Las Fallas of Valencia – A Must-See Festival in Spain

Las Fallas is a celebration like no other in the world. Firecracker detonations, parades of Spaniards dressed in their traditional costumes, fireworks, huge monuments, and thousands of flower offerings to the Virgin Mary creates an unforgettable experience.

Illuminated ninots from Las Fallas festival in Valencia, Spain, showcasing colorful sculptures, intricate designs and vibrant characters at night.

It’s a 5-day fiesta leading up to the 19th March, the feast of St. Joseph, the patron Saint of Valencia, the vibrant city on the east coast of Spain.

It is without a doubt one-of-a-kind experience, and one of the must-see festivals in Spain alongside their famous carnivals and the Semana Santa processions.

Virgin Mary statue at Las Fallas festival in Valencia, Spain, with wooden framework.

What is a falla?

It is a large monument of figures called ninots. These monuments – fallas are to be found on the streets all over the city during the festival. Awards go to the best ones, but no matter how beautiful they look, they all will be burnt down on the 19th March.

Volunteers decorating Virgin Mary statue with red flowers during Las Fallas festival.

The program of Fallas festivities in March

15th March: The Planta – All monuments must be assembled by the morning of 16th March + fireworks.

16th March: Judges choose the best ones and also choose the best ninot (the only figure that will not be burnt during La Crema) + fireworks.

17th March: In the morning, the falleras mayores arrive in a procession at Plaza del Ayuntamiento and collect their prizes. In the afternoon, Ofrenda del Flowers (flower offering) takes place with Spaniards dressed in their traditional outfits who will be bringing flowers to the Virgin of Mary. Fireworks are not to be missed.

18th March: Nit del Foc (Night of the Fire) in the early hours and flower offering in the evening.

19th March: The Crema – burning of fallas with the winning monument being burnt last at about 12:30 a.m. right before the not-participating structure at the Town Hall Square is burnt.

Plus, every day from the 1st to 19th March, firecracker shows take place at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento!

Back view of Virgin Mary floral statue at Las Fallas festival.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the best places to stay during Las Fallas?

Areas like the Old Town (Ciutat Vella) offer a central base, while Ruzafa is perfect for nightlife lovers.

Is Las Fallas family-friendly?

Daytime parades, vibrant ninot displays, and smaller fireworks shows are great for families. La Crema – the burning of the ninot is definitely not!

Do I need tickets for Las Fallas events?

Most street events are free, but grandstands for fireworks or seating for the “Mascleta” can require reservations.

What should I wear?

Comfortable walking shoes are a must, and layers are recommended due to fluctuating temperatures.

Women in traditional Valencian dresses at Las Fallas festival in Valencia.

Tips for the best Las Fallas experience

Best Viewing Spots: For fireworks, Plaza del Ayuntamiento (The Town Hall Square) offers a lively vibe, while the Turia Gardens provides a calmer setting. For quieter ninot displays, side streets off Calle de la Paz often feature charming yet less crowded installations.

Crowd Management Tips: Streets and squares get really packed! Arrive at least 45 minutes early for popular events like the “Mascleta” (firecrackers at 2 p.m.) Using side streets between Plaza de la Reina and Plaza del Ayuntamiento can help you avoid the densest crowds.

Accommodation: Avoid any disappointment and book your accommodations at least three months ahead.

Food recommendations: Make sure to try Churros (perfect for late-night snacks), Paella Valenciana (a traditional rice dish) or Agua de Valencia (a sparkling cocktail made with orange juice and cava).

Men in traditional Valencian attire at Las Fallas festival in Valencia.

The origin of Las Fallas

In the old times, carpenters had a tradition of burning wood while celebrating the arrival of spring on March 19th. They would also burn other items they had no use for (like furniture) which would apparently make the flames look like human figures.

Samurai-themed ninot sculpture with a warrior holding a sword, part of Valencia's famous festival displays.

What are fallas made of?

Originally, these gigantic monuments were made of wood, paper and paper-mache.

However, these days they make most of them from styrofoam.

They are not made from cork as some articles may tell you! Styrofoam/polystyrene is often called white cork in Spanish but it has nothing to do with the real cork!

Woman in traditional Valencian dress with lace veil and ornate jewelry during a cultural celebration.

What do the falleros anf falleras wear?

