The Aftermath of Carnival in Alicante: 40,000 People Under the Rain and a Crackdown on Street Drinking

Alicante celebrated a rain-soaked carnival this Saturday with around 40,000 people, according to estimates by the Local Police, during the dual celebration for children in the afternoon and adults at night on 'Sábado Ramblero'. The municipal body set up a special operation to prevent alcohol consumption by preemptively closing access to Playa del Postiguet, Parque de Canalejas, Parque del Paseíto de Ramiro, and the Meliá breakwater, as announced by the City Council.

On a wet ground due to intermittent showers that did not hinder the celebration, Alicante residents took to the city centre to the sound of music—albeit in fewer numbers compared to other editions with more favourable weather—to enjoy the carnival festivities, which proceeded without notable incidents. At the end of the celebration, cleaning services acted swiftly to restore normalcy in Alicante's traditional centre by early Sunday morning.

Gradually, children and adults filled the Rambla to celebrate the children's carnival, which began at five in the afternoon with workshops, a photo booth, and other activities for the little ones, until it was the adults' turn, starting at 10 PM and lasting until four in the morning.

A double musical stage at the upper part of the Rambla, near the Banco de España, and another in front of the Portal de Elche, allowed attendees to enjoy DJ music provided by Cadena 100 and orchestra music at the Portal de Elche stage.

Despite the rain that fell throughout the morning and until past four in the afternoon, the clouds spared the rest of the celebration time without notable showers, allowing costumes to fill the Rambla and the festivities to proceed smoothly, without significant incidents.

The security and emergency operation was reinforced with 92 Local Police officers distributed across 13 teams, along with several dozen volunteers from Civil Protection and the Red Cross, and four ambulances.

The Local Police conducted special surveillance to prevent alcohol consumption by preemptively closing access to Playa del Postiguet, Parque de Canalejas, Parque del Paseíto de Ramiro, and the Meliá breakwater, each monitored by one of the police teams.

Officers confiscated 102 litres of alcohol, which will be destroyed. There was also collaboration during the operation with the port police, resulting in two evictions in the Volvo area.

In total, eight minor medical assistances were carried out at various points in the city centre, and officers issued 140 fines for alcohol consumption in public and 36 for violations of the cleanliness ordinance for urinating in the street.