Christmas under the palm trees: La Zenia prepares for Europe's biggest Christmas beach party

One of the most unusual Christmas events on the Costa Blanca is just a week away. Starting at 10:00 AM on December 25th, Playa Cala Bosque (La Zenia) beach in the Orihuela Costa district will once again host the traditional Christmas beach party, which is considered the largest of its kind in Europe.

Every year, the event attracts thousands of participants—regional residents, foreign residents, and tourists. Estimates in previous years have placed the number of people on the beach at any one time at between 3,000 and 6,000. Many come dressed in Santa Claus hats, Christmas sweaters, and even swimsuits, creating a "winter summer" atmosphere.

Previous years have been marked by memorable moments. In 2017, dozens of participants simultaneously entered the sea in water temperatures of around 15–16°C. In 2019, Orihuela Costa resident Michael O'Connor spent several hours distributing sweets to children dressed as Santa Claus. There have been some challenges: in 2018, strong winds forced police to temporarily restrict swimming, and in 2022, due to the influx of people, patrols and parking controls were increased.

Despite this, no serious incidents have been reported over the years. The event remains open, free, and informal, with the presence of municipal police and security services.

While much of Europe is celebrating Christmas in wintry weather, La Zenia will once again prove that the holiday can be sunny, noisy, and truly warm—even in December.