Women’s dresses vary from “fallera” to “fallera”. These days it can be hard to say which ones are the traditional outfits as many parts were “customized” and combined and underwent many changes over time. In general, they were based on the fashion of the 17th-18th century.

Woman in traditional Valencian dress with a sash, holding a child's hand during a parade.

In the 1960s, the dresses were shorter, then they went back to ankle-length. Nowadays, they are more pompous than traditional dresses.

These dresses are made of silk (Valencia is known for high-quality silk) and consist of a voluminous skirt and corset. Many add an apron and scarf.

They wear handmade shoes and their hair must be braided into 3 buns. Nice jewelry and a beautiful Spanish veil compliment their outfit.

Children dressed in traditional Valencian clothing participating in a parade with family members.
Man in traditional Valencian attire holding a child dressed in similar festive clothing during the celebration.

Men usually wear shorts with knee-length socks, a white shirt, a colorful vest, and a scarf or hat on their heads. One of the obligatory items is the so-called “faja”. This is a sash (long rectangular scarf) that they wrap around their waist.

Fully dressed Our Lady of the Forsaken floral statue at Valencia's Flower Offering ceremony.

Dressing of the Virgin

Thousands of Spaniards walk kilometers (miles) in a parade to get to Plaza de la Virgen square in the historic center of Valencia, dressed in their traditional costumes.

For many, arriving at this square and offering flowers to the Virgin Mary is an emotional event and often you will see them crying as they pass the giant structure of the Virgin Mary. Whole families, including kids as well as toddlers, take part in this event that is so important for them.

Carnations are probably the most used flowers to fill the empty wooden structure of the Virgin Mary. The color of her cape is different every year, but white and red are always incorporated. By midnight on the 18th of March, the 15-meter high statue of the Virgin Mary.

Whimsical ninot display at night featuring artists and fairies.

What is La Crema?

The Fallas of Valencia festival finishes with burning (La Crema) of the fallas – the statues that falleros and falleras had been working on the past year and presented to the public only a few days prior.

These beautiful sculptures are truly a work of art for all those involved and usually represent some kind of a satirical scene.

Burning them is quite a controversial topic these days. Most of them are made of styrofoam that produces black smoke when burnt, which is pretty much a toxic hazard for anyone there.

Colorful floral arrangements brought to the Valencia city square.

Fun facts about La Crema in Valencia

  • The main fallera lights the firecrackers and the burning of fallas starts.
  • The burning starts with the young “infantil” fallas, and finishes on the Town Hall Square with the only falla that does not participate in the competition.
  • Firefighters are present at every single place of burning and regulate the fire with water to make sure it does not spread to the surroundings. They also spray water on nearby buildings to cool them down.
  • For all those involved in creating fallas, it is an emotional thing and often you would see the falleras and falleros crying while watching their creations being burnt.
Ninot display at Fallas Museum in Valencia, Spain, showcasing preserved figures from Las Fallas festival.

Local insights

  • Don’t miss a visit to the Museo Fallero (Las Fallas Museum) to see preserved ninots from past festivals and learn more about the event’s rich history.
  • Explore Plaza del Mercado Central in the morning for fresh local produce and regional treats.
  • Pop in to the local tourist office or check the official tourist website of Valencia for up-to-date information about this event.
Large ninot sculpture of an elderly woman.

Our opinion and personal experience:

We witnessed this celebration first-hand a few years back. We both think it is a one-of-a-kind event that you will not see anywhere else in the world. It is beautiful!

The large wooden structure of the Virgin Mary “dressed” in fresh flower bouquets, the thousands of Spaniards wearing beautiful costumes, the gigantic fallas – the statues/monuments that they present to the world and burn shortly afterwards…

Large bonfire with smoke and flames rising during Valencia's La Crema.

But, the burning of fallas (La Crema) is something we were actually shocked to see.

The thick smoke coming from the burning that goes on and on for hours and happens all over the city comes from the styrofoam, which is toxic when burnt and truth be told, even if it wasn’t, it makes it so hard to breathe that we recommend you skipping the La Crema part. And definitely, it is not something you would want to bring your kids to.

Instead, go watch the fireworks, walk around the city to see the monuments the falleros created, and watch the parade of dressing of the Virgin.

Crowd watching flames and smoke rise during La Crema.

If you are staying in Valencia or in the area and wondering where to go and what to see, I have a few tips for you:

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