On the eve of Lent, there is a festival called Carnival. Between February and March (the date varies from year to year) for a little over a week, the pagan festival takes over the streets of the city, filling it with music, costumes, and joy.
Of all the festivals celebrated in Alicante, after the bonfires of San Juan, carnivals are the second most important in terms of the number of people gathered.
Unlike other carnivals that are celebrated throughout Spain, Carnival in Alicante is characterized by its openness. Everyone is welcome, with no closed spaces or groups. People can actively participate in the activities and the streets are filled with all sorts of costumes.
What day is Carnival in 2024?
The Alicante Carnival will take place from February 10 to 13, 2024. They will start on Thursday with Dijous de Gras, with the official proclamation a day later, and Saturday, February 10, will be the big day with Saturday Ramblero.
Day and night, Rambler Saturday
The so-called Ramblero Saturday is a day when the city lives without rest. In the afternoon the center of Alicante starts to take on an atmosphere, this is the famous afternoon. People come here to try tapas and warm up in the many pubs in and around Castaños.
As night falls, the Rambla becomes the center of attention. Thousands of people flock to this avenue and fill it, dancing to the rhythm of the music, dressed in original costumes. There we can find characters of all stripes, from classic costumes (Indians and cowboys, superheroes, nuns, Vikings, etc.) to the latest. The street party lasts until the early morning hours. When curfew rings, it’s time to decide whether to extend the night at the club or energize with churros before heading home.
Alicante Carnival 2024 program of events
(*) All dates are provisional due to the lack of publication of the official festival calendar.
▷ February 8: Dijos de Gras and Correfoc
Starting at 21:30, traffic will be blocked due to the celebration of “Dijos de Gras, Correfoc, Ball de Diables and Arribada del Momo”.
The route will be from Plaza 25 May, Calderón de la Barca, Alfonso X El Sabio, Rambla Mendez Núñez, General Primo de Rivera, Virgen de Belén, Abad Najera to Plaza del Carmen.
From 20:00, a parking ban will be enforced along the entire route.
▷ February 9: Friday’s proclamation
At 9:30 p.m., the official start of Carnaval Alicante 2020 will be proclaimed at Plaza del Carmen.
▷ February 10: Rambler Saturday.
There will be performances for the whole family with workshops, storytelling and other activities throughout the day.
From 19:00 to 21:00, a parade featuring Batucada at Teniente Daoís, Avares and Plaza del Carmen.
Starting at 22:00, music will start playing on the Rambla de Mendez Nunez to set the rhythm for the thousands of people who come there in costume.
Traffic restriction: from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm during the parade, which will take place along the route: Teniente Daoís, Avares and Plaza del Carmen, parking is prohibited from 3:00 pm. Also, traffic will be stopped on the Rambla de Mendez Nunez starting at 6:30am and parking will be prohibited from 8:00pm on March 1 for the installation of facilities. The festival will end around 4:30am and the entire Rambla will be fully open to traffic starting at 7:00am Sunday morning.
▷ February 11: Carnival Sunday
▷ February 12: Carnival Tuesday.
The one known as “Pelele’s Trial and Procession” will start from Plaza San Cristóbal, Labradores Street, Muñoz, Major, San Nicolás, San Pascual, Abad Naher streets to Plaza del Carmen. (Traffic is restricted from 21:00 to 23:30 on the entire route)
▷ February 13: Burial of the Sardine
A celebration of the “Burial of the Sardine and its Funeral Procession,” marking the end of celebrations until next year and the beginning of Lent. Starting at 21:00, the parade will go from the Pantheon de Quijano, Plaza de España, Calderón de la Barca, Alfonso el Sabio, Tomás L. Torregrosa, Duke of Zaragoza, Ruperto Chapi, Theater, Bazan, Girona, Rambla, Miguel Soler. from San Nicolás to Plaza del Carmen, where Dimoni will burn the sardine.