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🔥Las Fallas in Valencia, Spain🔥
Fall Into a Burning Ring of Fire
at Valencia´s Annual Las Fallas Festival
Ear-splitting explosions, blazing bonfires, enormous burning effigies and packs of feral children playing with matches.
Nope, it’s not a war zone or the latest post-apocalyptic blockbuster. Welcome to Las Fallas; Valencia’s premiere party and one of the biggest, craziest festivals in all of Spain (and let’s face it, that says a lot).
Over the last eight years living in Spain, I’ve overcome 4 Carnavals in Cadiz and the Canary Islands (Santa Cruz de Tenerife & Las Palmas de Gran Canaria), survived 3 Orgullos living in the center of Chueca in Madrid, and lived to tell the tale of countless pueblo festivals – from Celtic musicians camping in the beaches of Ortigueira to rowdy Las Ramas in Agaete, El Camino del Pino in Gran Canaria and Festival de La Paloma in Madrid´s La Latina.
Spain likes loves a good party (and what can I say, so do I) but celebrating Las Fallas is truly something extraordinary. Picture a city where thousands of people spend thousands of hours and thousands of euros to build extravagant and elaborate floats… only to blow them all up in a single night.
Las Fallas is held annually from
March 15th to 19th.
The biggest and most spectacular celebrations
happen on the final evening.
Come On Baby, Light Your Fire:
When to Book Your Trip
Valencia fills to the brim celebrating Las Fallas with Spanish revellers and international tourists alike, so you’ll need to book accommodation with plenty of advanced time. Many (most?) hotels, hostels and Airbnb’s have minimum 4 or 5 night stays during the event, and they book up fast. If you’re new to AirBnb, feel free to use my referral link and receive a €25 travel credit for your first stay!
Worse case scenario: If spontaneity leaves you waiting till the last minute with not a sofa in sight, I assure you that you won’t be the first, the last or the only free spirit using the beach as your (rather chilly) boudoir. (You can guess who learnt this the hard way my first time around 🙃).
Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight:
What to Expect at Las Fallas
Days at Las Fallas are long and LOUD. Firecrackers start early in the morning (8:00am), which under normal circumstances would be considered pretty profane in sleepy Spain, but Las Fallas is definitely the exception. The pop and bang is ‘delightfully’ accompanied by brass marching bands who parade down the streets of the city center – a not so gentle wake up call known as La Despertà.
As a heavy sleeper with a tendency to stay up late and snooze through everything, I can honestly say I was unaffected. Most would disagree. If you sleep any less solidly than a hibernating bear, invest in some earplugs and strong café.
Throughout the day, there’s no shortage of things to see, eat, and make your ears ring. Processions of falleras in the ornate, silk gowns traditional of the region make their way through the city like ladies of a long-forgotten court. Street stalls and chiringuitos frying up churros, buñuelos and salchichas fill the air with smells of smoke and sustenance to get you through the long days, and crowds spill out of every overflowing bar and terrace serving cold cañas and fresh paella, Valencia’s specialty.
Every afternoon at 14:00, the fireworks and firecrackers of the daily mascletà ring out from Plaza Ayuntamiento, the city’s main square.
Fireworks in the middle of the day you ask… but why?!
Why not!?
At Las Fallas, anything that goes BOOM, goes.
As the sun sets and the sky dims, the festivities do not. Fireworks pop & crackle each evening above the old riverbed, growing bigger and more spectacular with each passing day. Glittering lights sparkle all over the city, their florescent beams reflecting in the heavy smoke of the street stalls and firecrackers.
Turning into any given plaza may lead you toward another incredible ninot, a spontaneous dance party, a court of falleras… or all three. The music, dancing, fireworks and festivities grow increasingly later and louder as each day passes, until the culmination of la cremà or the La Nit de Foc on the final night.
Great Balls of Fire:
La Cremà🔥 Nit de Foc
(Thursday, 19th March, 2020)
And it all builds up to this – the final night lit up with the biggest light show yet.
