Alicante, Spain is a brilliant holiday destination to visit at any time of year, though I think it really comes alive in the summer. While it has fantastic weather in the spring, autumn and winter, come here between June and August and you’ll discover the conditions to be even better. Add to that the great variety of festivals that are happening over this period, and I’m certain that you’ll have a memorable getaway.
Indeed, with a spectacular range of events set to take place in the coming months you can be sure of coming across something truly spectacular, no matter what your interests are. To give you a helping hand deciding which to attend, I’ve put together a bit of information about a few of the city’s top summer festivals.
Jazz Festival
I’m a huge music fan and, upon taking a Monarch flight to Alicante last summer, I headed to the local Jazz Festival. If you’re planning on visiting the city this year, it is certainly a spectacle that I recommend you check out.
Commonly referred to as Fijazz, this fantastic festival sees some of the leading names in world jazz converge on Alicante each July to perform in venues across the city.
Although the line-up for the 2013 event is yet to be announced, Grammy-winning singer Concha Buika, Spyro Gyra and the Roy Haynes Trio are among the acts to have performed in previous years so I’m more than confident that this year’s line-up will prove to be top-notch.
Bonfires of San Juan
To get a true taste of local life, I recommend you attend the Bonfires of San Juan festival (one of the best festivals in Alicante!). This traditional extravaganza marks the beginning of summer and, although it has been an official public event since 1928, the tradition of lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks goes back much further than this.
While much of the fun is traditionally centred around June 23rd, the Bonfires of San Juan has been extended to a fortnight of celebrations, featuring firework displays at the Plaza de los Luceros and a medieval market in Alicante’s historic centre. You’ll also get to see dance troupes from across the world perform, as well as observe floral tributes being offered to the Virgin of El Remedio, the city’s patron saint.
This year’s festivities last from June 14th to June 29th, so there should be plenty of opportunity for you to be part of the action, especially if you plan to go on a break before the start of the school summer holidays.
Feast of the Assumption
Lastly, I’m going to look at the Feast of the Assumption (or Virgin de la Paloma, as it is known in Spanish) which takes place every year on August 15th. Sadly, I didn’t get the chance to attend this event when I visited Alicante last year, but I really wish that I did!
This national holiday celebrates the life of the Virgin Mary and is marked by locals tucking into a delicious feast to mark both her passing and the assumption of her body up to heaven. Make sure that you’re in Alicante when the festival is on and you can expect to have the chance to enjoy some traditional Spanish fare.
If you’re thinking of visiting Alicante this summer, let us know by leaving a comment below. We’d love to hear from you!
