For almost a hundred years the Valencian colony has been celebrating the August festivities in honour of the “Virgen de los Desamparados”. The image of the Virgin was given by the women who belonged to this Valencian colony in 1943 in imitation of the one venerated in the Basilica of Valencia. It was crowned in the Elm Square; they also restored the altar and made a processional banner.
From the beginning, the festival had an integrating character between “Navajeros” and Valencians, without distinction, in which anyone who wanted to could register as a mayoral to enhance it.
At first it was held in September, but in 1946 it was changed to the last Sunday in August and nowadays it is held on the weekend closest to 15th August.
There are three days of “tríduo” that culminate in the religious festivity with a solemn mass and the procession, in which the “cofrades” participate dressed in their best clothes and the typical Valencian costume.
On the other hand, there are many recreational festivities that take place during these days, predominantly in the Elm Square, brotherhood dinners, games, activities and competitions for children, play-back, open-air dances, with great public participation in all the programmed events.