This year, La Cremà will take place on a Thursday night, meaning that many merrymakers may be tempted to check out the first weekend and scurry back to work.
Don’t be that guy.
If you have to lie, steal, cheat or beg a couple of days off of work, I promise it will be worth it. While the entire festival is unique and enjoyable, it is La Nit de Foc (The Fire Night) which you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
I can vividly recall the first falla I watched go up in flames and then burn down in a blaze of glory. It was a ninot infantil, and one of the earliest to spark that night, and the strange and surreal sight of that the memory has happily stayed with me ever since.
The falla was draped with cords and men and children from the Casal Faller were dousing it in liquid from large water bottles. The young fallera of that particular barrio approached in her elegant silk gown, looking nothing short of a young Spanish princess.
It didn’t take long to realize that the cords were fireworks and the liquid was gasoline. The little princess lit the fuse and BANG the fireworks erupted in a cacophony of lights and colors, the paper-mâiché falla smoldered and burnt to a crisp before our eyes. To see this once is spectacular. Now picture seeing it dozens and dozens of times.
The festivities begin with The Parade of Fire at 19:00 – La Cavalcada del Foc. At around 22:00, the first fallas infantiles – smaller and somewhat less elaborate – are lit up. From this point on, the party and the explosions are nonstop.
The smoke, sounds and celebrations erupt around every corner, essentially a pyromaniacs dream dance party. At midnight, the ceremonious burning of the grand fallas begins, heating the entire city with fire and flames. The only ninot to be saved from the wreckage is the ninot indultat (the pardoned puppet), the winner of the most votes. This lucky ninot will be protected along with past winners from the ninot netherworld in the city’s Museo Fallero (Ninot Museum).
The History Behind the
Explosions and Effigies
The evolution of the fallas is said to have begun as early as the Middle Ages, stemming from pagan celebrations of the spring equinox.
During the autumn and winter months, carpenters used planks or chunks of wood (parots) to place their candles or oil lamps while working on dark evenings. As days became longer and candlelight was no longer necessary during working hours, they’d celebrate the coming of spring by setting the planks alight.
Overtime, the tradition grew to include children going door to door asking for rags to dress the planks up like puppets (ninots). It wasn’t until much later that Saint Joseph – the Patron Saint of carpenters – became a part of the festival, merging the age-old tradition with the Catholic faith.
Today, each of Valencia’s neighborhoods has a committee (Casal Faller) which annually organizes, fundraises and constructs their own ninot (Valencian for puppet) or fallas – the enormous floats that will soon light up before your very eyes.
The floats are massive – they can reach over 25 meters tall – and are skillfully designed and constructed by prominent artists. They are almost always ironic or satirical (and often lewd) representations of politicians and well-known celebrities, both Spanish and international. You can guess which Cheeto King celeb-otician has been a common theme throughout the last couple of years as the world continuese to laugh at him…
What’s Las Fallas Really Like?
I loved Las Fallas, and if the stars once again align allowing me to prance between smoldering ninots over firecracker debris, dodging teens tossing pyrotechnics with a lukewarm can of Estrella Damm in my hand, I’m there.
But it might not be for everyone. It’s loud in a way that’s impossible to explain, not exactly earsplitting but constant and thunderous, so much so that pregnant women are not permitted at the events for health reasons. People have been injured (duh) and if you haven’t caught on quite yet, there is a lot (and I mean, a lot) of fire.
For the full schedule of events, visit the official Las Fallas website.
What’s your favorite part of Las Fallas?
I’d love to hear about your Las Fallas experience! Did you love the lunacy, or crave some quiet? Let me know about it in the comments below 👇! And don’t forget to follow me for more on teaching English in Spain 📚 and adventures ✈ in the Canary Islands, Spain and the world 🌍!
Love & Light, Erica
Get Up. Get Out. Get Lost. 
