Costa Blanca Fiestas

Festivals and fiestas are a major part of Spanish life, with even the smallest village holding an annual celebration. Each fiesta is unique and has its own special blend of pageantry, parade, fireworks, costumes, dancing and feasting. During a fiesta, ordinary life grinds to a halt and everyone joins in the celebrations. It is important to remember that, as well as being a time for fun, Spanish fiestas are religious occasions and should be treated with due respect.

For more information on Fiestas and Festivals look at our page on customs and culture of spain.

Here are some of the most important (and most fun) fiestas in the Costa Blanca region:

Fiestas in Alicante

The Hogueras de San Juan - the Bonfires of St. John. 20th - 24th June.

This is the most important date in Alicante's festival calendar and has been declared of 'International Tourist Interest'! Enormous figures and sculptures of wood and papier-maché are erected on the night of the 20th June, to be burned 4 days later following a spectacular firework display, launched from the summit of the Santa Barbara castle. The festival is accompanied by street parades, bull fights, musical performances, dancing and many more activities. This is not to be missed!

Peregrina de la Santa Faz - Santa Faz Pilgrimages. Two Thursdays after Easter Sunday

One of Alicante's most popular festivals and the second largest pilgrimage in Spain where 200,000 people walk from the city centre to the Monasterio de Santa Faz (Monestary of the Holy Face). The walk takes about 2 1/2 hours with a stop for a traditional breakfast of Mistela wine and Anise rolls. The Monastery contains a relic said to be a piece of Veronica's Veil (the cloth used by Veronica to wipe the blood from Christ's face as he carried the Cross - the Veil was said thereafter to carry a perfect likeness of the face of Jesus Christ imprinted upon it).

Easter Parades

Many glorious processions take place from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday including the Cristo del Mar procession, the traditional Santa Cruz procession, the Silencio del Jueves Santo (on Easter Thursday), the Veronica procession along the Explanda de España on Good Friday, and the procession of La Virgen de la Alegría on Easter Sunday. Easter week is a really lovely time to visit Alicante and experience Spanish culture to the max.

Moros y Cristianos - the Moors and Christians Festival

This is one of the most traditional festivals in the Southern and Eastern part of Spain, celebrating the re-capturing of Spain from the Arabs in the 12th and 13th Century, where the townsfolk dress as either Moors or Christians to re-enact the battle for the capture of the castle. A great fun day with much eating, drinking and excitement for all the family.

Different districts of Alicante celebrate the Moros y Cristianos on different dates: