Tiago Ferreira | 13-03-2024

Fallas Festival in Valencia 2024

Valencia's Fallas Festival is one of Spain's most popular and international festivals, combining tradition, satire and art in a unique spectacle of fire and fun. The festival was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2016 and attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Find out why Valencia's Fallas Festival is so special, and take part in its most notable traditions and attractions.

Valencia Fallas Festival Calendar 2024

• 1-19 March: Mascletà, pyrotechnic shows that take place every day of the Festival.

• 15 March: Plantà das Fallas, the installation of statues in the streets of Valencia.

• 16 March: Flower Offering Day, when the Falleras (women taking part in the festival) bring flowers to the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception.

• 17 March: Correfocs, a procession of fireworks and rockets.

• 18 March: San José Day, the patron saint of the Fallas.

• 19 March: Cremà, the burning of the Fallas.

Origins of the Festival

The Festival has its origins in the ancient tradition of carpenters who, on the eve of St Joseph's Day (19 March), burned the pieces of wood (parots) they used to light their workshops in winter. Over time, these parots were adorned with old rags and took on human form, until they became the ninots we know today. Ninots are giant cardboard figures that represent famous characters, politicians, celebrities or comic situations, with a strong sense of criticism and irony. Today, hundreds of these figures make up the surreal backdrop to the Fallas festival. The Fallas also have their roots in ancient pagan rituals celebrating spring and the solstice.

The Festival's main curiosities and attractions

• Fallas: These are the Festival's main attraction. They are huge cardboard statues that can reach up to 20 metres in height. The Fallas are made by teams of volunteers, called "falleros", and represent a variety of themes, from political and social satire to historical and religious subjects.

• Offering of Flowers: This is an exciting event that takes place on 16 March. The falleras (women participating in the festival) bring flowers to the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception. The procession goes through the streets of the city and ends at the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados.

• Mascletàs: Every day during the festival, there are pyrotechnic shows known as "Mascletàs". These firework explosions are known for their precision and intensity, and are a truly unique auditory and visual experience.

• Correfocs: A procession of fireworks and rockets that takes place on 17 March. Participants in the Correfocs wear traditional costumes and carry fire torches.

• Cremà: On the evening of 19 March, the Fallas are burnt in a large bonfire, called the "Cremà". The Cremà is an emotional event that marks the end of the Festival.

• Parades and Music: The Fallas Festival is accompanied by parades of musicians, dancers and traditional costumes, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere in the streets of Valencia.

Valencia Fallas Festival 2024

The Festival kicks off on 1 March with the Mascletà, a sound and gunpowder show that takes place every day at 2pm in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The Mascletà is one of the most exciting and eagerly awaited moments of the Festival, bringing together thousands of people to feel the vibration of the fireworks.

On 15 March, Plantà takes place, when the falleros monuments are set up in the city's streets and squares. There are more than 700 Fallas distributed throughout Valencia, each with a different and original theme. The Fallas compete against each other in various categories and are judged by a specialised jury. The children's Fallas are the first to be planted, followed by the large Fallas.

The Flower Offering to the Virgin of the Forsaken, the city's patron saint, takes place on 17 and 18 March. In this act, the falleras committees parade through the streets dressed in typical costumes, carrying bouquets of flowers to form a giant mantle for the image of the Virgin, which stands in the Plaza de la Virgen. It is a moment of great emotion and devotion for Valencians.

Another highlight of the festival are the pyrotechnic shows that light up Valencian nights. Between 15 and 18 March, the fireworks display takes place in the old Turia riverbed (Alameda). The most eagerly awaited night is the 18th, called Nit del Foc (Night of Fire), which features the biggest and most impressive pyrotechnic show of the Festival.

The highlight of the Festival is the Cremà, which takes place on the evening of 19 March. On this night, all the Fallas are burnt in a large bonfire, symbolising renewal and purification. The children's Fallas are the first to burn at 8pm, followed by the big Fallas at 10pm. The last Falla to be burnt is the one in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento at midnight, preceded by a spectacular Palmera (rocket that explodes in the sky, forming a palm tree) that announces the start of the Cremà. Only one Ninot is saved from the flames by popular vote, and it becomes part of the Fallero Museum.

In 2024, the Festival will take place between 1 and 19 March, and we already know some new features, such as the date of the election of the major Falleras (10 October), the increase in the budget for the municipal Fallas (10% more than in 2023) and the calendar of the main activities.

This Festival is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the city's history and culture and experience Valencian passion and pride in its most authentic form. If you want to experience this incredible festival, don't waste time and plan your trip to Valencia. You won't regret it!

If you visit Valencia in December, take advantage of this atmosphere of festivities, lights and fireworks and enjoy a Christmas dinner with a flamenco show, experiencing a Christmas night of contagious joy and vibrant energy, and a New Year's dinner with a flamenco show, starting the New Year in an unforgettable way and harmonising to the beautiful melodies of flamenco.