introduction to the fallas festival in Valencia
A Personal Welcome...
Hi, I'm Darren, the founder of Valencia Fallas, Festes & Fireworks (VLCFFF).
My first experience of Fallas was in 2011, and I returned to Valencia every year before eventually making the move permanent in 2017. With many years of experience as both a professional pyrotechnician and chef, I've spent much of my life working around people, festivals, fireworks and the traditions that bring communities together.
Over the years, I've learnt a huge amount about Fallas, its traditions and the world of Valencian pyrotechnics — and one of the things I enjoy most is passing that knowledge on to others. Whether you're discovering Fallas for the first time or simply want to understand more about what you see and experience, that's what this website is here to help with.
I've also written several books containing more in-depth information, behind-the-scenes stories and my personal journey from the UK to Valencia. My annual The Fallas of Valencia – An Insider's Guide is released every November ahead of the following year's Fallas and has become a best-selling Fallas guide for visitors wanting to get the most from their experience.
You'll find my books on Amazon, and you can find out more about all of my publications on our Publications page - https://fallasinenglish.com/publications
Welcome to Fallas — I hope you'll enjoy discovering it as much as I have.
fallas FAQ's
When is Fallas?
Fallas takes place every year from 1st to 19th March. The main celebrations and biggest events take place during the final five days, from 15th to 19th March.
Can the dates of Fallas change?
No. The dates are fixed every year: 1st–19th March. The final day, 19th March, is the day of San José (Saint Joseph), where it all began and the day of La Crema (burnings).
What is Fallas?
Fallas is Valencia's famous annual festival, combining enormous artistic monuments, tradition, music, parades, fireworks, firecrackers and community celebrations. It culminates on 19th March with the Cremà, when the Fallas monuments are burned.
What is a Falla monument?
A Falla (where the festival gets it's name) is the large artistic monument constructed by a Fallas artist, the commission and displayed in the streets during the festival. They can range from relatively small neighbourhood monuments to enormous structures several metres high or more.
What is a Ninot?
A Ninot is an individual figure or character that forms part of a Falla monument. A single Falla can contain many ninots.
Every year, selected ninots are displayed in the Ninot Exhibition, where the public votes for the favourite. The winning ninot is "pardoned" and saved from the Cremà.
What is the difference between a Ninot and a Falla?
Simply put, the Falla is the complete monument; the ninots are the individual figures that make up the monument.
So, if you see a photograph of a huge colourful sculpture in the street, you are usually looking at a Falla, not a ninot. A ninot is one of the individual figures within it.
What is a Mascletà?
A Mascletà is a traditional Valencian pyrotechnic display focused primarily on sound, rhythm and vibration rather than visual effects. The sequences build in intensity before reaching a powerful finale known as the terremoto.
The main Mascletà in Valencia's Plaza del Ayuntamiento takes place at 2:00 PM every day from 1st to 19th March.
There are also Mascletàs and other pyrotechnic events in neighbourhoods and towns throughout the Valencia region. We will have the programme of these in our "Downloads" Section.
What is the Nit del Foc?
The Nit del Foc (Night of Fire) is one of the biggest and most spectacular fireworks displays of Fallas and beyond. It takes place during the early hours of 18-19th March.
What is la Cremà?
La Cremà is the spectacular conclusion to Fallas on the night of 19th March, when the Fallas monuments are set alight and burned.
When is the best time to visit Valencia for Fallas?
For the full Fallas experience, 15th–19th March is the busiest and most spectacular period. However, events and activities begin from 1st March, so there is plenty happening throughout the month.
Are Fallas events free?
Yes! All of the main public events, including the daily Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, are free to attend. Some events and private activities may require tickets.
