The Fallas are the most important festivals in the city of Valencia in honor of the patron saint Sant Josep. They are also experienced in many towns in the Valencian Country such as Alzira or Torrent and are celebrated between March 15, the day of the so-called plantà of the Fallas monuments, and the 19th, on which night the “cremà” is celebrated. It is a very deep-rooted and highly attended festival, which mobilizes tens of thousands of Valencians in all the neighborhoods and streets of the capital. The combination of art, various shows, parades, pyrotechnics, music, gastronomic offerings and long nights of festivals make it a unique festival, which attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year. These are the keys to understanding these festivals if you are not from Valencia.
The truth is that the fails are a complete party. In which traditions such as the mascletàs are mixed – the combined firing of thousands of firecrackers to cause a spectacular roar that makes the houses vibrate – or the fire castles – which combine the sound of firecrackers with combinations of colors caused by the combustion of gunpowder. —, the creation of large artistic monuments such as the fallaes themselves —some more than 15 meters high—, or very popular religious activities such as the Offering to the Virgen de los Desamparados. To which are added the individual activities of each of the more than 350 Fallas commissions in the city, with festivals, children’s games, contests and a long list of activities.
In truth, from day 15, when the plant is consolidated, each day integrates a multitude of activities. On the 17th the Ofrenda begins, in which tens of thousands of falleros and falleras participate, on the 18th it is the nit del foc, a pyrotechnic show lasting more than half an hour, and on the 19th it is the cremà in which all the fallaes burn. All in all, there is no key day, because every day a multitude of shows and activities are offered to enjoy.
The media in the city of Valencia offer extensive information on the agenda of activities every day, whether on paper or in audiovisual format. There are websites such as that of the Junta Central Fallera that give a global vision of the festival and its protagonists. The websites of the Valencian digital newspapers also offer detailed information about the festival.
You don’t have to be a fallero to have a lot of fun during Fallas week in Valencia. There are many possibilities. To begin with, you can visit the Fallas monuments and their “ninots” (which are an example of the critical expression of the Fallas artist and Valencian society), enjoy the good gastronomy of the city and observe the street spectacle of the comings and goings. comings of the Fallas commissions accompanied by their music bands. But not only that. Many Fallas commissions organize concerts or musical shows in their “casales” that everyone can attend. Contrary to what is often said, Fallas are a festival that is very open to everyone. Finally, just buy a “fallero blouse” – which is like the old clothing protectors that workers used and that sell for about 10 euros in kiosks or Chinese bazaars – buy firecrackers – easily accessible and in multiple points of sale – to feel a little failed. And if we also know some fallero or fallera in Valencia, the better to be able to integrate into the life of the “casales”.
Around 350 large ones and 350 children’s ones. Without counting all those that are planted in the rest of the Valencian community.
Without exaggeration, it can be said that the entire city is mobilized in fallaes. The census of Valencia city speaks of more than 120,000 falleros and falleras, although we must add family, friends, neighbors and professionals linked to the fallaes such as falleros artists, musicians, support staff, cooks, etc. Perhaps a figure of 400,000 people is not an exaggeration.
Fallero or fallera can be anyone, whether they live in Valencia or not. All you have to do is sign up for one of the hundreds of commissions in the city, pay the fees – which are generally financed largely by selling lottery tickets throughout the year – and participate in the events. Many falleros and falleras are people who live outside of Valencia all year round for various reasons, but who come to fallera week to fully enjoy it.
Depends. Being part of a commission is not expensive, and it also depends on each commission. In some, signing up and acquiring full rights surely does not cost more than 200 euros per year. The problem is if people want to “dress” as a fallero, especially in the falleras. A fallero costume ranges between 150 and whatever one wants to spend, because there are 300 and 500 euros. In the case of women, a suit and its accessories can cost between 600 and more than 3,000 euros. In the end, like in any party, everyone spends what they want.
Those of the so-called “special section”, which are, in the end, the most expensive and spectacular, among these Na Jordana, Nou Campanar or El Pilar. Many of them are located in the city center and their cost can exceed 100,000 euros. But these are also highly participated Fallas commissions, with thousands of Falleros in their commissions. In any case, there are dozens of great failures among the almost 800 in the city, both large and children. Regarding the latter, they are authentic works of art and highly recommended to visit.
First of all, it is highly recommended not to come to Valencia’s Fallas by car. The reason is that Valencia is a city collapsed by the festival: more than 800 streets blocked by the plant of Fallas monuments and tents where the Fallas gather. The ideal is to go by public transport. RENFE offers numerous seats: from Madrid with the AVE (in addition to all the private operators) and from Catalonia (Barcelona and Tarragona) with the Euromed. Or in the bus companies that organize trips to the Fallas from all the capitals of Spain. In addition, the Valencia metro network allows you to move throughout the city without any problem.
Valencia has a wide range of hotels, although it is true that in the last days of Fallas the city’s hotels are usually very full. However, there are hotels in a suburb very well connected to the capital through the metro network. The wide range of hotels, and also hostels, allows you to find prices for all budgets.
