The Curious Festival in Alicante that Transforms Santa Cruz into a Flower Garden

In the Alicante neighbourhood of Santa Cruz, residents are eagerly counting down the days until their streets are adorned with colourful flowers. The May Crosses are just around the corner, and the old town of the city is all set for the planting of crosses and floral decorations to begin on May 1st.

The festival, one of the city's traditional events, is celebrated every year at the beginning of May, transforming one of the most picturesque areas of the city into a burst of colour for a few days. Tradition dictates that residents prepare large crosses to decorate the corners of this Alicante neighbourhood.

Between May 1st and 4th, music will also take over this area of the old town with a programme that includes parades, wake-up calls, costume contests, and popular games.

This year, the festive agenda begins on Thursday, May 1st, with the proclamation at 8 p.m., delivered by the Councillor for Festivities, Cristina Cutanda, from the balcony of the Santa Cruz Board.

Afterwards, residents will organise to start the planting of crosses and decorations. The day will end with a popular dance in San Antonio Square.

The second day of the festival will begin with the traditional wake-up call at 8 a.m. From 12 p.m., the jury will tour the decorated streets to evaluate each of the floral motifs proposed by the residents and will give their verdict. At 6 p.m., the children's costume contest and snack will take place in the racó. Finally, at 8 p.m., it will be the turn of the 'La Ermita School' costumes, and from 11:30 p.m., a popular dance.

The third day of the festival will also begin with the traditional wake-up call at 8 a.m., followed by a 'Tyrolean' parade at 12 p.m. The afternoon will focus on children with Traditional Games at 5:30 p.m. and a snack at 6:30 p.m. From 8 p.m., there will be a 'Smurfs' costume parade and a playback contest at 11:30 p.m. The night will end with a dance.

May 4th will be the last day of the May Crosses. The day will start at 8 a.m. with the wake-up call and continue with the 'Fruits and Vegetables' costume parade. Additionally, at 1:30 p.m., prizes will be awarded for the crosses and street decorations in San Rafael. In the afternoon, there will also be a snack for the children in Racó at 5 p.m. At 7 p.m., the Rociera mass will be celebrated in collaboration with the Casa de Andalucía of San Juan, and afterwards, at 8 p.m., there will be a procession. The festivities will conclude with a dance at 11 p.m. and a fireworks display at midnight.