The Municipal Board of Fuencarral-El Pardo, in collaboration with various institutions and social entities, is celebrating the 75th anniversary of El Pardo’s annexation to the Villa de Madrid. This significant milestone was officially recorded in the last session of the Pardo municipal plenary on March 17, 1951. To mark this occasion, the district has organized a series of commemorative events that will run until the end of the month.
Inauguration and Historical Reenactment
The commemorative program will be inaugurated on Saturday, March 21, at 11:30 AM, by the district councilor, José Antonio Martínez Páramo, at the bandstand in Mar Océana Park. During the inauguration, various plaques of recognition will be presented to entities and individuals for their outstanding contributions to this Madrid neighborhood.
An hour later, a parade and historical reenactment of the signing of the annexation act will take place, led by the Historical-Cultural Association Volunteers of Madrid 1808-1814. In the afternoon, starting at 6:00 PM, the Alfonso XII Sociocultural Center will host the awards ceremony for the Photopoetry Contest, organized by the Emilio Carrère Cultural Association.
Tribute to Cecilia and Guided Tours
On Sunday, March 22, at 11:00 AM, historian Javier Fernández will lead a guided tour focusing on illustrious residents of the district. At 12:30 PM, at the Mar Océana Park bandstand, Martínez Páramo will present an advance of the commemorative book on El Pardo’s annexation to Madrid, alongside the authors Julián Félix Ruiz and Javier Fernández.
A venison stew tasting will commence at 2:00 PM. Later in the day, at 6:00 PM, the district councilor will unveil a monolith in memory and tribute to the singer-songwriter Cecilia. Half an hour later, Lydia Martín will offer a concert as a tribute to this local artist, who was a key figure in Spanish music during the 1970s.
Activities for Seniors and Schoolchildren
The program also includes activities for various age groups. On Monday, March 23, at 12:30 PM, the Alfonso XII Sociocultural Center will host a ‘zum-baile’ exhibition by a group of seniors, showcasing the physical exercise activities offered at municipal senior centers.
Educational activities for schoolchildren are also planned. On Tuesday, at 11:30 AM, students from the Monte de El Pardo Early Childhood and Primary Education Center and San Francisco School will attend a presentation of the ‘El Pardo in Minecraft’ video game at the Alfonso XII Center auditorium, led by Professor Pablo Nieto from Rey Juan Carlos University. The following day, starting at 11:00 AM, these same schools will visit the Civil Guard’s Canine and Remount Service facilities. On Thursday, March 26, from 3:00 PM, a science fair will be held at the CEIP Monte de El Pardo facilities.
Roundtables, Cultural, and Sports Events
The Alfonso XII Center auditorium will host several roundtables. On Thursday, March 26, at 6:00 PM, a discussion will take place on the 73-year history of the Agrupación Deportiva El Pardo. The meeting will be moderated by Juan Antonio Arteaga, former director of the entity, and will feature César Ávila and Antonio Famadas, current and former presidents respectively, along with former coaches and players from the football and basketball sections.
On Friday, March 27, at 6:00 PM, a roundtable on the history of the old town of El Pardo will be held at the same center. The discussion, presented by Francisco José Arroyo ‘Chesco,’ president of the Mingorrubio Residents’ Association, and moderated by journalist Virginia Delgado, will include historians who are also residents of the neighborhood. Additionally, between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM, the El Pardo Youth Leisure and Advice Center will organize a quiz game about El Pardo for young people aged 14 to 30.
On Saturday, March 28, at 6:30 PM, the Háblame Teatro company will perform the comedy ‘El amor del perro y el gato’ by Enrique Jardiel Poncela at the sociocultural center’s auditorium.
Sunday, March 29, will feature a guided trail starting at 11:00 AM, organized by the Montecarmelo Nature Interpretation Center, to discover ‘other inhabitants of El Pardo.’ From March 23 to 25, guided tours of the El Pardo Hydrodynamic Experience Center (INTA-CEHIPAR) are scheduled from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
A football 7 tournament for grassroots categories, from pre-benjamin to infant, organized by AD El Pardo, will take place at the Mingorrubio Basic Municipal Sports Facility from March 27 to 29.
Exhibitions and Cultural Displays
Finally, from March 21 to 29, the Alfonso XII Sociocultural Center will host various exhibitions. The public will be able to view works from the Photopoetry Contest, a videoloop with images of El Pardo, airplanes built by CEIP Monte de El Pardo students in a workshop organized by the National Institute of Aerospace Technology, and drawings by the schoolchildren of the educational center.
Source: https://diario.madrid.es/blog/notas-de-prensa/el-pardo-celebra-el-75o-aniversario-de-su-anexion-a-madrid/
