Imagine hundreds of intricate and colorful paper sculptures filling the streets of the third largest city in Spain. Constructed in painstaking detail over the course of several days, the finished products tower over onlookers in wonder at them from below.
Then all of a sudden, these spectacular works of art are burned in epic bonfires that are spread throughout the city as part of a party that lasts all night until dawn.
As the most iconic festival in Valencia (and one of the most famous festivals in Spain), Las Fallas is an exquisite sight to behold and a true once-in-a-lifetime party. While the giant paper sculptures mentioned above and the great fires are the main attraction, there is much more to see and experience in this colorful and vibrant celebration. This is what to add to your schedule if you will be in Las Fallas, which takes place from March 15 to 19 each year.
The Burning
The main reason most people come to the Las Fallas festival is to witness the burning of the sculptures on the final night. Starting little by little with the burning of the children’s sculptures at 10pm, the fires get bigger and more epic overnight.
The largest and most important burning is that of the sculpture in the town hall square, which usually begins around 1 in the morning. As the final fire of the night, it brings massive crowds, music, and even its own little fireworks show. .
The failures
Let’s back up a bit. Before they fall victim to the flames, the sculptures, o n inot, are displayed throughout the city for all to see. There are hundreds of ninots , often towering over 20 feet tall and often depicting satirical shots of public figures and pop culture.
Built practically overnight during the first days of the festival, the ninots are then taken to parades throughout the city so that everyone can marvel at these impressive and unique works of art. Before the final burning takes place on the final night, attendees vote for a ninot to be saved from the flames and preserved in the Museo de las Fallas (more on that in a moment).
The MascletÃ
If you’ve assumed that the Las Fallas festivities only take place during the March 15-19 festival, think again. Starting on March 1 and continuing every day until the end of the festival, an epic display of gunpowder explosions runs through the Plaza del Ayuntamiento at 2 p.m. Known as the mascletà , the explosions are set at a dazzling pace and are not for the weaks. from the heart.
You can hear the mascletà from all over the city, but if you’re willing to brave the booms, be sure to head over to Plaza del Ayuntamiento to see it up close and personal. Acrobats perform in the streets and there is a visual element in fireworks when rockets leave trails of smoke as they are detonated.
The Awakening
Forgot to set the alarm after partying all night in Las Fallas? No need to worry, you won’t need it. Party-goers provide their own wake-up call, or wake-up call, by throwing fire crackers out of people’s windows at 8 a.m. After all, the locals are proud to host this massive event, so who can’t sleep watching: they want everyone to get up and enjoy the festivities. !
This mischievous but well-intentioned tradition can take some getting used to. If you can’t get back to sleep after your unconventional wake-up call, head to your nearest coffee shop and enjoy some soul-warming chocolate churros , or the more traditional Valencian delicacies known as fartons with a glass of horchata. To really get into the festival spirit, try some fritters.
The flower offering
The Las Fallas festival isn’t exclusively about noise and fire (though that ‘s a big part of it). If the event piques your interest, but you don’t like night parties, the flower offering will be your best option.
On March 17 and 18, thousands of locals roam the city dressed in traditional costumes and dancing to the music of the band that follows them. Their destination: the Plaza de la Virgen, where they will place elaborate bouquets of flowers in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary.
The procession begins around 3:30 pm and the festivities in Plaza de la Virgen often last longer than midnight. This emotional and solemn event is one of the most authentic ways to immerse yourself in the local culture during Las Fallas.
Paella contests
Are you coming to Valencia a little early? One of the most popular events in the run-up to Las Fallas is the annual JJ Dómine Port Paella cooking contest. While paella is often mistakenly considered a national dish of Spain, it is actually a regional specialty native to Valencia, and at its best in the region. The contest features over 500 paellas each year, so you can decide for yourself which is the best of the best.
The 2019 edition will take place on Friday, March 8, along the promenade in front of the Grau train station. Food lovers won’t want to miss out on this unique opportunity to sample Spain’s most iconic dish at its best.
La Nit del Foc fireworks display
In addition to the mascletà explosions that shake the Plaza del Ayuntamiento every day, party-goers can also enjoy a more conventional visual fireworks display at night. For four nights in a row during Las Fallas, a massive fireworks show lights up the sky. While the show is visible throughout the city, many locals gather along Paseo de la Alameda to watch the show.
The largest and greatest exhibition takes place in the early hours of March 18. Known as La Nit del Foc, this impressive display of color and light is the only show of its kind in the world. If you think you’ve seen fireworks before, think again, you’ve never experienced a show like this.
Eat chocolate fritters
One of the best parts of any festival is the traditional food associated with the event. During Las Fallas, that usually means fritters . You can find stalls selling these delicious treats in virtually every corner throughout the festival, and the heavenly scent that wafts through the carts makes them almost impossible to resist.
If the fritters themselves (essentially fried pumpkin donuts) don’t sound absolutely delicious, consider the fact that they are traditionally enjoyed dipped in sweet, thick, Spanish-style hot chocolate. You can’t celebrate Las Fallas without enjoying this traditional delicacy at least once, and you’ll be glad you did.
Visit the museum of the Fallas
Before massive bonfires devour the amazing ninots on the last night of the festival, a vote is held to decide which masterpiece will be saved from the flames. The lucky winner wins a spot at the Las Fallas Museum in Plaza Monteolivete, where visitors can experience this fabulous festival throughout the year. The collection of ninots here dates back to 1934, providing a fascinating look at how the style of the sculptures has changed over time.
Ironically, the museum is not easy to get to during the festival, due to the fact that many roads in the city are closed during the week, limiting the availability of public transport. However, if you don’t mind walking there (it’s a bit out of the city center), the unique collection is truly a sight to behold.
