Los Alcázares has a busy October in 2026 as it marks 43 years of municipal independence. Events run across the month, but Caldero Day on Monday 12 October is the obvious first choice for visitors. Gastromar returns from 16 to 18 October, giving food lovers another reason to head to the Mar Menor.
Dates for your diary
| Date | Highlight |
|---|---|
| 3 October | Festival ambassador gala in Plaza Manuel Floreal Menárguez |
| 9 October | Chupinazo, festival scarves and a Los Inhumanos concert |
| 11 October | Associations fair |
| 12 October | Gran Día del Caldero on the seafront |
| 13 October | Municipal Independence Day and Premio Alkazar ceremony |
| 16–18 October | Gastromar food festival |
These are selected highlights. Exact performance timings can change, so confirm locally before travelling for one particular act.
What happens on Caldero Day?
Caldero is one of the Mar Menor’s characteristic rice dishes, and this celebration takes it to the beach. Local peñas set up beside the water and prepare their own calderos, turning the shore into a gathering of cooking groups and celebrations.
It is a daytime occasion: preparations begin in the morning and festivities continue into the afternoon. The tourism office does not publish a fixed start and finish, so plan around a late-morning arrival rather than a precise opening time.
Go for a walk, enjoy the atmosphere and watch the cooking, but do not assume the peñas’ food is a free public tasting. These are organised groups preparing their own meals. If lunch matters to your day, arrange a restaurant or ask locally about any public food service.
Gastromar: another weekend for food lovers
Gastromar takes place principally around Plaza Manuel Floreal Menárguez and Plaza Real de la Feria. Its programme combines food activities, tastings and demonstrations; individual sessions can have their own prices and booking requirements.
The organiser currently gives 8 October at 21:00 as the ticket-release time, with Pequechef registration opening on 9 October at 09:00. The programme is still being assembled, so check the Gastromar programme before choosing a session.
A separately announced highlight is the charity ham-cutting event on Sunday 18 October from 11:00, in Plaza Manuel Floreal Menárguez, supporting AFA Levante. Around 30 ham cutters are expected to take part.
If you want an outing built around tasting and trying food, choose any bookable activity first, then leave time around it to wander rather than filling the day with back-to-back reservations.
Planning a day trip
For Caldero Day, arrive before lunch and allow time to walk from wherever you park. Avoid relying on a space immediately beside the seafront, and check temporary parking signs before leaving the car.
Wear comfortable shoes and bring sun protection and an extra layer. A walk beside the Mar Menor or a visit to Playa Las Salinas can extend the outing, but keep the day flexible around the event you came to see.
Where to stay
If you are making a weekend of it, choose accommodation after deciding which events you want to attend. An address in Los Alcázares alone does not tell you how convenient it will be for a seafront gathering, a concert or a Gastromar session.
Stay in Los Alcázares
Los Alcázares, Mar Menor
Hotel 525
A central Los Alcázares option to compare if you want to turn the October programme into an overnight break. Check the route to the particular seafront, square or Gastromar venue you plan to visit.
Event locations vary, so confirm the walking route for your chosen date before booking.
Check availability on Booking.com (Hotel 525; opens in a new tab)
Los Narejos, Los Alcázares
Hotel Monarque Costa Narejos
A second Los Alcázares option near the Mar Menor to compare, especially if a beach setting matters more than being closest to every town-centre event.
Check the route to the exact fiesta or Gastromar venue and compare any parking terms before booking.
Check availability on Booking.com (Hotel Monarque Costa Narejos; opens in a new tab)These are location-based suggestions, not hotels we have reviewed for these fiestas. Compare total prices, cancellation terms and the walking route to your chosen venue. Availability and prices have not been checked.
Affiliate links: If you book through a Booking.com link in this section, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Programme checked on 29 September 2026. All times are local.
