmas. For this, there will be a public address system during the tour with messages on that line. However, the program of Christmas events will start on the 25th with the lighting of the Christmas lights. It will be in the Plaza del Príncipe, at 7:00 p.m., and a limited outdoor space is planned, with a perimeter fence, in which there will be access control, traceability of attendees, mandatory mask and other sanitary measures. The capacity will be less than 750 people. The Nativity Scene will also be installed in Plaza Candelaria, and there will be a nativity scene contest between December 15 and 17. Different musical performances, with a Christmas market in the Alameda del Duque Santa Elena, a gastromercadillo, in the Plaza de España, both with capacity control, and a farewell to the year with children’s parades and bands, complete the program.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez and Alfonso Cabello have addressed letters to Fecam and Public Health, respectively, requesting a response as soon as possible, the first, and a meeting, the second.
