The councillor for neighbourhoods and localities, Llanos Navarro, has announced the 39th edition of the Saffron Rose Festival in Santa Ana, emphasising that "our localities contribute an essential part of Albacete's identity and deserve recognition for their cultural activities." The festival will take place on Saturday, 7 November, featuring crafts, gastronomy, folklore, and activities related to saffron.
During the announcement, Navarro was joined by Juan José Segura, the local mayor of Santa Ana; Alberto Montesinos, director of the Abuela Santa Ana Folklore Group; José Antonio Gómez, provincial deputy for the Environment; and Ramón Sáez, provincial delegate for Agriculture. She expressed her gratitude for their presence and participation in promoting a festival that "has much to share about our land and the people who keep its traditions alive."
Navarro stated that "the City Council aims to support this work," highlighting the contributions of cultural groups and local residents in preserving and transmitting local heritage. She defended the importance of supporting cultural activities that arise from citizen involvement, allowing for the sharing of knowledge, customs, and forms of expression that are part of Albacete's history.
She extended special thanks to the Abuela Santa Ana Folklore Group and its director, Alberto Montesinos, "for nurturing folklore with such diligence and for knowing how to share it." Navarro also acknowledged the collaboration of local residents who help prepare the festival, enabling visitors to experience their customs through music and saffron harvesting.
Regarding the festival's continuity, which reaches its 39th edition, Navarro highlighted the dedication of those who invest "time, effort, and love in preparing a celebration that is part of this locality's life and Albacete's cultural heritage." She encouraged the people of Albacete to visit Santa Ana to enjoy its hospitality and participate in this celebration, emphasising that "understanding the work behind our traditions is also a way to learn to value them."
Provincial deputy for the Environment, José Antonio Gómez, joined in congratulating both the Abuela Santa Ana Folklore Group and the locality, underscoring the significance of such events in the region. He noted that alongside showcasing one of the province's most emblematic products and its harvesting process, the festival also highlights the ethnographic and cultural heritage. "Events like this not only promote our great products, in this case, saffron with Designation of Origin, and where it is cultivated, involving the youngest, but also value traditional music," he stated, emphasising the essential work and history of the festival's driving group and the importance of this product for the region.
Gómez also pointed out the festival's potential as a driver of local economy and tourism, stressing the value of such celebrations in showcasing a region through its distinctive elements. He noted that the Saffron Rose Festival attracts around a thousand people each year, including visitors, participants, and enthusiasts of popular traditions. "Tourism has changed; tourists no longer just want to visit a place and take pictures; they want to taste it, participate in its traditions, and that is precisely the opportunity we provide with this festival," he affirmed, highlighting the artisanal and demanding nature of saffron production.
Gómez concluded by assuring that the Albacete Provincial Council will continue to support initiatives like this that promote local products and identity, fostering rural development. Ramón Sáez, provincial delegate for Agriculture, focused on the challenges facing saffron cultivation, particularly high temperatures, the need for specialised labour, and diseases affecting its yield. He advocated for collaboration to ensure the continuity of a crop closely linked to family economies and provincial traditions.
Finally, local mayor Juan José Segura announced that the 2026 Saffron Award will be posthumously awarded to Patrocinio Felipe, a member of the Abuela Santa Ana Folklore Group, musician, singer, and dancer, in recognition of his connection to the group and a life dedicated to agriculture, including saffron cultivation. He also highlighted the contribution of localities to Albacete's rural identity, noting that five families in Santa Ana continue to cultivate this "red gold," helping to keep the history of the locality alive.
39th saffron rose festival programme
The events on Saturday, 7 November, will commence at 11:00 with the opening of the Crafts Fair in the courtyard of the Santa Ana Sociocultural Centre. Artisans will showcase their work throughout the day, and during the morning, attendees can enjoy a demonstration and harvesting of saffron roses, a children's harvesting competition, music and dance in the square, a traditional clothing exhibition, and a gastronomic corner.
In the afternoon, at 17:30, there will be a parade of folklore groups, leading into the scheduled events in the Sociocultural Centre's hall. At 18:00, the saffron rose harvesting competition will take place, followed by the Saffron Award presentation at 18:15. The National Folklore Festival will commence at 18:30, featuring the Abuela Santa Ana Folklore Group as the host ensemble. The programme will continue at 19:30 with the award presentations for the harvesting competitions, concluding with a popular cuerva rosera tasting.
