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What is Las Fallas?
Las Fallas is a festival that takes place annually in the city of Valencia. It is the biggest party in Valencia and lasts almost three weeks, with a lot to precede. The festival is known for the impressive, colorful and artistic statues called fallas, which are made of wood, paper-mache and other materials. The fallas are usually satirical and humorous, and often have an connection with current and/or political events.
Fireworks are inextricably linked to the festival and on the last day of the party all statues are even set on fire as part of the tradition. A festival that you must experience at least once in your life!
What is celebrated with Las Fallas?
Las Fallas is celebrated in honor of San José, the Patron Saint of carpenters. The festival’s origins date back to the Middle Ages, when carpenters gathered old wood scraps and firewood to burn as an offering on the eve of Día de Sant José (March 19). This ritual became more and more grand. People began to make statues of the wood, which were made and displayed by the neighborhood communities before being set on fire.
In the meantime, Las Fallas has grown into a large-scale cultural event that has become an important part of the Valencian region. The festival has been listed as a UNESCO cultural heritage list since 2016.
When does Las Fallas take place?
Officially, the Las Fallas festival takes place from March 15 to 19, but you could see this as the final days of the festival. There is already a lot to experience and see in the run-up to these days. The statues are built, lights are hung, churros stalls are opened and every day there is a big firecracker show on the town hall square (Plaza del Ayuntamiento): the mascletà.
Las Fallas terms
To be really well prepared and to also understand more about what to do and see during Las Fallas, it is useful to read the list of important Fallas terms.
- Falla – You probably have noticed that Fallas are the statues that are scattered all over the city. A separate statue is called a Falla.
- Ninot – Within each Falla there is usually a smaller statue known as the Ninot. In the past, all Fallas and Ninots were burned on the last night of the festival. However, in recent years, one Ninot from each Falla has been rescued and displayed in the Fallas Museum.
- Kids Ninot – This is the smaller, kid-friendly version of the traditional Ninot. The children’s ninots often also have a theme that is more related to children, such as Disney characters, fairy tales, and other popular children’s characters.
- Plantà – This is the act of putting up the Fallas statues.
- Mascletà – This is a traditional firecracker show and an important part of Valencian culture and the Fallas festival. It consists of a series of blasts that are fired in a certain order, creating a rhythm.
- Despertá – means “to awaken”, on the last Sunday of February, children and adults walk down the streets in a procession, throwing firecrackers on the ground, in order to awaken the city for the start of Fallas.
- Pirotechnica – this is the “fireworks artist” who deals with the design, construction and performance of fireworks shows. Pyrotechnic engineers often work in teams and use specialized equipment.
- La Crida – This is the official opening of Las Fallas. A solemn appeal is made to residents/visitors to participate in the Fallas festival and enjoy all the festivities. It is accompanied by a light show and fireworks at the Torres de Serrano.
- La Cremà – This is the last night of the festival during which all Fallas statues are burned.
- Nit del Foc – means “night of the fire”. A spectacular fireworks show is held in the middle of the night. The “Nit del foc” traditionally takes place on the evening of March 18, the eve of La Cremà.
- Fallera/o – This is a woman who participates in the festival and wears traditional Valencian clothing, including the signature hairstyles. The male variant is a Fallero.
- Ofrenda – This is a ceremony in which flowers are offered to the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, which stands in the Cathedral of Valencia.
- Verbenas – These are parties on the street that take place during the festival, with music, dancing and traditional Valencian food.
Some highlights from the program Las Fallas 2024
We have listed here the events from the program that you really need to see. View this page if you want to see the whole program.
Sunday February 25
07.15 h – Despertà children.
07.30 h – Macrodespertà adults.
12.00 h – Entry of music bands.
14.00 h – Mascletà on Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
19.00 h – La Crida.
Friday 1st of March until Tuesday March 19
14.00 h – Mascletà on Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
The final week of Las Fallas:
Friday March 15
08:00 h – Plantà of all Kids Ninots.
14:00 h – Mascletà on Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
17:00 h - End of Ninot exhibition.
17:30 h – Announcement of the “Ninot Indultat” of 2023 (this is the winning Ninot, it will not be burned and it will be placed in the Fallas museum).
00:00 h - L’Albà de les Falles, with a fireworks show on Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Saturday March 16
08:00 h - Plantà of all fallas.
14:00 h – Mascletà on Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
00:00 h – Fireworks show at the Turia Garden, near the Palau de les Arts.
Sunday March 17
14:00 h – Mascletà on Plaza del Ayuntamiento
15:30 h - Ofrenda de Flores.
