One of last years participants - she must have been chilly!

The annual Benidorm Carnival kicks off this weekend starting on Saturday 18th until Tuesday 21st February. The famous fancy dress parade takes place on the first day of the festivities and is always held on the Saturday that precedes Ash Wednesday. The children's parade begins at 11am starting on the Calle Gambo (the pedestrianised street where Spec Savers is), heads up the Calle Puente (under the newly constructed bridge) and ends up in front on the Town Hall square where there will be lots of children's activities including a a bouncy castle.
The main adult parade begins at 9.30pm and starts on the Calle Marte, down the Calle Ruzafa and along the Calle Herrenias and finishes at the Town Hall Square. The parade last year lasted over 2 hours and spectators start arriving in the early evening to bag the best view points along the route. A fabulous firework display follows the parade - probably starting around Midnight but certainly worth waiting for.
The Carnival finishes on Tuesday 21st with a ceremonial "Burial of the Sardine" which signals the beginning of Lent ... when you are suppose to give up something you enjoy for 40 days!
If you do decide to go along to the parade remember to wrap up warm and leave any unnecessary valuables at home - if not then check out the blog on Sunday with fabulous photos of this years parade.