The most important festival in Alicante is the Bonfires of Saint John, which takes place around the summer solstice each year. The tradition is celebrated throughout Valencia, but Alicante’s festivities are exceptional. During this celebration, people burn old furniture as firewood, hold bullfights and sports matches, and set off firecrackers. During this time, there are celebrations like the Feast of San Pedro and acts such as the Children’s Exhibition, the Paella Contest and the Street Parade of Ninots. Such acts can also be found at other times of year, such as the Christmas Carol competition in December and the Beauty of Fire contest in May.

Most major Spanish festivals are celebrated in grand style at Alicante as well. The fiesta celebrating the battles of Moors and Christians is very popular and takes place in the summer. Organized processions march down the streets of Alicante and people dress in medieval costume. Christians wear armor and ride horses; Arabs carry scimitars and ride camels or even elephants. Right before Ash Wednesday, Alicante holds Carnival festivals with parades and other organized activities. People often dress in carnival costumes to celebrate.

Every year, during the week after Easter, about 200,000 Spanish pilgrims visit the monastery of Santa Faz to worship. They walk the 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the town hall to the monastery wearing traditional laborer clothing and carrying pilgrims’ canes. This is considered the second most important pilgrimage in Spain (after the Andalusian Rocío).