Cabo Roig: a spectacular Paddy’s Day Parade with a Spanish flavour

Cabo Roig, a coastal resort on Spain’s Costa Blanca, might seem an unlikely place to host the biggest St Patrick’s Day Parade in continental Europe. But it’s been doing just that for 13 years. So, as I have a family connection to the area, I went to Cabo Roig for the 2026 parade and thought it was a spectacular event and a fun weekend. Here’s why.

The parade is an explosion of colour, music and fun

The St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Cabo Roig brings together thousands of attendees every year and fills the area with colour, music, and fun. The 2026 parade was packed with energy, talent, and lots of Irish tradition, including excellent dancers and musicians.

But as well as Irish music and dancing, the 60 plus performances and groups included stilt walkers, acrobats and people in colourful costumes that brought Rio carnival vibes. Plus of course, some Spanish flamenco dancers provided a truly local flavour.

We chose to stand on Calle del Mar, which is parallel to Calle Cielo, the ‘strip’ that runs alongside the main N-322 dual carriageway and is lined with bars and restaurants. The parade starts at the northern end of Calle del Mar, travels the length of it, and then rounds the corner to go up the strip. We found our spot was a bit quieter and saw how busy the strip was once we’d seen all of the parade and crossed the footbridge to the other side of the N-322. We were headed to Rosie Maguires, a great venue, larger than most in the area, that had fabulous live music all day.

Cabo Roig is part of the Orihuela Costa region

Apart from the parade, Cabo Roig was a very nice place to spend a few days in March. It sits within the Orihuela Costa region south of Alicante, which is known for its beautiful white sandy beaches and golf courses like Campoamor and Villamartin.  The name Cabo Roig translates from the Valencian “Red Cape”, given by the red rock that forms the cape, so there’s also some stunning coastal scenery.

There’s a good chance of warm sunshine in March

March is low season so it’s a great value time to visit. We found flights and accommodation were both cheap. I’d definitely recommend the apartment we rented in the Punta Glea complex. And there’s also a very good chance of some warm sunshine. The day after the parade and lengthy visit to Rosie’s, we were in need of fresh air. A walk along the seashore and beach was perfect. We stopped off for coffee at Monteplaya Bar and then had an excellent tapas and paella lunch at Chiringuito del Puerto. It’s just beyond the Club Nàutic marina and is in a great spot with gorgeous views.

Nearby Torrevieja is well worth a visit

The area where the parade is held doesn’t feel particularly Spanish as there are lots of Irish and English expats and visitors. But 20 minutes drive away is Torrevieja, a more traditional Spanish coastal city. There are beaches and a wide promenade walk with plenty of places to stop for a drink or bite to eat. We came across various outdoor sculptures too, including one dedicated to the victims of the COVID 19 pandemic. Torrevieja also has a large marina, plenty of shops and some stunning salt flats. So there’s plenty to see and do.

For any rainy days in Cabo Roig there’s the La Zenia Boulevard Shopping Centre. All the well known Spanish and international brands are there. Plus there’s a bowling alley and kids activities.

So while I went to Cabo Roig for the Paddy’s Day Parade and to spend time with family, I found it was a pretty good place to escape the UK’s cold and wet weather in mid-March.

For more short break ideas check the Europe section of my blog.