For an entire week, gigantic, colourful figures fill the city’s squares and streets. Often satirical with political references or pop-culture and events that happened throughout the year. Each and every one of them is spectacular.
A Bit of History
Las Fallas (Las Falles in Valencian) dates back to the 18th Century and the old traditions of the carpenters. On the feast day of Saint Joseph, their patron saint, local carpenters would burn their old rubbish along with the wooden devices they used to hoist the candles that lit their workshops during the winter months. That is why the day of La Cremà (the day on which the Fallas are burnt down) is always the 19th of March, Saint Joseph’s day.
2021 version
Normally held in the middle of March, this unforgettable, explosive party takes place in Valencia city. Due to the pandemic and now with certain COVID restrictions in place, a mini-version of Las Fallas is being held between September 1 to 5. No other place in the world celebrates an event that is more fascinating than the Fallas, an event that has been declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO (Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la Unesco) in 2016.
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 – September 2021
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
8:00 am – Plantà (set-up) of all the fallas (sculptures).
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
9:00 am – Award ceremony. Awards for the fallas (sculptures) in the different categories and the fallas booklets will be handed out at the stand erected at City Hall.
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
5:00 pm: Pla del Remei – Gran Via.
6:15 pm: Benimamet – Burjassot – Beniferri.
8:00 pm: Malvarrosa – Cabanyal – Beteró.
9:15 pm: Algirós.
10:15 pm: Poblats Al Sud.
Route 2
5:00 pm: Campanar.
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 García 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
9:00am–midnight Ofrenda (offering) of flowers to the Virgen de los Desamparados (Our Lady of the Forsaken).
Route 1
9:00 am: Quatre Carreres.
10:45 am: Ruzafa A.
11:45 am: Ruzafa B.
Route 2
9:00 am: Benicalap.
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
6:00 pm: Pla del Reial – Benimaclet.
7:45 pm: Canyamelar – Grau – Nazaret.
8:45 pm: La Xerea.
9:15 pm: Rascanya.
10:45 pm: Camins al Grau.
Route 2
5:00 pm: La Creu Coberta.
6:15 pm: El Pilar – Sant Francesc.
7:30 pm: Patraix.
8:45 pm: La Seu – El Mercat.
9:15 pm: Botànic – 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
10:00 am – Ofrenda (offering) of flowers by the Falleras Mayores (Queens of las Fallas) of Valencia and their Courts of Honour before the image of the Patriarch at San José Bridge.
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.
For up to date information, visit the Las Fallas Valencia Information Page for English Speaking Visitors.
