On the eve of Lent, the festival of Carnaval takes place. Between February and March (the date varies from year to year) for just 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 celebrated throughout Spain, the carnival in Alicante is characterised 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?
Alicante Carnival will take place from 10 to 13 February 2024. They will start on Thursday with the Dijous de Gras, a day later there will be the official proclamation and Saturday, 10 February, will be the big day with the Ramblero Saturday.
Day and night, Ramblero Saturday.
The so-called Ramblero Saturday is a day when the city lives without rest. In the afternoon the centre 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 takes centre stage. 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 hours of the morning. When curfew rings, it’s time to decide whether to extend the night at the club or energise with churros before heading home.
Alicante Carnival 2024 event programming
(*) All dates are provisional due to the lack of publication of the official festival calendar.
▷ 8 February: Dijus 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, there will be a parking ban along the entire route.
▷ 9 February: Friday Proclamation.
At 21:30, the official start of Carnaval Alicante 2020 will be proclaimed at the Plaza del Carmen.
▷ 10 February: Rambler Saturday.
Throughout the day there will be performances for the whole family with workshops, storytelling and other activities.
From 19:00 to 21:00, a parade with Batucada at Teniente Daoís, Avares and Plaza del Carmen.
From 22:00, the Rambla de Mendez Núñez will play music to set the rhythm for the thousands of people who come there in costume.
Traffic restrictions: from 7:00pm to 9:00pm during the parade, which will take place along the route: Teniente Daoís, Avares and Plaza del Carmen, parking will be prohibited from 3:00pm. Traffic will also be stopped on the Rambla de Mendez Núñez from 6:30am and parking will be prohibited from 8:00pm on the evening of 1 March for the installation of facilities. The festival will end around 4:30am and the entire Rambla will be fully open to traffic from 7:00am Sunday morning.
▷ 11 February: Carnival Sunday
▷ 12 February: Carnival Tuesday.
The one known as “Pelele’s Trial and Procession” will start from Plaza San Cristobal, 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)
▷ 13 February: Sardine Funeral.
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, Theatre, Bazan, Girona, Rambla, Miguel Soler. from San Nicolás to Plaza del Carmen, where Dimoni will burn the sardine.
*** Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) ***