Benidorm Events, Fiestas and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Benidorm, Costa Blanca, Spain)

Fiestas and parties are plentiful in the Benidorm area, with an extensive calendar of annual events. The most popular festivals and celebrations in Benidorm include the magnificent carnival festivities in February, the Fallas de San José (Feast of St. Joseph) each March, and the Holy Week processions leading up to Easter.

Also worth noting, the Hogueras de San Juan (Bonfires of St. John), at the end of June, attracts large crowds and features a big bonfire, together with fireworks, while the Benidorm Song Festival in August offers a number of outdoor concerts in the scenic Aiguera Park.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - Ano Nuevo / New Year's Day
• 5th January - Epifania / Epiphany
• 19th March - Dia de San José / St. Joseph's Day
• Late March or early April - Jueves Santo / Maundy Thursday
• Late March or early April - Viernes Santo / Good Friday
• 1st May - Fiesta del Trabajo / Labour Day
• 15th August - La Asunción / Feast of the Assumption
• 12th October - Nacional de Espana / National Day
• 1st November - Todos los Santos / All Saints' Day
• 6th December - Dia de la Constitución / Constitution Day
• 8th December - La Inmaculada Concepción / Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• 25th December - Navidad / Christmas Day

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Calvalcade of the Three Kings - January 5th, a parade of 'Three Kings' on horseback, followed by decorated floats handing out sweets to the onlooking crowds of children. This festival marks the end of the Christmas season.

February

• Carnaval - mid-February, spectacular carnival festivities throughout Benidorm and surrounding areas, including nearby Alicante, just 45 km / 28 miles south of Benidorm. Celebrations include colourful processions of decorated floats, street entertainment, music and dancing, and the tradition of burying of a sardine on Ash Wednesday.

March

• Holy Week - late March / early April, Holy Week in Benidorm, with a host of religious celebrations and processions around the town, leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
• Fallas de San José (Feast of St. Joseph) - mid-March, with a range of festivities held in the Benidorm area and nearby fishing village of Calpe.

April

• Santa Faz Pilgrimages (Peregrina de la Santa Faz) - mid-April, held in the Alicante area over two Thursdays, just after Easter Sunday. Spain's second-largest pilgrimage, the event attracts around 200,000 people.

May

• Cruces de Mayo (May Crosses) - mid-May, when much of Benidorm is decorated with flower-covered crosses, together with streets parties, music and dancing.

June

• Romeria de la Virgen del Rocio - mid-June, with horse parades, a fair alongside the bullring, and a host of traditional Andalucian festivities.
• Hogueras de San Juan (Bonfires of St. John) - late June, one of the most significant events in the Benidorm area, with many papier-maché figures displayed around the town for several days and then burnt on a big fire.

July

• La Virgen del Carmen - mid-July, a notable religious event comprising a number of parties, entertainment and late-night fireworks.
• St. James Festival - late July, celebrations honouring St. James, the Patron Saint of Benidorm.

August

• Benidorm Song Festival - mid-August, a number of activities and open-air concerts in Aiguera Park, appealing to both locals and visitors to Benidorm and hosted by the Town Council.
• Moros y Cristianos - late August, religious 'Moors and Christians Festival', held in Alicante's José Antonio district, around 45 km / 28 miles to the south of Benidorm

September

• Fiesta of Asturias - early September, with festivities based around the Asturias area.
• Harvest Festival - late September, a number of celebrations throughout the area, including church services.
• Moros y Cristianos - late September, religious 'Moors and Christians Festival' held in the Benidorm area and also in nearby Altea, around 13 km / 8 miles north of Benidorm.

October

• Fiestas of Imalsa II - early October, with celebrations during the first weekend of October.
• Moros y Cristianos - late October, religious 'Moors and Christians Festival' held in nearby in Calpe, a small village located 24 km / 15 miles from Benidorm.

November

• Patron Saint of the Town - late November, with a parade of carnival floats, street parties, concerts and a late-night fireworks display.

December

• Christmas Events - throughout December, many Christmas events and festivities are held all over Benidorm, including markets, parties and street entertainment.
• New Year's Eve - December 31st, parties and celebrations abound as the start of the next year approaches, with fireworks displays at midnight to mark the arrival of the new year. Large crowds always gather under the clock in Benidorm's Triangle Square.