Las Fallas

Las Fallas is the biggest fiesta in Valencia and Spain, and it was absolutely crazy!  This year, las Fallas was being held from March 15-19, even though the Spaniards actually started celebrating on February 27th with the first Mascleta - a huge firecracker show that happens everyday at 2PM from that point until the last day of Fallas.  Throughout the whole month, there are various events happening, however the week of Fallas is absolutely ridiculous!  The population of Valencia basically doubles, people take the week off to celebrate, stores close early, roads are closed, and school is out!

During the week of Fallas, there are multiple expositions of the different Fallas - sculpture that the different neighbourhoods build throughout the whole year.  There are also parades, shows, bullfighting, neighbourhood parties, light shows, huge fiestas, ceremonies, fireworks, and most of all, the Crema - the night they burn all the Fallas.  Ya, after working all year on these pieces of arts, they're just anxious to set these things on fire!

I'm actually surprised we all managed to survive the ridiculous crowds, the late nights, and the crazy traffic.  My friends and I basically spent the whole week in the centre, touring the Fallas, checking out the various attractions, and drinking... Oh do the Spaniards ever love drinking.  I don't believe that between Monday and Sunday morning there's not one day/night we didn't drink, and not one morning we came back home before 4AM.  During the whole week, vendors across the city sell sweets that can only be found during Fallas; churros and rellenos... Delicious!!!!

If you're not a crowd person, Las Fallas is definitely not a good week for you to go visit Valencia!  There are people everywhere, and older Spaniards get a little crazy when in crowds.  We've definitely been elbowed more than once being a little taller than the average Spaniard.  You also need to show up early for events, people show up hours before the beginning of events to get a good view!

Fallas is noisy, crowded, full of fire, late nights, and early mornings, but it is absolutely the craziest festival I've been to!  Unlike Canadian festivals that last a day or a weekend, this think lasts a week of craziness, and a month of build-up to it!