February 19, 2020

LAS FALLAS FIREWORKS AND FIESTA 2020

WHAT: LAS FALLAS 2020
WHY: FIREWORKS AND FIESTA
WHERE: VALENCIA, SPAIN
WHEN: SUNDAY 15TH MARCH TO THURSDAY 19 MARCH 2020 – FESTIVITIES BEGIN FROM 1ST MARCH ONWARDS
COST: FREE TO ATTEND

The Las Fallas Fiesta (the fires) is acknowledged as being Valencia’s most recognised international festival and is full of lights, flowers, traditional costume, music, bonfires, plenty of gunpowder and the army of the Fallas (the fires).

As Valencia and the surrounding region say goodbye to the Winter and welcomes in the Spring, thousands of locals, visitors, and pyromaniacs descend on the city to witness one of the biggest festivals to be held in South-Western Spain.

Officially the festival does not get into the full swing of things until around the 15^th of March but from the 1^st of the month, at 2pm daily, there is a mascleta outside the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. This concert of firecrackers is a popular event to witness, with neighbouring groups competing for the most impressive volley. All the mascleta end with the terramoto (earthquake) where hundreds of the firecrackers all explode simultaneously.

On the night of the 15^th March, the Planta of the Fallas takes place. Workers put in an all-night shift to install around 800 figures in every corner of Valencia. The colourful ninots start to take shape some up to 20 feet tall and placed in groups that tower over the excited below. Some of the ninots are based on political figures, soap stars, tv, sports idols or some are just the imagination of the creators. On the 16^th is when the judging takes place and then the ninots are paraded through the streets. These scenes of characters can be seen and enjoyed in the days following until the La Crema takes place.

In contrast to La Planta the crema marks the end of the festival in the City and is known as the most popular event internationally. The monuments are built and exhibited in the street to be burnt and this happens on the 19^th and 20^th reducing the splendid monuments that stood once proudly in the streets to ashes amongst the hundreds in the crowd that gather to witness the special event. The celebrations always end with Nit Del Foc (night of fire) on the 18^th march. This is a fantastic firework display in the Paseo de la Alameda lighting up the skies along with light displays and music.