The most awaited moment of the year for Valencians has arrived: las Fallas? a very special party that is celebrated from March 15 to 19 and, is when the city is filled with joy (even more than normal), music, color, and noise, a lot of noise!
It is a tradition like no other in which powder is the great protagonist.
Imagine it…
Bands are heard on the street, people dancing around. Light decoration. Churros with chocolate stalls and, works of art in each street called els Ninots.
It is a week in which the city is awake 24 hours a day: Valencia does not sleep, it does not want to miss a second of its long-awaited moment.
These works of art, els Ninots, are gigantic monuments made of papier-mâché that represent the work of an entire year by the Fallas artists (yes, there is a profession dedicated exclusively to the Fallas) in which satires and social critiques are represented.
Every year 800 Fallas monuments are planted in 400 locations throughout the city. This act, called plantà, takes place on March 15, and from there they are taken to a contest, in which only one will be the winner. To then be burned on the night of March 19.
A unique festivity that in 2016 was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO?️
Do you want to know what makes it so special?⬇️
Falla from the Town Hall, Valencia
For several reasons…
- Promote social cohesion
- They value the heritage of other fire festivals of towns in the Mediterranean area
- Inspires, gives freedom of expression, and promotes creativity and crafts
- It is transmitted from generation to generation
- The local community, governments, and universities support it
- They are an Asset of Cultural Interest and Valencian Cultural Heritage
The essential
As we know that you cannot be everywhere, we have grouped the acts that YES OR YES you have to live. Even if it’s to cross 3 off your list of things to do before you die ?
But before showing you our particular events program, we’ll leave you with the best tips to enjoy this event to the fullest... Here we go!
Visiting fallas (Ninots) at night with the typical kerchief.
Our advice as Valencians ✌?❤️?
1️⃣ Mascletà you have every day at 2:00 p.m. from March 1, so choose the one that best suits you and be early to take place (1 hour before or more). Take a sandwich and something to drink and wait in the Town Hall, you will see what a great atmosphere.
2️⃣ There are fireworks on March 16, 17 and 18. But we recommend you go to the Nit del Foc, since it is the most spectacular par excellence.
3️⃣ The streets with the best lights are Cuba and Sueca, in the Ruzafa neighborhood
4️⃣ The most spectacular Fallas are usually: Falla Convento de Jerusalem, Falla del Ayuntamiento, Falla del Mercado Central, Falla Na Jordana, Falla Cuba Literato-Azorín, Falla Sueca Literato-Azorín, Falla Plaza del Pilar, among others.
5️⃣ Everyone wears a Fallas kerchief, don’t stay without it. You can buy it at any store in the city center. (Look at the photo above)
6️⃣ Each street has its little chocolate stall with churros or pumpkin fritters, stopping to try them is a mandatory stop.
7️⃣ The cremà of the City Council is usually the most impressive.
8️⃣ On Sunday morning, the 19th, visit the Plaza de la Virgen and you will be surprised.
9️⃣ Enter all the verbenas that you see to dance: these places are tents where the falleros put on shows, play DJ music and sell drinks until late at night, whoever wants to can enter.
? If it is your first time, we recommend that you do this experience to learn more about all the secrets of Valencia and this extraordinary celebration.
1️⃣1️⃣ Eating downtown in Fallas will be a challenge, but if you don’t arrive late, it’s a classic to have some tapas standing (yes, standing) at the ”Bar Central”, located on the corner of C/ Ercilla (opposite of the Central Market).
1️⃣2️⃣ On the weekend of March 10 and 11 there are already special events in the city. If you are a fan of electronic music, we leave you this great event so that you can write it down in your agenda.
?AHH – The City Council also schedules concerts throughout the city, on the river, in the Town Hall square… You can check the schedule on its website.
As legendary verbenas ?? we leave you: the Verbena de la Falla Vicente Sancho Tello in the Aragón area, the Verbena de Blanquerías, next to the Serranos Towers, the Verbena del Parterre, the Verbena de la Falla Císcar-Burriana in the Ruzafa area or the verbenas that surround the area of the Town Hall.
Ofrenda de flores at Plaza de la Virgen
✨Program of the events that you cannot miss✨
Here you have the Fallas program, but only with what we think is the most important when coming to visit Fallas, without having time to get to all the events.
All you have in bold are unique events: you cannot miss the opportunity to experience them.
Saturday February 25
9:00 p.m. Nocturnal macromascleta. Avenida Levante U.D.
