The famous St. Patrick’s Day parade returns to Spain’s Costa Blanca after a four-year hiatus

CABO ROIG’s famous Saint Patrick’s Day parade hopes nothing stands in its way this Friday as it celebrates its 10th anniversary.

The last parade was held in 2019 before the Covid pandemic forced a cancellation for the next two years.

Everything was set for a spectacular comeback last year with former world boxing champion Steve Collins lined up as the star guest to head the parade.

The organizers were forced to pull the plug the day before due to a bad weather forecast.

Fingers crossed, former Gaelic footballer Anthony Molloy, who lifted the All Ireland trophy for Donegal in 1992, will do the honors this week.

The parade starts at 3pm from Calle Cielo on Aguamarina down Calle Mar before ending on Calle Agua.

25 groups ride floats for the parade with lots of music and dancing.

The organizers expect up to 25,000 visitors from home and abroad, especially after the long break.

It is the largest celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day in Spain and one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

Orihuela’s Minister of International Relations, Ángel Luis Muñoz, said: “There will be music and fun in all the bars on a day when the Orihuela Costa is dyed green.”

For those who don’t want to travel too far, Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated all along the Costa Blanca, with thousands of people descending especially on the new town of Benidorm.

The streets will no doubt be awash in green for the festivities across the district.

READ MORE: