Local
Starlite Festival to get go ahead to open later in summer after change in status
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The move is one step towards the summer concert series staying in the town, but a renewal of the lease on the venue is still not agreed
The mayor of Marbella, Ángeles Muñoz, has taken steps to ensure that the Starlite Festival, one of southern Europe's most important summer concert series, stays in the resort in future years.
The council will give the event Special Interest status, which will allow it to open for longer hours.
Last summer the future of the festival in Marbella, that runs for six weeks in July and August and attracts major national and international names, was in doubt, as councillors held organisers to the regular opening-time limits for other entertainment venues.
However the festival said it would rather move away from the resort than face restrictions that threatened its financial viability.
There is still no agreement with the town hall to use the open-air venue in the old Nagüeles quarry once again.
The site, in a protected area, is controlled by the regional government and the council wants to renew its rights to use it as a municipal venue for events and lease it out until 2026 to Starlite.