Sunday February 26
07:30 a.m. – “Macrodespertà” promoted by the Corona Falla that will end in the Town Hall with a pyrotechnic earthquake. Next, a Fallas breakfast will be offered to all participants.
12:00 a.m. – Entry of music bands.
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
7:00 p.m.– “Crida” in the Serranos Towers, with a show with light and color effects.
Wednesday March 1
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
Thursday 2 March
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
Friday March 3
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
Saturday March 4
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
5:30 p.m.– Ninot ride with the following itinerary: Glorieta, La Paz street, San Vicente, Town Hall, Marqués de Sotelo and ending in Xàtiva street. The parade will close with the entrance of the first pieces of the Municipal Falla “Valencian Cardioversió”.
At the end, there will be a “Mascletà” in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.9:00 p.m. – “Mascletà” at night in the Saidia neighborhood (crossing between Tormos and Sant Pancraç streets) and Natzaret (Adolfo Azcárrega street).
11:00 p.m.- “Mascletà” at night in the Campanar neighborhood (Avenida Maestro Rodrigo, near Lidl) and in Jesús (Camí Real crossroads and Tres Cruces avenue).
Sunday March 5
10:00 a.m. – Cant de l’Estoreta Contest, organized by the Falla Plaza del Árbol.
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
Monday March 6
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
Tuesday March 7
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
Wednesday March 8
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
Thursday March 9
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
Friday March 10
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
Saturday March 11
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
12:00 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
Nocturnal Mascletà
Sunday March 12
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
3:00 p.m. – “Mascletà in the Benicalap neighborhood (Levante UD avenue, at Encarna Albarracín street)
Monday March 13
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
Tuesday March 14
9:30 a.m. – Fallas Tour: discover the best-kept secrets of this unique celebration. You will be able to enter a Falla and see what life is like inside, in addition to contemplating its ninot before being exposed to the public. Click here for details
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
5:00 p.m.- Closing of the Children’s ninot exhibition.
The official week of Fallas begins, hold on!
Wednesday March 15
08:00 a.m. – “Plantà” of all children’s fallas.
9:30 a.m. – Fallas Tour
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
12:00 a.m. – L’Albà de les Falles throughout the city with a fireworks display in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
What is the alba? It is the act that begins, that notifies all the fallers and visitors that it is the night of the plantà. The sky of Valencia lights up with fireworks of all kinds and colors, and will have the participation of the 300 Fallas commissions.
Thursday March 16
08:00 a.m. – “Plantà” of all the Fallas
9:30 a.m. – Fallas Tour
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
12:00 a.m. – Fireworks display in the Jardín del Turia, at the height of the Palau de les Arts.
First fireworks display
Friday March 17
9:30 a.m. – Fallas Tour
2 p.m. “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
3:30 p.m. – 11:55 p.m. – Offering of flowers to the Mare de Déu.
01:00 a.m. – Fireworks display in the Jardín del Turia, at the height of the Palau de les Arts.
Saturday March 18
9:30 a.m. – Fallas Tour
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
3:30 p.m. – 01.00 a.m. – Offering of flowers to the Mare de Déu.
01:30 a.m.: “Nit del foc”: Fireworks display in the Jardín del Turia, near the Palau de les Arts.
These fireworks are not to be missed! Is the best.
Sunday March 19
9:30 a.m. – Fallas Tour
2 p.m. – “Mascletà” in the Town Hall.
6:00 p.m. –Fire Parade along Colón Street, from Ruzafa Street to Porta la Mar Square.
The fire parade through the streets of downtown Valencia is incredible.
8:00 p.m. – “Cremà” of children’s fallas
8:30 p.m. – “Cremà” of the children’s falla that has obtained the first prize in the Special Section.
9:00 p.m. – “Cremà” of the children’s falla in the Town Hall.
10:00 p.m. – “Cremà” of all the fallas of Valencia.
10:30 p.m. – “Cremà” of the falla that has obtained the first prize in the Special Section.
11:00 p.m. –“Cremà” of the Town Hall Falla.
Our favourite
Now, that you have the programme and the advice from Valencians (and falleros), you don’t need anything unless enjoying the coolest celebration of the year.
See you there!
Other activities to do in March in Valencia:
- Visit the longest navigable underground river in Europe
- Conquer the imposing Castle of Xàtiva
- Let yourself be dazzled by the most beautiful sunset in the Albufera Natural Park
- Escape the Fallas crowds in the land of wine in Utiel-Requena
Fireworks in Fallas