If you want the short answer… it’s the best party of the year in Alicante!

You may have heard of Hogueras or “Fogueres” and wondered what it is. This post is going to give you all you need to know so that you can understand and immerse yourself in what is the biggest, loudest and most fun festival in Alicante. If we were to sum up Hogueras in a nutshell, we could say that it’s a festival that runs from June 19 to June24 during which there are parades, fires, dancing, gunpower, music, mayhem and revelry.

In short, Hogueras is a totally crazy (but super fun) time to be in Alicante!

The Monuments and Ninots

Every year, around the summer solstice, stunningly beautiful monuments, some towering up to 30 feet are crafted intricately from foam, wood, cardboard and paper and placed all over the city. Often the monuments take the form of people but often they are more fantastical and dreamlike. Each one tries to tell some kind of message, whether it´s satirical or celebratory. This planting of the monuments all over the city is called La Planta.

There is usually a very large central monument and then some smaller ones surrounding it. These smaller ones are called Ninots. As the monuments are dispersed all over the city it’s difficult to see all of them but if you’d like to find them you can download the Hogueras App (Foguer App) as it will show the location of each one. There are nearly 90 in total !

Some of the larger and best known monuments will be at the following places

• Plaza del Ayuntamiento (the biggest of all)
• Florida
• Benalúa
• Gran Via
• Plaza Séneca
• Mercado
• The Port
• Carolinas

If you don’t know your way around the city too well we would suggest that you can also pick up a free shuttle bus outside El Corte Inglés that does a tour round Alicante city in order to view the monuments. You can get off any where and then get the next bus to return.

La Cremá

On the night of the 24th of June, they have La Cremá. This is where a colossal firework in the shape of a giant tree is set off from the top of Santa Bárbara Castle at the stroke of midnight. It´s actually over 1,000 fireworks set off at exactly the same time and when they explode outwards it looks like a palm tree.

This palm tree firework is so huge that it can be seen all over the city and is the signal for all the monuments and Ninots to be set ablaze. In each district of the city the monument is set on fire along with some fireworks for good measure. The fire represents the removal of evil spirits and a purifying in readiness for the next cycle of festivities to start all over again.

The Museum of the Hogueras

When we said all of the Monuments and Ninots are burned, this is true…all except for one. Throughout the festival, the public and juries vote for their favouriteNinot and the winner is the only one that is spared from the flames and displayed in the museum of Hogueras. The museum houses several saved Ninots from past years, showcasing some fantastic creations from the last century, If you get a chance to visit, you should. Entrance is free.

(Museum link: https://www.alicante.es/es/equipamientos/museu-fogueres)

Prepare to get wet!

One of the real fun things to take part in on the same night as La Cremá is the “bany” (bath). Of course, with so much fire there needs to be firefighters on hand to protect the building close to the fires and to make sure no fire gets out of hand. Once the fire is under control, the fun begins as the crowd tease and taunt the firefighters who in return will soak anyone who wants it.

This is hugely popular with people of all ages and is a welcome relief from the summer heat. As there are a lot of fires all over the city, some people go from fire to fire just to get wet.

Committees and Damas (Beauty Queens)

Each neighbourhood has a committee called the “bonfire” committee/club and these clubs are responsible for the bonfire and statues in that area. Each committee also selects a representative to compete for the title of Belleza del Fuego (beauty of the fire). The winner becomes the figurehead for the whole Hogueras celebrations. During Hogueras you will see people all over the city in the typical Alicantino traditional dress, which is very beautiful.

Gunpowder , Fireworks and the Mascletà

Gunpowder is one of the most important elements of Hogueras. The gunpowder in the form of fireworks and mascletàs accompanies the people of Alicante during the whole festival. Every day at 2pm they have a mascletà. This takes place in Luceros and is where a huge amount of gunpowder is fired in a calculated rhythm to create a kind of symphony of noise. It lasts only 5 minutes and increases in power and noise as the minutes go by. By the last minute of the mascletà you can feel the quaking of the explosion beating through your whole body.

There are also lots of traditional fireworks displays all over the city and then huge displays on the beach in the immediate days after La Cremá. This again is another competition amongst the pyrotechnic companies.

Parades

During the Hogueras in Alicante there are lots of parades. In fact, it feels a bit like London buses… if you´ve just missed one don´t worry there´ll be another one along in a minute! THere’s lterally parades everyday and often more than one per day.

We won’t list them all but the list includes the parades of the flowers, the parade of the giant headed people (famously known in Spain by Gigantes y Cabezudos) and the Ninots and the dancing parade. But, we think the best of all is the international parade. This is a lovely parade where groups of people from countries around the world parade through the streets of Alicante with their typical costumes and their regional dances.

Street Parties

Across the city during Hogueras, you’ll find large gazebos called Barracas set up in the streets, where drinks and foods are served, and lively parties are held. Some of the Barracas are open to the public and these are called reacós and some are privately run by the various Hogueras clubs. The partying and music goes on all night long until 6am and then after 2 hours of rest, loud brass bands parades the streets accompanied by people setting off huge strings of firecrackers. This is called the “despierta” or, in English, the “wake up”.

Music, the Dolçaina and the Tabales of the Hogueras

The Dolçaina and the Tabales are both very traditional instruments. The Tabal is a small drum and the dolçaina is a small flute/clarinet type instrument with a very characteristic and slightly harsh sound. It´s guaranteed at Hogueras that you will hear this everywhere. In terms of music, there is also a hymn to the Alicante Hogueras and it is played at every event. It’s a bit like a stirring national anthem. there are also other songs that are traditioanl to sing after certain events such as the Mascletà.

Bonfires and picnics on the beach

One of the most atmospheric events of the week is when they allow bonfires on the beach to celebrate the summer solstice. Thousands of groups of friends and families take food, wine and spirits of celebration on the beach, where they light bonfires and sit around them. Sometimes you´ll see people jumping through the fires too. It´s truly mesmerizing experience to wander in amongst all the small groups and their fires on that special night.

Origins of Hogueras

The origins of the festival go back to 1928 as a way to entice even more tourists to come to Alicante, especially on the trains from Madrid. It was inspired by Las Fallas in Valencia. While the Valencians criticized the Alicantinos for ‘copying’ their festival, this criticism only motivated the locals to enhance and expand the Hogueras festival each year. A few years later, the first Belleza del Fuego (beauty queen of the fire) contest was introduced to give the festival a representative and a central figure. They wear traditional costumes dating back to the 19th century, aiming to preserve the original essence of the festival.

In Valenciano (the local language) the festival is called Fogueres and sometimes it´s called the San Juan Bonfires.

So, what is Hogueras in Alicante?

Hogueras in Alicante is a time of wonder, a time of fire and a time of tradition. It´s celebrated fully during the last week of June but throughout the year there are activities and events that are held in preparation for the build up to the main event.

Hogueras in Alicante is an Unmissable celebration that captures the essence of Alicante´s spirit and culture. From the stunning pyrotechnic displays to the vibrant street parades, Hogueras in Alicante offers a truly unforgettable experience for anyone who attends. Whether you´re drawn in by the allure of the bonfires or the party atmosphere of the festivities, this annual event is always an exciting sight to behold. If you can be here you will immerse yourself in the magic of Hogueras in Alicante and discover why it´s a must-see attraction for locals and tourist alike.

To view all the upcoming activities for the Hogueras click here: https://hogueras.com/calendario-de-hogueras/

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