BerniaFest – Sierra Bernia’s own festival

MORE than 5,000 people attended the second BerniaFest Xalo festival celebrating the Marina Alta’s mountains. 
During the three-day event, the Club de Montaña Xalo organised activities for the youngest visitors including a zip line high above the Plaza Mayor and a climbing wall. 
Forty campervans entered the Encuentro Camper Xalo contest for the best conversion, with first prize going to a former Army telecommunications lorry. 
The festival also featured Fernando Arabi – “Curro” – who will run 800 kilometres to draw attention to Pompe disease, a rare genetic disorder, with his Km Solidaris project. 
Five hundred runners ran 23-kilometre Bodegas Xalo Bernia Moscatell Trail over Sierra Ferrer, whose women’s category was won by Aida Perez from Denia, a well-known participant in Ultra Trail runs. 
The men’s section was won by Ignasi Cardona from Javea who has won numerous international runs. 
Crowds flocked to the Rastro and the Farmers’ Market, which celebrated a special edition devoted to olive oil produced by nine cooperatives from the Marina Alta and inland mountain areas. 
Jalon town hall later thanked all the associations and groups who contributed to making BerniaFest such a success, heralding a third edition for 2020.