ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTSÂ of the Orihuela Costa social calendar takes place later this week, as the stage is set for the Zenia Boulevard Christmas Parade this coming Saturday evening.
Earlier this month the water fountains in Zenia Boulevards' main concourse were turned off in anticipation of the arrival of the gilded Christmas tree, and the entire venue was decked from head to toe in tens of thousands of sparkling Christmas lights.
Over recent years the Costa Blanca's premier shopping centre has developed an excellent reputation for its festive displays, and the mall never fails to impress each year with a spectacular Christmas advent calendar of its very own, culminating in the “Cabalgata de Papá Noel” on Saturday.
It's become something of a modern Spanish tradition, and the Zenia Boulevard Christmas Parade is the pinnacle of the festive celebrations.
The evening event is a dramatic spectacle of music, light and colour, as the shopping centre's rambling avenues are filled to the brim with hundreds of dancers, and thousands of festive visitors.
Local men and women of all ages dress in brightly coloured costumes and parade through the streets in an evidently well-rehearsed and perfectly choreographed dance performance.
Zenia Boulevard Christmas Parade, the annual festive miracle
Beautifully executed, the festive theatrical enactment concludes with Santa Claus himself taking a well-deserved break from his chores at the North Pole, to ride his sleigh through the centre's avenues greeting spectators and waving to the waiting crowds.
Zenia Boulevard will conclude the weekend with the “Hadas Christmas World” festive show on Sunday evening, and some very lucky children will get an opportunity to meet Santa Claus firsthand.
Retail outlets at the shopping centre will be closed on Christmas Day, but restaurants and leisure facilities will be open for business as usual.
Please check directly with restaurants prior to travelling to La Zenia to confirm opening times and to ensure that pre-booked reservations are not required.
The Zenia Boulevard Christmas Parade takes place this coming Saturday 22nd December 2018 from 18:00.
Find out more about this year's parade on the official Zenia Boulevard website, or watch the video of a previous event below.
Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.
Photo credit: LaZenia.com
