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A four-day weekend sounds even better when you don't have to think about work, but it can be surprisingly easy to forget that the shops don't get the same break. With two public holidays falling just three days apart, anyone needing a supermarket run or planning a trip to the shops in Alicante province will need to know which doors will actually be open.

 

The two holidays are October 9, the Day of the Valencian Community (Día de la Comunitat Valenciana), and October 12, Spain's National Day (Día de la Hispanidad). With October 9 falling on a Friday and October 12 on a Monday, the result is a four-day weekend for many people.

 

 

Mercadona will close all its supermarkets in the Valencian Community on Friday October 9 and Monday October 12, so customers will need to shop around those dates.

 

Saturday October 10 is a normal trading day, while Sunday opening will depend on the individual store and its location.

 

 

Consum will also close on October 9, but its supermarkets are scheduled to open on Monday October 12 from 9am until 2.30pm.

 

That gives shoppers a limited window to pick up essentials on the second holiday, although checking the opening hours of the individual store is still advisable.

 

 

The situation changes considerably on October 12, when Alicante's commercial calendar allows shops to open despite the National Day holiday.

 

Gran Vía Alicante is scheduled to open from 10am to 10pm, although the hypermarket has its own timetable. Restaurants and leisure businesses may also operate different hours.

 

The El Corte Inglés store on Avenida Maisonnave will open on October 12 from 11am to 9pm. The available information does not yet confirm its opening arrangements for October 9.

 

Other El Corte Inglés stores in the province, including Ciudad de Elche, are also scheduled to open from 11am to 9pm on October 12.

 

For Carrefour, Lidl, Aldi and DIA, there isn't one province-wide timetable that applies to every branch. Opening can vary according to the individual store, municipality and whether the supermarket is located within a shopping centre, so customers should check their local branch before making a special trip.

 

Anyone planning a big supermarket shop will therefore have more choice on Saturday October 10 than on either public holiday, while Monday October 12 will offer considerably more shopping options than Friday October 9.

 

 

 

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