An Insider’s Guide to San Juan in Sabinillas
We are so lucky to have our real estate agency in Sabinillas close to the seafront promenade and the the Monumento en Homenaje al Pescador. This prime location puts us at the heart of local events, especially the Noche de San Juan celebration.
San Juan Night is a huge party on the 23rd of June to celebrate the summer solstice. All along the coast you will see people building bonfires and setting off fireworks at midnight, but in Sabinillas it is bigger and better!
Our San Juan party includes a different sculpture by a local artist which looks way too good to be set alight, as well as live music and entertainment, rides for the kids, bars all along the paseo and a brilliant atmosphere.
What’s Noche de San Juan all about?
San Juan celebrates the shortest night of the year and the summer solstice. It’s a pagan tradition to light bonfires on the summer solstice, apparently to give more power to the sun. It’s also associated with Saint John the Baptiste, but now it’s just a great opportunity to celebrate the start of the summer with a big party and bonfires.
When does it take place?
On the evening of the 23rd of June, which this year is a Monday. It centres around the burning of the bonfire and the fireworks at midnight and then the entertainment runs until very late.
However, families tend to start arriving down on the beach from around 8pm, with blankets, chairs drinks and picnics, to enjoy the atmosphere and play on the beach until the bonfire is lit and then leave shortly after.
Where does it take place?
The main area is around the statue in the middle of the Sabinillas promenade very near our office. Here’s a link to it on Google Maps. The bonfire is built on the beach to the left of the statue and then back from the statue you will find a big stage with performers and DJs.
Most bars along the paseo set up outside. They serve drinks in plastic cups. You can take these onto the beach.
At the La Noria end of the paseo, kids find rides and activities. The same happens at the other end. That’s by Plaza de los Maestros. It includes the Burger King and San Luis school area.
People sell items all along the paseo. The atmosphere is great between La Noria and San Luis school. Yet, the main action is around the statue.
How to enjoy the Noche de San Juan to the full
You have a few options. They depend on your budget and group needs.
Option 1: Book a table at a beachfront restaurant. Enjoy a leisurely meal. Book ahead. We suggest a late time slot. The later, the better. Eat in a restaurant for a delicious meal. Get table service for drinks. Avoid peak crowds. Soak up the atmosphere. Use their toilets too. This helps with the beach toilet shortage.
Option 2: Arrive early at the beach. Bring blankets, chairs, and drinks. Pack a picnic or disposable BBQ. Set up for the evening. This is fun. It lets you run into the sea at midnight. Enjoy the full San Juan experience. But toilet access can be tricky.
No matter your choice, stroll the paseo early. Do this before crowds build. See what’s happening. Soak in the vibe.Stay until midnight at least. Watch the bonfire light up.Then, head to the stage. Dance the night away. Or pack up after the bonfire and fireworks. Whatever you pick, you’ll have a great time!
Where to park?
Thousands and thousands of people descend on this little seaside town for San Juan and the parking is not easy at all, especially as some roads near the front are closed off.
Don’t try and park in the middle of the action! Take a look at the areas either end of the paseo if you’re there relatively early. Around La Noria has a decent amount of parking and is within an easy walk of the middle. The other end of the paseo by La Colonia is also a good option, as there’s quite a lot of free parking right by the beach and just back from it.
However, if you get there later on in the night there won’t be anything there, so parking over the other side of the coastal road and then walking over one of the footbridges, or down through the centre of town can be an excellent option. Here are a few places worth trying with links to Google Maps –
Dirt car park opposite Villa Matilde
The area around Lidl and Superasia
Top Tips to a great San Juan in Sabinillas
- Bring something warm to wear – It sounds crazy, but night time on the beach, even in the summer does feel cold, so you’re going to want a jumper or a wrap to wear, or a blanket to use
- Be prepared to be up late – The best part of the event happens around midnight and beyond, so get there later and stay later, or if you want to enjoy the beach first, be prepared to be there for a good long while
- Think about the crowds – Especially if you’re going with little ones, the crowds on the paseo can be really difficult to navigate. If you’re trying to move around later in the evening with the family in tow, you’re best to avoid the central area of the paseo. We recommend walking along on the sand until you can see a bit of space and then go to your car from there, otherwise it can be very difficult with prams and stressful for tired kids.
- Take toilet paper and be ready to queue – The bathrooms are not in the best shape by the mid to end of the night and there are big queues of people waiting to use them, so go and find them earlier than strictly necessary and remember some toilet paper. If that sounds like your idea of a nightmare, then booking a table in a restaurant is an excellent idea so you can use their facilities.
We hope you found our Insider’s Guide to San Juan in Sabinillas useful. We’d love to hear your experiences or tops tips, so please comment with anything you think we left out!
To find out more about the area, read our Sabinillas Area Guide and make sure you pop into our real estate agency in Sabinillas if you’re interested in buying property. We’re here to help!
Enjoy the party!