
Valencia is a great city to visit any time of year. It has all the things you would expect from a city break, like vibrant culture, museums, bars, restaurants and great nightlife. However, the most massive party in Valencia takes place in March, with the Las Fallas Festival. Las Fallas is a huge fiesta of fireworks, crazy sculpture and non-stop partying.
The Las Fallas Festival is a noisy one. The streets are filled with fireworks, flames, parades, performances and people. The population more than doubles during the festival as revellers travel from other areas of Spain to enjoy the festivities. Many people also visit from other countries, so be sure to make a reservation in advance as the city fills up quickly.
There are two main features of the Las Fallas festival - fireworks and sculpture. The fireworks are renowned as the loudest in Spain. I have heard they even banned pregnant women from the vicinity. They take place at regular intervals throughout the celebrations with a scheduled display every afternoon. The final evening has a huge fireworks party with a massive display at midnight.
The sculptures are what give the festival its name. They are incredible creations usually built around a satirical theme. The “Fallas” are placed around the city before and during the festival period and there are a few days where you can wonder around to view them all, with some of them several stories high. In previous years, there have been effigies of actors from popular Spanish soap operas and politicians. Even former US President George Bush was made one year.
The culmination of the event is the torching of these sculptures, when months of work is burned down in just a few hours. The final evening really is a pyrotechnic extravaganza with these fires and the fireworks and endless dancing in the streets. After four days of continuous celebrations, you might think people would be running out of steam, but no way, as the last night is massive.
Las Fallas in Valencia is one of the biggest, noisiest festivals in Spain. You can travel to it independently but a guided tour will enhance the experience as your guide can help you get right into the action. An organised tour is a great way to make the most of a trip to the loudest festival in the Valencian calendar. There are some really great travel companies offering great deals to suit all budgets. Busabout is one of these great tour operators with trips to Las Fallas. Tours will usually include accommodation, some meals, a city tour and a guided tour of the main festival sites.
Festivals travel is more and more popular these days as you get to see new places and take part in their cultural highlights. Visiting a city during a festival is a great way to get to know the people and culture. It is a unique opportunity to celebrate with strangers and immerse yourself in their way of life. This gives a totally different, deeper perspective than just wandering around museums or eating their food, but of course, you can do that as well.
FOMO Travel are the festival and events specialists and they have extensive information on the Las Fallas Festival, as well as information on the tour options available.