Events & Festivals

This September will see Las Fallas de València return to the third Spanish city having been postponed from March. Las Fallas de València 2020 was postponed due to Covid.

The new dates for the festival are 1 to 5 September, meaning the festivities will be somewhat truncated from their traditional 19 days. Further details will be announced here.

What is Las Fallas de València

The origins of Las Fallas stem from the tradition of carpenters who celebrated the coming of spring by burning the wood (parots) that used to support the lights that they had used during the winter months.

Eventually old rags and clothes were added to the bonfire and these took on a human form, which eventually transformed into the ninots of today’s celebration.

Now works of art are constructed as part of the celebrations, which have taken on a contemporary as well as traditional theme with music, religious ceremonies and naturally Valencia’s most famous dish – paella.

The festival honours San José and features vast papier-mâché sculptures that will be burnt during the Nit de la Cremá.

Elements of Las Fallas

It has not yet been confirmed what the 2021 Las Fallas will consist of, but this is the normal schedule when the festival is held in March – and should give you a rough idea of what to expect.

The ceremonies start with mascletà on 1 March when fireworks are set off each day up to 19 March at 2pm at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

On the evening and night of the 15 March (Plantà), all the 750 sculptures are assembled so that the judges can adjudicate the ninot induldat which will be chosen for burning. On 17 March there is a procession to Plaza del Ayuntamiento where awards are handed out to the winners.

Nocturnal firework displays from 15 March conclude with the Nit del Foc in the early hours of 18 March. On 17 March through to the following day, flowers are offered to the Virgin de los Desamparados, patron saint of Valencia in the Plaza de la Virgen.

Finally, on 19 March all the fallas are burned on 19 March, concluding with the winning falla at 2:30 the following morning.

When Is Las Fallas de València?

Traditionally it is held in March to mark the arrival of spring, but in 2021 it has been postponed to 1 to 5 September.

Las Fallas de València

For more details, click here.

Things to Do in Valencia

For inspiration on what to do in Valencia click here. You might also like to read why Valencia is the shining light for Europe, believing that sustainability is vital to the tourism of tomorrow.

All photos provided by Visit Valencia.