Valencia Spain: Las Fallas Festival - 2

What to See

• The Fallas. With more than 300 fallas erected throughout the city, you won’t be able to see them all, but you can get a map to find the largest ones. The best time for a close look is in the early morning, when the city is still recovering from the previous night’s festivities. After dark, though, is when they are the most beautiful.

• The Mascletà in the Plaça de l'Ajuntament (daily). A coordinated display of firecrackers and fireworks that takes place everyday during the festival at 2 p.m.

• The Ofrenda (March 17-18). Over two days, thousands of falleros walk to Plaça de la Virgen to make a floral offering to Valencia’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Forsaken.

• The Cabalgata de Fuego, or Fire Parade (March 19). As its name says, the Cabalgata de Fuego is a moving celebration of fire ceremonies from around the world.

• The Cremà (March 19). By far, the most amazing part of the Nit de Foc. Starting at 10 p.m. on the last night of festival, the fallas are set on fire in a dramatic display of fireworks and music.

• Intricate sculptures can be found throughout Valencia during the Las Fallas festival.
• Joshua Young

Planning Tips

Book early. Though the festival is not extremely well-known worldwide, it is hugely popular in Spain, and hotels in Valencia are often booked months in advance. Be sure to plan well ahead of time if you want to attend. 

Prepare the kids for noise and smoke. While the daily mascletà and the Nit de Foc are must-see events, not all children may enjoy them. To say the mascletàs are loud is an understatement, and some children may be scared by the loud displays. This also can be said for the Cremà. The fires are amazing to see, but they are extremely intense and the smoke can be quite thick. Make sure you buy one of the souvenir bandanas for sale throughout the city, as they are a great way to cover your face during the night.

Carry snacks. Lastly, because this is a citywide event, it can be very difficult to find anything in the way of food until late at night. Spanish culture typically calls for late meals anyway, but during Las Fallas, even the restaurant owners are too busy with the festivities to be open for much of anything beyond dinner, which isn't served until 9 p.m. or later. Keep snacks with you to help you get through the day.

For a complete guide to the Las Fallas Festival, visit www.valenciavalencia.com.