Alicante Carnival
February
Kicking off with the Don Carnal and Dona Cuaresma plays, this action-packed festival lasts for a full three weeks. The main event is on 2 February, when a colourful parade winds through Alicante's main thoroughfares.
Pilgrimage of the Holy Visage
April
On the second Thursday after Easter, around 200,000 pilgrims from all over the world gather together in Alicante to worship at the Monastery of the Santa Faz. Traditionally, participants wear orchard-worker blousons and carry a pilgrim's cane as they journey up to the monastery. Fogueres de Sant Joan June Dating back for hundreds of years, this popular festival celebrates both St John and the beginning of summer. The burning of several satirical papier mache statues is followed by bonfires and fireworks at St Barbara Castle.
Festival de Jazz de Alicante
July-August
The international jazz elite jets into Alicante for this long-running music festival. Throughout the months of July and August, a series of planned concerts and events - not to mention plenty of free street performances - take place throughout the city. Virgen del Socorro September A parade in honour of the patron saint of sailors and fishermen processes through the Raval neighbourhood every year at the beginning of September. Fringe events include fireworks, music and dancing.