Resources & Information:
- Wikipedia Page: Las Fallas
- What is it?: A traditional celebration commemorating Saint Joseph, featuring parades, food (primarily paella), fireworks, ninots (dolls & puppets), and the amazing Fallas monuments that get burned at the end.
- Dates: March 14 - 19, 2018
- Location: Valencia, Spain
- Fallas Monuments: These large wooden structures covered with painted papier-mâché depict satirical and ironic characters and themes. Hundreds of these monuments are set up throughout the city, and some are up to 50 feet tall. They depict scenes of political satire, world events, social trends, and sexual references.
- Ninots: These puppets & dolls are the individual figures that make up the scenes in the Fallas monuments. They range from famous people (i.e. Barack Obama, Lady Gaga) to fictitious characters (Shrek) to regular people in outlandish costumes and scenes.
- Fire: Fire is the theme of the entire event with fireworks, a fire parade, and the final burn of all the Fallas monuments. The fire parade is a colorful, noisy event with floats, giant mechanisms, people in costumes, rockets, gun powder, street performances, and music.
Accommodations & Getting Around:
- Planning -- You should start planning your trip at least 4-5 months in advance (September / October timeframe) - everything will be booked by end of December.
- All Options -- Look at all options including budget hotels, bed & breakfasts, vacation home rentals, and family & friends. We suggest trying AirBnB.
- Getting Around -- Since traffic and parking will be a nightmare, try to take public transportation or walk if you're lucky enough to be close by. Don't bother renting a car.
General Tips:
- Plan -- Get a map showing the locations of all Fallas, fireworks shows, and parades. Try to see some of the 14 Fallas Especiales, which are the most expensive and impressive ones (8 of the 14 are in or around the centre area). Plan to get a spot 30 - 60 minutes ahead of time.
- What to Bring -- Cash (Euros), Money belt, Good walking shoes, Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, light colored clothing). Do NOT bring valuables or purses.
- Ear Plugs -- There will be LOTS of loud fireworks going 24 hours a day, so bring some good ear plugs to help you sleep and protect your ears on the streets.
- Pace yourself -- You probably won't get much sleep, since many districts do a wake-up call at 8 am with fireworks and marching bands. Also, don't try to see all the Fallas - pick the ones you want to see and stroll around to see other random ones.
- Language -- Most locals speak some English, but don't be afraid to try out your high school Spanish
- Have Fun! -- Dance with the locals, Eat & drink the local cuisine, & Embrace the culture!