The Independent Citizens' Group for Aranjuez (acipa) positively assesses the festivals but denounces the lack of support and a fairground it deems unfit for a municipality of nearly 70,000 inhabitants.
The Independent Citizens' Group for Aranjuez (acipa) has reviewed the 2026 Riot Festival, held in the municipality in the early days of September. The independent party gives a good overall rating to the edition but again focuses on two chronic issues: the lack of funding from other administrations and the location of the fairground.
The spokesperson councillor for acipa, Jesús Mario Blasco, highlighted the work of associations, groups, entrepreneurs, clubs, fan groups, and residents who make the festivals possible in the neighbourhoods, the sporting events, the pirate descent, and the representation of the Riot and the Assault on Godoy's House.
We take our hats off and value the work carried out by each and every one of those who make the festivals possible. It would be very difficult to name all those involved, so we want to thank everyone for the enormous work and effort made before, during, and after the celebration.
However, Blasco insists that the current fairground is “unfit” for a town approaching 70,000 inhabitants. The councillor criticises that every year the main entrance and exit of the municipality becomes congested, that pedestrians require police presence to cross safely, and that attendees have to park “anywhere”.
Fortunately, once again, there have been no tragedies to lament, but it remains illogical that the main entrance and exit of the town must be congested due to the fairground. We are a municipality of over 60,000 inhabitants and we cannot continue to install the fair in a space like the current one.
For acipa, the Raso de la Estrella is, despite its shortcomings, the best option right now for locating the fairground, although it acknowledges that users of the macro have had to attend “completely in the dark”. The party calls on the municipal government for a space that can be accessed safely on foot and asks to “open the can” regarding the fairground's location before the end of the legislature.
The spokesperson has also criticized the Community of Madrid for not funding a festival that, he reminds, is the only one in the region declared of International Tourist Interest.
We cannot understand why, if we are the only municipality in the Community of Madrid with a festival declared of International Tourist Interest, the regional administration has not yet provided funding for its celebration. When the Community decides to create a Formula 1 circuit, it does so. When there is a will, the unimaginable can be achieved.
Regarding the development of the festivals, acipa positively assesses the massive turnout at the musical performances and the level of the Assault and the Representation. About the Goyesca Bullfight, it highlights the enormous impact generated in the city, which recorded nearly full occupancy. The party also mentions minor incidents, especially in the macro and vandalism in the centre, although overall it considers that the festivals were safe thanks to the security forces. It also calls for continued efforts to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors.
Acipa also demands greater financial support from the City Council, which according to its data allocates over 200,000 euros to the representation of the Riot. “We hire and manage what the budget allows,” emphasizes Blasco, who insists that if the title of International Tourist Interest “dignifies the region”, it should financially support its positioning on the international map.
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