The Best Colourful Costa Blanca Carnival Parades 2025

Introduction

Carnival, since becoming an event in the Christian calendar, marks a period of celebrations in the build up to Lent. Taking place in February and sometimes March each year, the festivities usually grow to a climax on the last Saturday before the beginning of Lent, before coming to a conclusion on Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) or Ash Wednesday.

Carnival is characterised by groups of dancers parading in colourful and imaginative costumes to a soundtrack of loud and lively music. It is usually a real feast for the senses.

Mardi Gras is celebrated globally with extravagent parties and parades. While anyone coming from abroad might first think of places like Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans or the Carribean when picturing a Mardi Gras Carnival celebration, it is actually also a pretty big deal right here in Spain. Costa Blanca is no exception, with events taking place throughout the region.

This year, 2025, is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever. Almost every town and municipality throughout Costa Blanca hosts its own programme of events to mark the celebrations. These often include special sessions for kids as well as the main parades. Look out for local listings for more details. Often the smaller towns will hold their parties on prior weekends so they don’t clash with the larger events.

In almost all cases these local events and celebrations are open to anyone to attend, and have no cost involved. This makes them great free activities for kids in Costa Blanca.

As there would be too many Costa Blanca Carnival parades to possibly list them all, here I am instead highlighting some of the larger celebrations that are taking place in the bigger towns and cities of the region. They are spread throughout Costa Blanca, so whether you are looking for carnival parades in Benidorm, Carnival parades in Alicante or Carnival parades in Torrevieja, hopefully everyone can find something close to them to get involved with.

Taking Kids to a Costa Blanca Carnival Parade in 2025

While there is no denying that kids will likely love the colourful costumes and lively atmosphere of a Carnival parade, there are definitely some things to consider. These are our top tips for taking kids to a Costa Blanca Carnival parade in 2025:

• Don’t expect the parades to start on time. Regardless of where you are, you can almost guarentee that the parade will start later than the publicised time (in some cases, much later), so be ready for this. It can make for a late evening finish.
• The crowds of spectators can get very large. For a good view, don’t leave it too late to arrive. Kids can usually squeeze through to the front anyway though.
• The parades can be long. I mean, really long. Expect to be watching for several hours in some cases.
• There are sometimes seats, but you usually have to pay for them. A plastic seat for the duration of the parade usually costs €5. You can decide if you think that’s good value or not.
• Bring snacks and drinks for kids. They are sure to get tired, so this should help keep them going.
• There are usually stalls selling sweets and flashing toys. Bring some money if you’re going to want to buy something to keep your kids happy, or be ready for lots of “no, no, no” if you don’t!
• You don’t have to watch it all. If standing around for hours doesn’t appeal to you, you might just want to dip in and out. That way you can still experience some of a parade at least, hopefully without overwhelming your kids.

Remember, if the prospect of an evening parade sounds too much for your children, you could look out for other local events for kids taking place near you instead. However, nothing beats the atmosphere of the main Carnival night parades.

The Best Costa Blanca Carnival Parades 2025

As mentioned earlier, there are parades and events taking place throughout Costa Blanca. Even small towns usually host their own programme of celebrations.

Here are some of the Carnival events taking place in the major towns and cities of Costa Blanca. The exact timings are usually only released just before the events take place, but hopefully you can still get a general idea for what is taking place.

For more up-to-date details as they are released, keep following our Costa Blanca Kids Facebook Group.

#1 Calpe

The Carnival celebrations in Calpe, in the north of Costa Blanca, take place on Saturday March 1st, the last Saturday before Shrove Tuesday (or Mardi Gras). The event takes in Plaza Mayor in Calpe.

There is an early evening children’s parade, followed by a children’s disco, snacks and games. This is perfect for anyone not wanting to stay up for the main event.

This is followed by a fire procession with costumed participants, before the party continues all night with live music and a DJ.

