The highlight of the year is the Bonfires of San Juan festival (20-24 June), with its parades of huge papier-mâché figures that are gleefully burned on the night of 24 June, accompanied by deafening fireworks. The five-mile pilgrimage to the Santa Faz monastery from the cathedral (second Thur after Easter) is Alicante’s other major event, attracting around 200,000 participants. Cultural festivals include the International Festival of Music, and Theatre and Dance (July and Aug respectively), the Contemporary Music Festival (late Sept) and the International Puppet Festival, ‘Festitíteres’ (1-11 Dec); for details of dates and venues see www.alicanteturismo.com.

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