Elche Noche en Blanco opens more than 15 cultural venues for free evening

Elche will open more than 15 cultural venues for an evening of free activities when Noche en Blanco returns for its third year on Saturday, September 26.

Museums, heritage sites and other cultural spaces across the municipality will take part from 6:00 PM until midnight, with guided visits, theatre, talks, concerts, demonstrations and activities for families included in the programme.

More venues join Noche en Blanco this year

Several new locations are joining the programme for the third edition, increasing the number of places residents and visitors can explore during the evening.

They include Moli del Real, Casa de la Festa, the Moors and Christians Association Museum and Hort del Gat.

Moli del Real will host children’s activities connected with water, adding to a programme designed to appeal to different ages and interests.

All activities during Noche en Blanco are free. However, advance registration will be required for some events because the number of places available is limited.

The programme will run for six hours, allowing visitors to move between different museums, historic buildings and cultural spaces throughout the evening.

Firefighter demonstration among unusual activities

One of the more unusual events will demonstrate how firefighters would respond to a fire at the Basilica of Santa Maria.

Elsewhere, visitors can join a legends route through Elche city centre or attend a discussion exploring the origins of the city’s famous Palmeral.

Hort del Gat will offer an opportunity to learn more about the restoration of works, while other participating venues will stage concerts, theatre, talks and guided visits.

The variety of activities is intended to encourage people to discover parts of Elche’s cultural and historic heritage in a different setting.

Museums swap exhibits for special challenge

Museums will add another twist to the evening with Fuera de Lugar, an activity challenging visitors to spot exhibits that are not where they would normally expect to find them.

Items will be swapped between different collections, turning visits into a challenge to identify which exhibits are out of place.

The initiative adds an interactive element to an evening already featuring activities across more than 15 locations.

Elche’s third Noche en Blanco takes place on Saturday, September 26 from 6:00 PM until midnight.

The full programme, including details of activities requiring advance registration, is available through Elche Town Hall.