01:00 h – Fireworks show at the Turia Garden, near the Palau de les Arts.
Monrday March 18
10:30 h – Tribute to the poet Maximiliano Thous, at the monument of the same name, at the intersection of calle Sagunto and Maximiliano Thous.
12:00 h - Tribute to Maestro Serrano, which will take place at the monument of the same name on Avenida del Reino de Valencia.
14:00 h - Mascletà on Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
15:30 h - Ofrenda de Flores.
01:00 h – Nit del Foc, at the Turia garden, near the Palau de les Arts.
Tuesday March 19
11.00 h - Floral tribute by the Falleras Mayores of Valencia and their courts of honor for the statue of the Patriarch on the Sant Jose bridge.
12:00 h - Solemn honor of Sant Jose in Valencia Cathedral, conducted by the Archbishop of Valencia, Antonio Cañizares. In the presence of the Falleras Mayores of Valencia and their courts of honour.
14:00 h - Mascletà on Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
18:00 h - Cabalgata del Fuego (Fire Parade) via Calle Colón, from Calle Ruzafa to Porta la Mar square.
La Cremà
20:00 h - Cremà of kids fallas.
20:30 h - Cremà of the children’s fallas, which won the first prize in the special category.
21.00 h – Cremà of the kids fallas on Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
22:00 h - Cremà of all fallas of Valencia.
22:30 h - Cremà of the falla which won the first prize in the special category.
23:00 h - Cremà of the falla on the square of Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Our tips for Las Fallas
Will it be your first time Fallas? Then you probably have a lot coming your way! You can’t be everywhere at once, but as a local we can give you some good tips to enjoy these days to the fullest.
- Attend a mascletà on Plaza del Ayuntamiento
To be honest, you can hear the mascletà from almost all over the city, but making it up close is quite a spectacle to see, hear and feel! Too hard? Don’t close your ears, but keep them and your mouth wide open! - Walk through Ruzafa in the evening
The Ruzafa district (where our head office is located) is the epicenter of Las Fallas and is filled with colourful lights. There will be many stalls with food and drinks and it is very cozy. There are also several large Fallas statues in Ruzafa. - View Fallas in the ‘special category’
It is advisable to stroll through the neighborhoods and streets of Valencia, because you will encounter Fallas statues everywhere. Finding them all becomes a challenge, but you can at least try to visit the Fallas in the special category (Sección Especial), these are the largest and most impressive Fallas statues:
– Falla Cuba – Literat Azorín (Ruzafa)
– Falla Sueca – Literat Azorín (Ruzafa)
– Falla Exposición (Mestalla stadion)
– Falla Almirante Cadarso-Conde Altea (Canovas)
– Falla Convento de Jerusalén – Matemático Marzal (La Roqueta)
– Falla Plaza del Pilar (Mercado Central)
– Falla Av. Reino de Valencia – Duque de Calabria (Ruzafa/Canovas)
– Falla L’Antiga de Campanar (Campanar)
The biggest Falla, the “Falla Municipal” stands on Plaza de Ayuntamiento. - Look up all Fallas statues in Google Maps
Save yourself the detective work, all Fallas can be found in Google Maps! You only need to enter Falla + the location, so for example ‘Falla Cuba Literat Azorín’. Even if you only type in the word ‘Falla’, you will see all the places where Fallas are located. - Visit the Ninot exhibition and the Fallas museum
Until the Ninots are placed with their Fallas, you can view them from the beginning of February during the Ninot exhibition in Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. Nearby you will also find the Fallas museum, where all winning Ninots of recent years can be admired (also nice for outside the Fallas period). - View the Ofrenda
Offering the flowers to the Virgen de Los Desamparados is very special to see. Falleras and falleros walk in a procession with flowers in their hands. They eventually place the flowers around the patron saint. Something that is often accompanied by a lot of emotion. - Spectacular fireworks show: Nit del Foc
There are plenty of fireworks to see and hear in the city, but one that is really worth seeing is the Nit del Foc. This show is known as the most spectacular fireworks show in Fallas. - Find a Falla to watch during La Cremà
Something not to be missed: the burning of the Fallas and also the last night of Las Fallas. The Falla is set on fire in a very controlled manner, together with pirotechnica and the fire brigade.
Is Dream Properties Valencia open during Fallas 2024?
Our office, with the exception of the official holiday March 19, will be open during Fallas 2024, at normal business hours. However, viewings are more difficult to schedule during these days. During the final Fallas week from 15 to 19 March, no viewings are possible at all. To be sure, contact us if you want to view a house around this period, we will of course always see what we can do.
