Las Fallas is a unique annual celebration where Valencians commemorate Saint José. The festival unites the city in an explosion of colour, art, culture, and music. It is a month-long celebration of creativity and expression that leaves a lasting impression on all who attend. Thousands of tourists from all over the world gather in Valencia to take part in the festivities. Valencia during Fallas is a particularly enriching experience for the international resident community, allowing for a deep cultural immersion into local customs and festivities. From colourful parades and lively street parties to traditional religious ceremonies, Las Fallas offers us a glimpse into the soul of Valencia and its people.
While the official weekend of Las Fallas in Valencia is the 15th of March-19th March, the festivities kick off in the last weekend of February. From the 26th of February till the 19th of March, the Mascletàs, a pyrotechnic spectacle of firecrackers, will go off in Plaza Ayuntamiento at 14:00h. Las Fallas is not for the faint of heart with the Mascletàs going off every day and fireworks and street parties every night for the duration of March. Forget about setting your alarms this month as at 8:00am every day, you will be woken up by La Despertà, the wake-up call of marching bands around the city!
One of the most beautiful traditions of the festival is the Ofrenda Fallas, the flower offering that begins on Friday, 17th March. The parades consist of marching bands and all the Fallas Commissions, headed by the Fallas Queens and their Courts of Honour, who are dressed in their traditional costumes. The stunning dresses worn by the falleras are based on regional 18th and 19th centuries clothing. They are intricately made with bright colours and fabrics. For the falleras, this is one of the most emotional acts as they bring flowers to the Virgen de los Desamparados, the patron saint of the city. By Sunday 19th of March, the façade of the wooden basilica, the Geperudeta, is adorned with a colourful array of flowers.
Although the sky of Valencia is flooded with light and colour for most of the month, the most spectacular firework display takes place at Paseo de la Alameda on La Nit del Foc on the 18th of March where more than 4,000 kilos of fireworks are lit! The following day, the Cabalgata del Fuego parades the streets of Ruzafa and Colón to symbolise the beginning of La Cremá, the culmination of the festival. Fire is the essence of this extravaganza as sparks fly from fireworks strapped to the floats of the parade in this form of street entertainment that recalls the Correfoc fire runs of Cataluña and Valencia. The 19th of March is the most memorable night of the festival as the city bursts into flames. The Fallas infantiles are the first to be burned to the ground at 20h. The rest of the city’s Fallas will be ignited at 22h followed by the highly anticipated central Falla in Plaza Ayuntamiento at 23h. The burning marks the end of the festivities and is followed by street parties that go on until the early hours!
Valencia during Fallas is a once in a lifetime experience, a spectacle like no other! As the city goes up in flames on the night of the 19th of March, the people celebrate the events of the festival and begin the countdown to the Fallas of the following year! With a vibrant atmosphere and an infectious energy, Las Fallas is a timeless festival that showcases the city’s rich cultural history in a truly unrivalled way.
Report by Imogen Hockings
Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’
Fallas photo copyright Imogen Hockings/ ’24/7 Valencia’
Fallas Programme 2023:
Lead-up:
Wednesday 1st-Friday 3rd March
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
Saturday 4th March
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
17:30h- Ninot parade along the following route: Glorieta, Calle La Paz, San Vicente, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Marqués de Sotelo and ending at Calle Xàtiva. Closing out the parade will be the arrival of the first pieces of the Municipal Falla “Cardioversió Valenciana”
21:00h- Mascletà in Saidia neighbourhood and Natzaret neighbourhood
23:00h- Mascletà in Campanar neighbourhood and in Jesús neighbourhood
Sunday 5th March
10:00h- Cant de l’Estoreta Contest
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
Monday 6th-Friday 10th March
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
Saturday 11th March
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
Midnight- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
Sunday 12th March
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
15:00h- Mascletà in Benicalap neighbourhood
Monday 13th March
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
Tuesday 14th March
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
17:00h- Closing of the Children’s Ninot Exhibition
17:30h- Reading of the popular verdict and proclamation of the “Ninot Indultat Infantil” of 2022
17:45h- Collection of the ninots by the commissions until 20h
Wednesday 15th of March
08:00h- “Plantà” of all the children’s fallas.
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
17:00h- Closing of the Ninot Exhibition
17:30h- Reading of the popular verdict and proclamation of the “Ninot Indultat” of 2023
17:45h- Collection of the ninots by the commissions until 20h
Midnight – L’Albà de les Falles throughout the city with fireworks display in the Town Hall Square.
Thursday 16th of March
08:00h- “Plantà” of all the fallas.
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
16:30h- Children’s Awards Ceremony.
Midnight – Fireworks display in the Paseo de la Alameda.
Friday 17th of March
09:30h- Awards Ceremony
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
15:30h- Offering of flowers to the Mare de Déu.
01:00h: Fireworks display in the Paseo de la Alameda, at the Palau de les Arts.
Saturday 18th of March
10:30h – Tribute to the poet Maximiliano Thous
12:00h – Tribute to Maestro Serrano
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
15:30h- Offering of flowers to the Mare de Déu.
01:00h: ‘NIT DEL FOC’ (Night of Fire) Fireworks display in Paseo de la Alameda, at the Palau de les Arts.
Sunday 19th of March
11:00h- Offering of flowers by the Falleres Mayores of Valencia and their Courts of Honour in front of the image of the Patriarch on the Bridge of Sant Josep
12:00h- Solemn Mass in honour of Sant Josep in Valencia Cathedral
14:00h- Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
18:00h- Cabalgata del Fuego/ Fire Parade along Calle Colón, from Calle Ruzafa to Plaza de la Porta la Mar.
20:00h- Cremà of the children’s fallas
20:30h- Cremà of the children’s falla that has won first prize in the Special Section.
21:00h – Cremà of the children’s falla in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
22:00h- Cremà of all the Fallas of Valencia
22:30h- Cremà of the Fallas that has won first prize in the Special Section
23:00h- Cremà of the Fallas in Plaza del Ayuntamiento
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