Las Fallas in Valencia: fire, tradition, and an explosive celebration

02/27/2025 1

The first time I heard about Las Fallas in Valencia, I thought it sounded downright bizarre. A city dominated for an entire month by fireworks, gigantic sculptures, and explosions? It seemed more like the plot of a disaster movie than a cultural festival. But when I finally experienced it, I understood immediately: Las Fallas isn’t just a festival—it’s a feeling. A rush that starts in your chest the moment the first Mascletà erupts and doesn’t fade until the last flames of the grand burning on March 19 die out.

That first time was actually in August 2021, when the festival had been postponed to late summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The photos in this story were taken during that edition and offer a glimpse of the incredible sculptures on display—and what ultimately goes up in flames.

This year, the festival feels even closer. Now that Costa Blanca Radio is also available via DAB+ in Valencia, I see the city from a new perspective. What used to be a day-trip destination now feels like an extension of our region. And with Las Fallas just around the corner, there’s no better time to dive back into this fiery spectacle.

What is Las Fallas?

Las Fallas is the festival that Valencia looks forward to all year long. From March 1, the city fills with colorful, towering sculptures—the fallas—which blend art, satire, and social commentary. On March 19, the festival culminates with La Cremá, when nearly all of these magnificent creations are set ablaze.

Originally started as a carpenters’ celebration, the festival has evolved into a surreal combination of explosions, fireworks, parades, floral offerings, and pure chaos. And that’s exactly why Las Fallas can’t just be described—you have to feel it.

What makes Las Fallas so unique?

The Mascletàs: Every day at 2:00 PM, Plaza del Ayuntamiento shakes to its core with a firework display that you don’t just see—you feel. This isn’t a light show but a raw symphony of deafening explosions that put your eardrums to the test.

The Nit del Foc: On March 18, the biggest fireworks display of the festival takes place. Imagine a sky filled with light, colors, and explosions, turning night into day in a breathtaking spectacle.

The Ofrenda: Thousands of men and women in traditional attire march through the city to offer flowers to the Virgen de los Desamparados. This moving ritual creates a stunning floral mosaic, a breathtaking tribute to Valencia’s patron saint.

La Cremà: And then, on March 19, everything goes up in flames. The artworks that took months to create are engulfed in fire within minutes. The paradox of Las Fallas: first, you admire them—then, you destroy them.

Las Fallas 2025: what you can’t miss

March 1 – 19 Exhibition of the falla sculptures in the streets of Valencia
March 1 – 19 Daily mascletàs at Plaza del Ayuntamiento
March 15 – 19 Grand parades and fireworks displays
March 17 – 18 Floral offering to the Virgen de los Desamparados
March 18 Nit del Foc (largest fireworks display)
March 19 La Cremà (the grand burning of the fallas)

Why you have to experience this festival at least once

Las Fallas is intense. Loud, chaotic, and overwhelming, yet absolutely breathtaking. While many Spanish festivals revolve around flamenco and religious processions, Las Fallas feels almost postmodern—a mix of absurd art, deeply rooted traditions, and a ‘let’s set everything on fire’ mentality.

And this year, Valencia feels closer than ever. Now that Costa Blanca Radio is also broadcasting in the city, I’m starting to feel like the Costa Blanca and Valencia aren’t two separate worlds, but one big, vibrant region where everything comes together. And if there’s ever a time to truly feel the energy of this city, it’s during Las Fallas.

So if you’ve ever considered experiencing this spectacle, 2025 is the year to do it.