Family Fun at the Cabo Roig St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Introduction

Now into the 12th year of this annual Irish event, the traditional St. Patrick’s Day parade in Cabo Roig promises this year to once again bring the steets to life with a sea of green and festivities.

With a boast of being the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration anywhere on Mainland Europe, the 2025 event promises to be even bigger and better than ever before! This is thanks largely to the dedication of all the local fundraisers and businesses who club together to raise the funds each year that are needed to put on a party of this scale.

Sadly (and unusually), as a lot of this year’s Costa Blanca Mardi Gras Carnival events were washed out by the weather, we have not been able to enjoy our usual annual overload of colourful celebrations. For anyone missing their fix, this is all the more reason for you to check out this year’s Cabo Roig St. Patrick’s Day parade.

If you’ve not been before, it’s a great fun (and free) family event that takes place each year in Orihuela Costa in the south of Costa Blanca. For anyone Irish, or just “up for the craic”, it is not to be missed. Expect marching bands, colourful dancers, stilt walkers and much more!

Where is the Cabo Roig St. Patrick’s Day parade?

The parade takes place each year in the Cabo Roig area of Orihuela Costa, in the south of Costa Blanca. Cabo Roig has a long history with Irish expats and retains a large Irish community to this day, making it the ideal location.

The parade runs along the stretch of bars, restaurants and shops that front onto the N332 road, known locally as the ‘Cabo Roig Strip’.

What date is the Cabo Roig St. Patrick’s Day parade?

This year, the 2025 parade takes place on Sunday 16th March.

What time does the Cabo Roig St. Patrick’s Day parade start?

The parade is scheduled to start at 3pm from Calle Agua, before progressing to the N332 ‘strip’ and heading north along it.

Unlike many of the other Spanish Carnival parades that take place locally, the Cabo Roig St. Patrick’s Day parade usually actually starts pretty promptly on time, so don’t be late!

The parade usually lasts for around half an hour.

Top Tips for Watching the Cabo Roig St. Patrick’s Day Parade with Kids

As a fun family event, the Cabo Roig St. Patrick’s Day parade is perfect for taking kids to. The Sunday afternoon timeslot is very child-friendly. Children are sure to enjoy all of the colour and spectacle on offer on the day.

The parade is a very popular event that draws big crowds. On a sunny day you can expect literally tens of thousands of people to attend. With that in mind, there are a few things to consider to ensure that you get the most out of watching the event:

• Arrive early to find a spot somewhere. You don’t want to be squeezed into a crowd with moaning children where you can’t even see anything!
• For more space and smaller crowds, head to the southern end of the ‘strip’ (furthest from KFC).
• Reserve a table in a restaurant along the ‘strip’. That way you are guarenteed a seat and somewhere to watch from.
• Expect the parade to be loud. Be prepared for this if you have children (or pets) who are sensitive to noisy areas.
• If you don’t have anything green to wear or a silly hat, don’t fear – there are plenty being sold all over the place on the day!
• Be sure to stay around after the parade to enjoy more of the celebrations. Several bars have live music going on into the night. Also, don’t forget about the Irish bars on the other side of the main N332 road. These are sure to also be lively but may not have quite such large crowds.
• If you are wanting to give something back, the chosen charity for this year is the A Helping Hand Food and Clothes Bank. Look out for people collecting on the day for this very worthy cause.

In Summary

Whether you’re Irish, or just pretending to be for the day, all are welcome at the Cabo Roig St. Patrick’s Day parade and celebrations in Orihuela Costa. It’s a fun and vibrant event that not only showcases the local Irish community for the day, but also allows everyone to have a big party!

So, dust off your novelty hat, grab something green and get involved. You can be sure that the Guinness will keep flowing long into the night…