This week has been very busy and exciting for anyone living or visiting Alicante. The fiesta Hogueras de San Juan is a week-long fiesta with music, fogueres, dances, food and fun. We have been trying to take in as much of the fiesta as possible.

The street parties were set up in almost every neighbourhood. The block parties were fenced in and most of them had an ornate gate made for the fiesta. Below are a few of the “gates” for the block party entrances.

We headed out each day to take part in some of the fiesta activities. We have put together some of the highlights of the week activities below.

There were block parties every night and music until the early morning hours. Fireworks and firecrackers were a continues activity.   People were gathered in large crowds enjoying the fiesta and the different events. We came across numerous bands that would walk throughout the city playing music. The video below is an example of  only one of the talented groups wandering through the city playing music.

https://youtu.be/FdP4tqoQ3Vo

We saw amazing fogueres and displays that were both artistic and creative. There were parades that took place all week. We attended some of the parades and enjoyed seeing the traditional clothing and listening to the music. They even had a “Nanos y Gegants” parade, which was very enjoyable. People put on large paper-mache heads  and walk through the streets. There are main characters which are very large approximately 18 feet high that promenade through the streets. They stop along the way and dance and twirl to music.

People sing and walk along the parade and encourage other people to take part. It was neat to watch them in the parade.

https://youtu.be/8YkKQUirs4E

“Adios y que tenga un gran dia”