Festivals in Spain play a huge role in people's social calendars they are a celebration of life and culture, bright vibrant and lively they're a perfect excuse to dress up, eat well and enjoy your time in Spain with a huge smile. If you're on holiday at the right time in Spain be sure to make a festival part of your vacation.

All large cities in Spain host several festivals all year round celebrating one thing or another Alicante is certainly no exception. Here are a few ideas for excursions to visit the festivals in Alicante in your hire car. This is a list of the biggest and best but be sure to check with local tourist offices to get exact dates and information on any other festivals taking place.

As most of you will undoubtedly be visiting in the summer months Alicante's summer festival is a good place to start.

Held in the area known as Paseo del Puerto the Summer Festival (Festival de Verano de Alicante) is one of the greatest held annually. It's a celebration of music, theatre and dance hosted in a perfect setting near to the port you'll be sure to have a great day out. With the acts aimed at the whole family this is a festival that the children and parents alike will enjoy. This event is not based around religion or processions through the streets like many that take place in Spain; it's an occasion to bring together entertaining acts in one location, tickets can be purchased in advance for some of the bigger acts from street stalls or online.

Along side all of the performances make sure you sample some of the local foods on offer. As Alicante has a very busy fishing port bringing in the freshest sea food the Mediterranean has to offer it's a great place to get really good paella. 'The Darsena' restaurant close to the marina has 150 different varieties of rice on offer and is popular with both tourists and locals. If you're not a sea food person don't fear the area also has a great selection of game and roasted meats, arroz con magro y verduras is a local creation of succulent slow roasted pork and locally grown vegetables.

If anyone has a sweet tooth try an almond and honey flavored ice cream, helado de turrón a specialty in Alicante and served from many restaurants and all of the ice cream parlors on the promenades.

Alicante's past is swathed in Moorish heritage like much of the region it was ruled by the moors until they were overthrown in the 1492. Moorish Rule in the country had 5 distinct eras and each is depicted in the festival of the Moors and Christians. Every town in this region of Spain has a festival to commemorate this age of their history. Alicante is no exception and does it with flair and panache up to three times a year. Both the Moors and Christians are re-enacted in street processions known as 'Entradas' every body is dressed in amazing costumes of the period and marches along various routes to meet in the city center.

By far the most show stopping event of the year is the magical 'Hogueras de San Juan' or Bonfires of St John. It marks the Summer solstice and connects with the feast day of St John the Baptist. A truly spectacular event it has been marked as an international point of interest for tourists.

As the liveliest event of the year it encompasses all sorts of processions, events, acts and feasts, and of course the burning of useless items in huge bonfires at the end of the year to mark the Solstice. An interesting way of clearing out your household junk it has been happening since the twenties and today has evolved into a huge celebration of fireworks, partying, a medieval market and foods. Make sure you check locally to get accurate dates for all of the happenings in Alicante as they are slightly different every year.