Ones of the most important things of the Mediterranean vitality are the uncountable festivals of Spain.

Also in Valencia the people find almost always a reason to celebrate. Some of the “fiestas” are very famous and world wide known. The most important elements of Valencian celebration are flowers, lights, fire, huge banger, vine and paella, music and folklore.

If you join the international known Fallas with its huge figures and their burning, the many bonfires or giant Fireworks, the flower or tomato fights, floral tribute, festive removals or Paella contests, nearly the hole year Valencia will be a cultural expedition for you.

Fallas

The probably most famous festivities are the yearly Fallas in March. The obviously remarkable elements are the about 400 papier-mâché figures which are up to 20 meters tall and caricature current themes of publicity.

Already on 1st of March they start to make an amazing loud and rhythmical banger concert on the town hall square. Every day at 2 o’clock pm they getting louder and louder and fascinate hundred thousands of people each year up to the last and loudest one on 19th March.
In this time the city is decorated with millions of colourful bulbs. On the 16th of March they start to present these giant theme figures on many squares and streets throughout Valencia City. Every figure (falla) belongs to a street or block of houses and will be financed, represented and acclaimed by the corresponding habitants.

There are emotional processions and daily fireworks in all single quarters of Valencia. First of all there is the biggest crowd of people on 17^th and 18^th March, when the “Falleras” wear their beautiful garbs and present thousands of flowers and gifts to the patron saint of Valencia. This emotional time-honoured custom occurs from 4 o/clock pm and goes deep into the night.
Proverbially the Fallas die away on the 19^th March, when in ‘the night of fire’ the figures will be burned by a madding crowd. www.fallasfromvalencia.com

Corpus (Corpus Christi)

Reputable personalities and chaplains of the city accompany the ceremonial procession, in which many figures from the Old and New Testament will be pulled through the streets.

Semana Sante (Holy Week)

Overall there are three main events: The palm benediction, the procession on Friday and the Sunday procession. The processions will be accompanied from church bells and bands. The festivals have a very folksy and rural character. www.semanasantamarinera.org

Virgen de los Desamparados (Virgen of the more unprotecteds)

On the second Sunday in March, there will be celebrate the festivals in honour of the patron saint of Valencia. On the evening before there is a concert of the city own band at the square of the virgin. In the riverbed of River Turia you can watch a spectacularly firework. Furthermore there will be presented dance and song presentations. From 5 am they’ll holding fairs. At 2 am there are banger concerts and ending processions.

Feria de Julio

Over the whole July, Valencia will celebrate the ‘Feria de Julio’. Part of the first and second July week will be to stage an international recognized music band contest. With the Bullfighting Arena and the Music Palace the contest will be staged in impressive locations. In the second half of July there will be celebrated the bullfight festival with the best Spanish matadors. The festivities will be accompanied from many different ballet and theatrical performances, folklore presentations but also dance and rock concerts. Of course they’ll not go without their spectacular fireworks made by the best and most famous pyrotechnists.

Flower fight (Batalla de Flores)

On the last Sunday at July is a procession with brilliantly chaises adorned with flowers. In the course of this procession they will throw with hundred thousands of pinks and leave behind a beautiful flower carpet.

Tomato fight (Tomatina)

If you include the surrounding cities into the Valencian festivities, one spectacle has to be mentioned: The tomato fight of Bunol will be yearly seen by ten thousands of people and also a lot of international camera crews. All occurs on the last Wednesday in August in an actually very calm 9000 habitants’ small town. 140 tons of tomatoes will be thrown, squished and trampled from 12 am to 1pm by a happy crowd. The tomato fight is one of the craziest events in the world.  www.tomatina.net or www.latomatina.es

The dates of the festivities and other cultural highlights you can find at the menu item Valencia up-to-date.