The L’Andorra Shopping Festival kicked off with a bang this weekend, despite the seemingly unfavorable weather conditions. The activities and entertainment organized on the streets drew a special participation from the attendees. One of the new attractions this year was the installation of selfie points, which proved to be a constant draw for the younger consumers. The selfie points featured dreamy backdrops, such as the one named „Un món magenta“ on Avinguda Meritxell, where visitors couldn’t resist the temptation to capture the moment, as noted by Glòria Clapés, a grandmother accompanying her two granddaughters from Ordino. She shared, „I came to spend a few days with my granddaughters, who are from Ordino, and they asked me to take them to the festival. I didn’t know about it, but they did.“
The festival also saw a steady flow of participants in the children’s activities, such as face painting and drawing in the darkroom. Yassmina Agharbi, one of the animators, mentioned that both Saturday and Sunday mornings saw consistent participation, although there was a slight dip in attendance on Saturday afternoon due to the rain. Xavi López, in charge of the darkroom, confirmed Agharbi’s statement, saying, „We had families throughout the weekend. During the rain, the only difference was that there were no queues.“
The festival’s kickoff was also significant for some restaurateurs who offered traditional Andorran cuisine menus as part of the Andorra Taula initiative. Caren Lorena Rueda, from the restaurant L’Isard, mentioned that they were fully booked all weekend, with all diners opting for the festival menus. As expected, the participation in the activities translated into sales for some of the businesses that had special promotions. Milena Cortés, a sales assistant at Júlia Ònix, noted an increase in sales for products that were part of a special promotion for the festival. Sultan Elaufi, who was strolling the streets with his family carrying bags of purchases, shared that they had been coming from Barcelona for the festival for the past five years.
Overall, the L’Andorra Shopping Festival proved to be a hit with attendees of all ages, offering a mix of entertainment, activities, and shopping opportunities that catered to a diverse audience. Despite the weather challenges, the festival managed to create a vibrant and engaging atmosphere that left a positive impression on both visitors and businesses participating in the event. With such a successful start, it’s clear that the L’Andorra Shopping Festival will continue to be a must-visit event for locals and tourists alike in the years to come.