Fallas of Valencia: These are the events you have to keep in mind to enjoy a good time
Las Fallas is the most important popular festival in Valencia. Known all over the world, they were declared an Asset of Cultural Interest by UNESCO, and are one of the main tourist attractions of our city.
During the Fallas, the streets of Valencia are filled with music, colour and a good atmosphere, and everyone is invited to enjoy them!
From Taronja School we have prepared a summary of the most important events of the Fallas of Valencia. You can’t miss them!
Most important events of the Fallas
The Fallas of Valencia are held from the 14th to the 19th of March. However, the celebrations begin a few days earlier.
1. La Cridà:
The last Sunday in February is a very important event for all falleros: the Cridà, where the mayor of the city and the Falleras Mayores invite the Valencians to live this festival with joy.
The Crida take place at Torres de Serrano, very close to our Spanish school. At this popular event, there will be a light, sound and fireworks show.
2. Ninot Parade:
The Ninot Parade is a popular event that fills the streets of the centre of Valencia with colour.
This is a costume parade in which all the Fallas of the city participate. You can see floats filled with colours, and people dressed up, all set to music and dances.
3. Mascletás and fireworks displays:
1 to 19 March. Gunpowder and noise are two of the protagonists of the Fallas in Valencia and are one of the main peculiarities of this festival. In Valencia, there are mascletás every day, from the 1st to the 19th of March, at 14:00 hours, in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The most important fireworks displays will take place on 26 February, 15 March, 18 March and 19 March. You can also see castles on 14, 16 and 17 March.
4. Plantà:
The Plantà is one of the most important events of the Fallas. Have you seen the big colourful figures and sculptures that are placed in the streets during the Fallas? Well, they are called “Monumentos Falleros”, and they are the origin and the main focus of these festivities.
There are Fallas Monuments for children (smaller) and adults. The smaller ones are placed (planted, hence the name) in the streets in the early hours of 14-15 March. The adult ones, in the early hours of 15 to 16 March. When all the Fallas Monuments are on the streets, the Fallas begin!
5. The Ofrenda de las Fallas (The offering of flowers):
The Ofrenda de las Fallas is held on the afternoon of the 17th and 18th of March. The falleros wear the traditional Valencian costume and bring flowers to their patron saint: the Mare de Déu. With the flowers carried by all the falleros, an image of the Virgen de los Desamparados is constructed, weighing 15 kilos and measuring 1.43 meters. The crown with rays has a diameter of 2.64 meters. The mantle measures 2.50 meters in height, with a total height of 6.70 meters and weighs around 525 kilos, not including the flowers.
6. Nit del Foc:
On the evening of 18th March, the “Nit del Foc” (Night of Fire) is celebrated. On this day, the fireworks displays all over the city are especially long, beautiful and crowded. To enjoy them, you can go to the old Turia riverbed.
7. Cremà:
March 19th is the most important day of the Fallas in Valencia. At 18:00, in the Ruzafa neighbourhood, the “Cabalgata del Fuego”, a colourful street show, will take place. At night, all the Fallas are burnt.
5 plans to live the Fallas like a Valencian:
If this is the first time you visit Valencia during Fallas, we recommend you:
1- Go to a Mascleta.
2- See the fireworks display.
3- Make a route for Fallas (we recommend the Special Section ones, which are the biggest. Very close to our school, you have one of them: Na Jordana. Other famous Fallas are the Falla del Pilar, Convento Jerusalén or Micer Mascó).
4- Have a hot chocolate with churros or pumpkin fritters at one of the street stalls.
5- Enjoy and dance with the charangas and verbenas that you will find all over the city.
If you take a Spanish course with us, during the week of the Fallas in Valencia, you will be able to enjoy all these activities and many more that we haven’t told you about.
