Fireworks, music, and the 'júa' highlight the programming for the San Juan evening in Málaga

The councilor for Operational Services, Festivities, and Beaches, Teresa Porras, together with the councilor for Security, Avelino Barrionuevo, has presented the planned schedule for the San Juan evening in the capital of Málaga on the upcoming June 23rd, as well as the various special cleaning and security measures that will be implemented for that night.

The activities, which include music, fireworks, and the traditional burning of the 'júa', will start at 10:30 PM led by the Electroduendes Orchestra at the Primero de Mayo roundabout, on the Antonio Banderas seaside promenade-Playa de la Misericordia. The traditional bonfire will also take place in this area. At midnight, the show will begin with the burning of the 'júa', which will utilize various special effects. Afterwards, there will be fireworks from the Térmica pier, featuring 204 kilograms of pyrotechnic material and lasting approximately 14 minutes. Following the pyrotechnic display, the orchestra's performance will resume until 1:00 AM.

This year's 'júa' theme focuses on the undesirable and fraudulent effects of new cyber technologies, in order to prioritize and highlight the advances and developments they offer to society and the quality of life of citizens, provided they are used responsibly.

With a look reminiscent of a science fiction movie, this plastic composition, designed by the creative and technician of the Festivities Area Fernando Wilson, will simulate cyber-pirate robots and will burn concepts such as cybercrime, hoaxes, or fake identities.

As in previous years, and as stated in the Beach Ordinance, the direct making of bonfires on the sand is expressly prohibited, as pointed out by the Málaga City Council in a statement. To facilitate compliance with this rule, on the afternoon of Monday, June 23, five large containers for the deposit of wood and belongings that have been brought to the beach to be burned will be installed along the coast of Málaga. These will be located at Playa del Chanquete, Plaza de las Palmeras, La Malagueta (in front of Gutenberg street), La Cizaña, and Peñón del Cuervo. This measure aims to prevent the risk posed to beach users by these objects, which may have splinters or nails.

Regarding flying lanterns or helium balloons, the Local Police reports that, according to the Air Regulation and common operational provisions for air navigation services and procedures, their launch is not allowed considering the location of the beaches and their distance from the airport. Additionally, the risk of fire is highlighted in case these lanterns come into contact with vegetation.

Regarding the special cleaning operation that will be launched after the celebration of San Juan's night, it will consist of a total of 227 workers from the cleaning company Limasam. Specifically, the reinforcement will be 156 workers, who will join the 71 normally assigned to maintain the city's coastline during the high season. This will be complemented by 75 vehicles, 16 from regular service plus 59 from the special San Juan reinforcement. The machinery deployed will include tractors, pressure washers, beach cleaning machines, tank trucks, and collectors. Additionally, about 40 containers of 1,000 liters and 330 trash bins of 50 liters will be provided as reinforcement to the existing ones.

Cleaning works will start at 5:30 AM on the morning of Tuesday, June 24, with the goal of having the beaches in perfect condition for use by 10:00 AM that same day.

Restrooms will remain open until 2:00 AM at the beaches of La Malagueta and La Misericordia. There will be on-duty personnel, two per restroom.

Meanwhile, the Parks and Gardens service will enhance its presence in the oases and garden areas of Málaga's beaches so that they are in perfect condition from early in the morning of Tuesday, moving the starting time of their workers to 6:00 AM.

In terms of security, the partial activation of the Municipal Emergency Plan for high concentrations of people is planned, affecting both the promenades and the beaches, from Monday afternoon until Tuesday morning. The arrangement established by the Local Police entails that the 338 officers who will be on the street in the ordinary service on the 23rd will be joined by another 104 to cover the center and the eastern and western coastlines from 7:00 PM on the 23rd until 7:00 AM on the 24th. These 95 include operatives from the Support Operational Group (GOA, plainclothes agents, and a canine unit), while the Accident Investigation and Reporting Group (GIAA) will carry out a special campaign intensifying preventive controls on alcohol, drugs, and speed.

Support will also be provided by the drone unit both to control the flow of people and to monitor infractions such as making bonfires on the sand. Additionally, on the morning of the 24th, eight units will be deployed alongside the beach cleaning operation.

The City Council will also activate a reinforcement in the Firefighters' forces with squads located on the Térmica pier due to the fireworks and at the Playa de la Misericordia for the burning of the 'júa'. The Civil Protection Service will deploy an operation formed by about twenty volunteers.

Regarding the reinforcement of the EMT buses, to offer better nighttime service during the Night of San Juan, the capacity of night lines 1, 2, and 4 will be doubled.