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The Cabo Roig strip will proudly turn green again on Sunday 16 March 2025. Time for the St. Patrick's Day parade. The moment that not only the large contingent of Irish on the Costas look forward to every year. Visitors to this popular event come from far and wide to join in the festivities. This will be the twelfth time that thousands will gather at this location on the Orihuela Costa to pay tribute to the patron saint of the Irish in a wildly patriotic way.
For the uninitiated, St. Patrick's Day is a strange celebration. After all, where in the world is the patron saint of a country put in the spotlight and cheered on as much as the Irish do with their St. Patrick? Probably nowhere. In fact, the festivities for other patron saints such as George (England), David (Wales), Andrew (Scotland) and James (Spain) hardly exist or pale in comparison to the Irish celebrations. Newcomers may wonder what makes the Cabo Roig strip so special. First of all, it is claimed that this parade is the most important on mainland Europe. And to add to the drum roll, Radio Orihuela described last year's St. Patrick's Day celebrations as the best organised festival in the Vega Baja area.
The parade will, as usual, feature a long procession of bands playing traditional music, dancers and the most eccentric and imaginatively dressed revellers. The costumes are fancy enough to make a good impression in any carnival procession. Last year alone, 43 groups took part in the parade. And this year will probably be no different. Decorated floats also parade through the streets. Traditionally, the parade starts at 3pm.
As a foretaste of the colourful and musical procession, a procession of classic cars and motorbikes normally tours the streets of Cabo Roig. The organizers can make such a spectacle of it, because Irish entrepreneurs and bar and restaurant owners spare no effort in the preparation every year. Typical for the proud feelings that the St. Patrick's parade evokes in them. The food and drinks in the bars and restaurants also get a typical Irish touch that day with drinks and food from the country of St. Patrick. And whoever wants to feel a bit Irish that day as a foreigner, the clothing color green is a good first step.
