Fireworks, Snap, Crackle, Pop, Valencia on Fire
Duration: 5 days
Where: Valencia
The long awaited Las Fallas is finally being celebrated in Valencia, Spain starting September 1 to 5. COVID-19 had certainly put a damper on this fiery event and after a loooong year, it’s on!
For an entire week, gigantic, colourful figures fill the city’s squares and streets.
Ninots
A Bit of History
Table of Contents
2021 version
On Monday, August 16, the Valencian regional government announced an extension of the COVID-19 preventive measures activated on July 22. Therefore, for those living in Valencia the following measures will remain active until at least September 6, 2021:
Night curfew from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Social gatherings limited to a maximum of 10 people
These measures will be active until at least September 6. Other restrictions, specifically addressed for Fallas, might apply during this traditional festivity.
The Event Schedule
Wednesday, 1st September
8:00 am – Plantà (set-up) of all the children’s fallas (sculptures).
10:00 am – Closing of the Ninot Exhibition.
10:30 am – Reading of the ‘people’s verdict’ and proclamation of the Ninot Indultat (the only figure saved from burning) for 2021.
11:00 am – Pick-up of ninots by the committees until 8.00 pm.
2:00 pm – Mascletà (gunpowder/fireworks display) at different locations throughout the city.
11:00 pm – Nit de L’albà (fireworks display) on the fallas (sculptures) around the city.
Thursday, 2nd September
2:00 pm – Mascletà (gunpowder/fireworks display) at different locations throughout the city.
5:30 pm – Children’s awards ceremony. Awards for the children’s fallas (sculptures) in the different categories and the children’s fallas booklets will be handed out at the stand erected at City Hall.
Friday, 3rd September
2:00 pm – Mascletà (gunpowder/fireworks display) at different locations throughout the city.
5:00pm–midnight – Ofrenda (offering) of flowers to the Virgen de los Desamparados (Our Lady of the Forsaken).
Route 1
6:15 pm: Benimamet – Burjassot – Beniferri.
8:00 pm: Malvarrosa – Cabanyal – Beteró.
9:15 pm: Algirós.
10:15 pm: Poblats Al Sud.
Route 2
6:00 pm: La Roqueta – Arrancapins.
7:30 pm: Olivereta.
9:15 pm: La Saïdia.
10:45 pm: El Carmen.
11:30 pm: Regional Cultural Associations.
11:40 pm: Local Committees.
11:50 pm: Falla (sculpture) of the Fallera Mayor Infantil (Children’s Queen of las Fallas) of Valencia, Carla GarcÃa Pérez, Ramiro de Maetzu Falla – Leones.
11:55 pm: Official Procession of the Murcia, Castellón and Alicante delegations.
Midnight: Last 5 Falleras Mayores (Queens of las Fallas) of Valencia.
12:05 am: Fallera Mayor Infantil (Children’s Queen of las Fallas) of Valencia and Court of Honour, members of the Central Fallera Committee and Valencia Municipal Band.
Saturday, 4th September
Route 1
10:45 am: Ruzafa A.
11:45 am: Ruzafa B.
Route 2
10:15 am: Jesús.
11:30 am: Mislata.
2:00 pm – Mascletà (gunpowder/fireworks display) at different locations throughout the city.
6:00pm–midnight: Continuation of the Ofrenda (offering) of flowers to the Virgen de los Desamparados (Our Lady of the Forsaken).
Route 1
7:45 pm: Canyamelar – Grau – Nazaret.
8:45 pm: La Xerea.
9:15 pm: Rascanya.
10:45 pm: Camins al Grau.
Route 2
6:15 pm: El Pilar – Sant Francesc.
7:30 pm: Patraix.
8:45 pm: La Seu – El Mercat.
9:15 pm: Botà nic – La Petxina.
10:15 pm: Quart de Poblet – Xirivella.
11:15 pm: Regional Cultural Associations.
11:25 pm: Guest Organizations.
11:30 pm: Falla (sculpture) of the Fallera Mayor (Queen of las Fallas) of Valencia, Consuelo Llobell Frasquet. Falla Albacete – Marvá.
11:35 pm: Last 5 Falleras Mayores (Queens of las Fallas) of Valencia.
11:40 pm: Fallera Mayor (Queen of las Fallas) of Valencia and Court of Honour, members of the Central Fallera Committee and Valencia Municipal Band.
10:00 / 11:30 pm – Nit del Foc (fireworks display) at different locations around the city.
Sunday, 5th September
11:00 am – Tribute to the poet Maximiliano Thous, at his monument, located at the intersection of Sagunto and Maximiliano Thous streets.
12:30 pm – Tribute to the maestro Serrano, at his monument in Reino de València Avenue.
2:00 pm – Mascletà (loud fireworks display) at different locations throughout the city.
6:00 pm – High Mass in honour of St Joseph at Valencia Cathedral, officiated by the Archbishop of Valencia, D. Antonio Cañizares, presented by the Central Fallera Committee and the Carpenters Guild, with the Falleras Mayores (Queens of las Fallas) and their Courts of Honour in attendance.
8:00 pm – Cremà (burning) of the children’s fallas (sculptures).
8:30 pm – Cremà (burning) of the children’s falla (sculpture) awarded first prize in the special category.
9:00 pm – *Cremà (burning) of the children’s falla (sculpture) in Ayuntamiento Square.
10:00 pm – Cremà (burning) of all the fallas (sculptures) in Valencia.
10:30 pm – Cremà (burning) of the falla (sculpture) awarded first prize in the special category.
11:00 pm – *Cremà (burning) of the falla (sculpture) in Ayuntamiento Square.
* To avoid crowds, access to the Town (Ayuntamiento) Hall square will be restricted.
Below you will find the regular schedule that Las Fallas has had for many years.
March 1 – 19
MascletÃ
Officially on March 1 to 19, precisely at 2pm, Plaza del Ayuntamiento vibrates with an explosive display – gunpowder and fireworks, a tradition known as ‘mascletà ’. A tip shared locals – keep your mouth open during mascletà to help distribute the sound and not hurt your eardrums.
March 15 – 16
La plantà (the installation)
Takes place, when the falleros and falleras, get together and work through the night on putting them together in order to have them finished by dawn on the 16th. Soon after, a jury visits all the sculptures (over 750) throughout the city and chooses the winners.
March 17
Prize Award Ceremony
An exciting day for all falleros because on the morning of 17th, the falleros go to Plaza del Ayuntamiento to collect their prizes.
March 15 – 19
Fireworks and the Nit del Foc
Each night at midnight, people gather on Paseo de la Alameda to enjoy the València sky fill up with with light and colour of impressive firework displays. On the early hours of March 18, a more spectalur show is held. It is called Nit del Foc (Night of Fire).
March 19
La Cremà (The Burning)
On the evening of March 19, all of the sculptures, go up in flames. At 10 pm, La Cremà of the children’s sculptures begins. Two hours later, the large sculptures. The last one to burn is the falla at Plaza del Ayuntamiento, usually at 1 am. It is always preceded by a small but spectacular fireworks display which fill the square with noise, light and colour. This Cremà marks the end of the festival.
March 17 – 18
Ofrenda de Flores (Offering of Flowers)
Takes place, when the falleros and falleras, get together and work through the night on putting them together in order to have them finished by dawn on the 16th. Soon after, a jury visits all the sculptures (over 750) throughout the city and chooses the winners.
Photo Gallery
For up to date information, visit the Las Fallas Valencia Information Page for English Speaking Visitors.