Festivals are always so much fun especially when the locals are into it. I can’t believe they spend all that time building their floats just to burn them though. Must be something really cool to watch a mix of a Thanksgiving Parade and a bonfire for the las falls, the burning ring of fire!
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ah Las Fallas, I went a few years ago and i had the time of my life! I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I first got there and did the night trip from Madrid, but it was SO awesome!!
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I’ve not been to Las Fallas – but it looks like fun. A lot more fun than the day in Valencia we had as part of a Med cruise last year. lol Need to look into trying to make this happen. Thanks for sharing.
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There is no doubt that Spain loves to party! I have not even heard of Las Fallas before but Valencia is one of the few sections of Spain that I have yet to visit. So I need to remedy this soon. In New Orleans, we love a crazy insane festival with Food, Music, & Floats (Mardi Gras) but I cant imagine spending all that time & money on such beautiful pieces of art just to explode them! Awesome!
Love the pic of the the Falleras too in their traditional attire. Classic
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It sounds like an explosive way to celebrate the spring equinox. They must know how to party, and I can’t believe that you slept through the noise.
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This festival looks amazing! So cool! I wish I could go there one da ytoo. Valancia must be an amazing city too – thanks for sharing this with us 🙂
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That sounds like an incredible party. I really enjoyed the detailed narration you provided. It was almost as if I was present there with you.
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Woow, sounds like crazy adventure – flames, explosions and sleeping at beach! Lucky, that Spanish nights are warm at least!
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Very interesting article. I only know Spain from the religious festivals. I didn’t know they had such crazy festivals.
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This festival looks so much fun! I would like to go to Valencia to experience this and enjoy the fire, fireworks, food and the giant floats.Maybe next year!
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didnt know Spain has such crazy parties…need to plan a trip soon
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Wow didnt know Spain had such crazy parties!
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Spain is BUILT from crazy parties 🙂
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I thought you had eaten something spicy 😂 I would love to visit a Spanish festival like this, great post
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HAHA, your comment made me laugh at loud! Thanks for reading 🙂
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A festival that is bound to be full of good stories.
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What happens at Fallas stays at Fallas! Haha 🙂
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Hahahaha, I sometimes sleep like a hibernating bear, but not all the time. The person in the bunk above me snored all night at my hostel last night and I could hardly sleep so I think I”ll be needing earplugs for those firecrackers 😉
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Haha, I think sleeping in hostels for so many years in my early 20s trained me to sleep impenetrably! For everyone else, earplugs 😉
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This look like so much fun! I have not heard of this festival before. Do people actually get any sleep? Onto my bucket list it goes:)
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Haha, earplugs and black out curtains are definitely your friend at a festival like this!
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Hi Erica. I love your writing style, i found myself there at the festival with you giggling inbetween, parties like that in Spain who would have thought. Looks like a lot of fun but I can appreciate the warning that it is not for everyone!
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Thanks so much Liza, that means a lot! Spain has so many crazy festivals like this, I bet you’d love it!
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I haven’t yet been to Las Fallas, though I have been to Valencia many times before. I love the sound of the loud fireworks display, though I know it won’t be for everyone! Looks like a lot of fun!
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I’ve only ever been to Valencia during Fallas… I’ve got to get back and see the city sans the explosions!
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This sounds like an amazing festival!!
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One of the biggest, craziest I’ve ever experienced!
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This looks like so much fun!
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It is! Thanks for reading 🙂
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This looks awesome!
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It is 🙂 I hope you make it someday!
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Although this does not sound like something I’d enjoy very much, I actually enjoyed reading about it: It’s an interesting post and I like you’re style of writing.
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It’s definitely not for everyone 🙂 ! I loved it, but I can definitely see how others would not!
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This sounds like it would be insane for most unfamiliar with these types of events. I’ve definitely never been to a party like this, but raves and desert festivals (think Burning Man) have some similar traits! Without actually being there it’s truly hard to imagine burning structures and constant fireworks at this volume!