#2 Benidorm

Like in Calpe, the main Carnival parade celebrations in Benidorm are taking place on Saturday March 1st. In the morning (around 11am), there is a smaller parade for children. The main parade is in the evening, starting around 9.30pm. The procession starts at the top end of Calle Ruzafa (nr Crystal Park Hotel) and ends up at the main Town Hall Square.

You can always expect plenty of elaborate costumes of all shapes and sizes.

On Tuesday March 4th, to mark the conclusion of the Carnival celebrations, a large model of a sardine fish is solemnly paraded and then burned in what is a curious local ritual known as the Burial of the Sardine.

#3 Alicante

The celebrations in the city of Alicante run from February 27th – March 9th 2025, will a full programme of events happening throughout. The festivities kick off with a spectacular parade of fire and fireworks. There are then many concerts and activities in the buildup towards the main event that takes place on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, known as Sabado Ramblero.

On Sabado Ramblero (March 1st in 2025), the city comes alive with parades and musical concerts along the Rambla de Mendez Nunez in Alicante city centre. The scene is almost like a giant masquerade ball.

On Ash Wednesday (March 5th), like in Benidorm, Alicante also celebrates the local custom of the Burial of the Sardine. A giant effigy of a sardine fish is paraded and then burned to mark the end of the festivities for another year.

#4 Torrevieja

The Torrevieja Carnival celebrations, in the south of Costa Blanca, take place between February 7th – March 2nd 2025. Torrevieja always goes big on its parades and this year is sure to be no different.

On Sunday 23rd February, starting at 4pm, there is a grand Carnival parade where all of the different groups display their costumes for the first time. There is a competition with a large cash prize for the best dressed.

These groups then get to display their amazing outfits once again on Saturday March 1st at 8pm, when the main night parade takes place, running right through the centre of the city. Expect lots of music and dancing that goes on into the night.

#5 Orihuela

Located a little inland in the south of Costa Blanca is the city of Orihuela. Taking place actually on the day of Mardi Gras (Tuesday March 4th), at a child friendly time of 6.30pm – 8.30pm, this year the city is promising two large marching bands, 15 children’s characters, stilt walkers and five floats with sound equipment, plus lots more!

#6 Orihuela Costa

Sadly, once again the people of Orihuela Costa have been left short-changed by Orihuela Council, as they have only allocated money for celebrations in the city (see above), with none set aside for the coastal communities of Orihuela Costa. Fortunately, local residents and sponsors have come together to ensure that an event can still take place.

The Orihuela Costa Carnival parade will take place on Saturday Februry 15th. It will begin at 5pm, travelling along Nicolás Bussi, from Calle Pintor Ribera to the Los Dolses school, where from 12pm there will also be live music and food, as well as bouncy castles for the kids.

Despite the lack of council support, the parade organisers are nonetheless promising 15 groups and over 400 participants, meaning it should still be a great spectacle.

#7 Pilar de la Horadada

The town of Pilar de la Horadada in the very south of Costa Blanca this year presents 2 days of Carnival celebrations on the weekend of March 1st and 2nd. There is a focus on activities for children so it should be a great family event.

On Saturday March 1st in the Church Square there is children’s entertainment from 11.30am, with games, face painters and a show, followed by a costume party with DJs from 3.30pm – 9.30pm.

This is followed on Sunday March 2nd by the grand Carnival parade along Calle Mayor through the centre of town, taking place at a child-friendly start time of 11am.

In Summary

Carnival always marks a really fun time of year. The sights and sounds of the colourful parades and events that fill the streets in the buildup to Lent are often real feasts for the senses.

While admittedly the long duration, large crowds and late ending times of some of the main Carnival parades can prove a bit challenging for attending with younger children, I still think it is worth making the effort for. Although the Spanish love any excuse for a fiesta or parade at any time of year, nothing compares with the main Carnival parades for their sheer colour and exuberance.

So, keep and eye out for Carnival events and parades happening near you in Costa Blanca in 2025. They’re not to be missed!