Novena 2011, carry on regardless

LOS ÁNGELES  (neé Estación) There will be those who wonder why we haven't made more of our favourite local feria, known as the Novena. For one thing we have been busy earning a crust and for another, we have yet to receive a programme from the Town Hall or anyone else (if you have one, please drop it by the office), and, being carless, we therefore have to rely on our good friends at TioJimeno for information and reportage (you can see a lot more about it there, too!). We are very sorry to miss this lovely little feria but can offer today's activities below. Several things went on last night (see TioJimeno) and lots going on today and tomorrow. (Editorial: You will notice that La Novena is much better organized and offers many more events and activities than anything in the main village. It also appears to be much less 'political', with neighbours joining in to help and take part. A lesson that really must be learned up the hill.)

Urban Mile Race schedule

The organizers of the Michigán Urban Mile Race, scheduled for tomorrow (and reported here), have announced the schedule for the race as follows:

• START: Calle Algeciras, corner of calle Castellar (Estación de Jimena)
• DAY: Saturday 4  September 2010
• REGISTRATION: from 17.30 on the day
• RACE STARTS AT: 18.30 horas

Why horses at the Novena? See programme here

Anyone remotely interested in those (usually) tall four-legged things with long noses and fur they call horses, will know that the Novena celebrations in honour of Our Lady Queen of the Angels, patron saint of Jimena, includes a whole area, plus marquee, for them, as well as their mounts. It is run by the Peña Caballista El Estribo, a large group of local riding enthusiasts whose aim is to promote the world of horses and associated activities. Among other things, they take part in most if not all the parades around the village, have donkey and/or mule races, riding exhibitions and games and a lot more. See the El Estribo programme below, and check the Novena's FULL PROGRAMME HERE.>

The ladies meet tonight

Another annual event associated with the Novena celebrations in Los Ángeles (a.k.a. Estación) is the dinner for Women Only of the municipality, though this year budgetary restrictions have set it 'off programme' (the official start is tomorrow evening). So, if you are of the female persuasion, you could book yourself a dinner (€12 per head) and turn up tonight at 10pm at the Municipal Marquee. But there's more: music & dancing (the men sort of hang about, 'off limits), prizes for best dancing, best flamenco costume - and a whole lot of fun. The spirits behind this event are the tlocal wo women's organizations: Mujeres del 91 and Patio del Chato.

Cookery competition is a tradition of the Sunday at Novena

Called Concurso de Platos Típicos in Spanish, competition is intense on Sundays at the Novena celebrations in Estación de Jimena (or Los Ángeles). Local an area cooks bring their best efforts (photo of 2008), to be judged in several categories such as first and entré dishes, desserts and Typical of Jimena. The organizers hope to improve on the 84 dishes that competed last year. This year's edition is the 23rd and takes place at Plaza Práxedes Gómez, by the railway crossing, at midday on Sunday. CHECK THE FULL PROGRAMME HERE.

Michigán Urban Mile race, part of Novena's tradition

This year sees the 23rd edition of the Michigán Urban Mile race, one of the Campo de Gibraltar's main athletic attractions and held traditionally on the Saturday of the Novena celebrations there. Divided into several categories, the race includes everyone from veterans to children, attracting people from all over the area and has become more than an athletic event, with friends and families meeting for drinks after the race. This year's race starts at 5.30pm on Saturday . CHECK THE FULL PROGRAMME HERE. (Note: not sure why Michigán, except that this is the name of a section of Los Ángeles, or Estación.)

La Mojá, one of many events during La Novena

This is only one of many events held during celebrations in honour of Our Lady Queen of the Angels, Patron Saint of Jimena. The photos go back to 2008, but the main difference is that the people will be just a little bit older this time around. More important: they still have their little child inside. Enjoy!

SEE THE FULL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS BELOW