We gear towards nature, but knowing these kinds of parties are going on, we’d be silly to not partake.
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I’ve been wanting to go to Burning Man for years! Must be such an incredible experience. It’s funny, in general I don’t love being around huge, noisy crowds, but when it comes to festivals full of positive energy I absolutely thrive, especialy when it’s something so ingrained in the culture.
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Sounds like a lot of fun! I’ve always wanted to visit Spain, don’t even know why. The people just seem so happy and fun all the time. I’m sure at the festival they show this side of them. The day I plan a trip there, I’ll consider booking around a time of a festival.
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I first visited Spain for a few months in 2009 and was HOOKED. So much though that it’s been my homebase since 2011! Be careful once you get here, you may never want to leave 😉
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Mi Gustaaa! Thanks for sharing your experience 🙂
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Thanks for reading!
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I’ve wanted to see Las Fallas for such a long time, it seems like such a party! Even if I find the puppets a little scary haha! It’s fun to think it dates all the way back to the Middle Ages.
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It’s such a blast, I hope you make it someday! It happens every year from March 15-19, so mark it in your calendar and make it happen! 🙂
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Prefiero la tranquilidad, lo siento! ❤️
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Haha, to each there own! Las Fallas is DEFINITELY not for everyone!
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I have faint memories of Valencia from decades ago when I accompanied my father on a business trip. Las Fallas brings a more cultural and colourful outlook to the region which makes it all more attractive. Festivals like this not only carry on the ancient traditions but work towards bringing people together and that is always great.
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I definitely agree! I think attending local festivals is such a great way to get to know about the people of any given culture, and I often plan my travels around attending festivals!
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Wow! Sounds like quite an event to attend. I have never been to such show, but would love to experience, once for sure.
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I have never been to a festival with so much fire display. I also am amazed that fireworks start as early as 8AM! I hope to visit the festivities in Spain someday soon!
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Oh cool, I want to see that too!
The costumes look really great and the cars remind me a bit of the carnival parade in Cologne. Looks so fun!
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This sounds absolutely insane!! But a whole festival dedicated to burning things?!? Honestly, it would probably be way too loud and crazy for me, but what an amazing experience for people who like festivals!
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I would love to go to Valencia and now I know what time of year to plan a visit! What a crazy fiesta! It sounds like one that is not to be missed. Thanks for bringing my attention to it!
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Hope you make it someday!
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Loved the colorful and vibrant site of this festival. When I pan my Spain tour, I would make sure to align my days with this festival for it will be cultural bonanza for me. It looks so classy ad vintage. Thanks for sharing.
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Hope you make it some day!
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Wow … Las Fallas is louder, wilder, crazier than carnaval? Now that is saying something. The fire displays alone would be something to photograph.
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All of the party of Carnival with 100 times more fire 😂😂
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Carnivals and festivals in Spain are so much fun. So much color and so much cheer! I’m sure it was a great experience in soaking up the culture. I hope to make it to one of these some day myself.
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This looks amazing! It’s so colorful and lively. I’d love to take part in this one day! What´s the weather like that time of year? Do I need to pack a few layers?
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This looks like so much fun, and I can’t believe I’ve never heard about it before! The burning of so many fallas sounds spectacular, and your explanation of the entire festival is very thorough. I’d love to see this if I ever am in Spain during March!
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It all sounds wonderful except the firecrackers at 8:00am!
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I remember doing this a few years ago and the festival was amazing. It was strange just before breakfast that firecrackers were going off in the street. That sure did wake me up. I also love the colours of the costumes when I was there. This was probably the best festival I have done in Spain. 🙂
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It is an interesting wake up call! Glad you got to experience Fallas, it really is such a unique experience, and definitely one of my favourite Spanish festivals!
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I never heard about Las Fallas before, sounds incredible! Spain is a country I love and have visited twice. I hope to one day live there and experience all their festivals. Sounds like Las Fallas is a lively and entertaining event not to be missed!
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