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Las Fallas and La Tomatina are among the most popular festivities and many other fiestas are also held in Valencia devoted to patron saints.
Valencia also enjoys outstanding international cultural events throughout the year: music, new technology and film festivals are also included on the city’s agenda.
Take a look at the list below and make sure you plan to be here to enjoy it for yourself.
Festivities of tourist interest in and around Valencia
Las Fallas
15-19 March
La Fallas is the most significant of all the annual festivals in Spain and attract millions of tourists from all over the world. During that week lots of events take place: stunning fireworks displays, burnings of giant Disney-like figures and top artists’ concerts.
Another highlight not to be missed is the emotional flower offering to Our Lady of the Forsaken, the patroness of Valencia.
Virgin of the Forsaken Festivity
2nd Sunday in May
This is the most important religious festivity in Valencia devoted to the Valencia’s patroness. The celebration takes place in the Plaza de la Virgen where the Virgen de Los Desamparados (The Virgin of the Forsaken) is carried in procession from the Basilica to the Cathedral. It’s only a few metres, but the statue takes hours to reach the destination, as the Plaza de la Virgen is absolutely packed with believers and tourists. On this day the façade of the Cathedral is beautifully covered with flowers.
Bonfires of St John
23 June
The arrival of the summer solstice is celebrated during the shortest night of the year. The Bonfires of St John is a huge party full of bonfires, fireworks, music and dancing throughout the night. It is celebrated especially in coastal regions where many people head for the beach. Tradition demands that you have to paddle in the sea if your dreams are to come true, one can even change a bad year into a good one by simply jumping over the bonfire a minimum of three times. Open-air dances are also organised near La Malvarrosa beach.
This festivity is one of the biggest celebrations in Alicante, in the Region of Valencia. The celebrations take place from 20th to 29th June. Large wooden and papier maché figures (similar to ‘Las Fallas’ in Valencia) are displayed in the city’s main squares and are burnt down on the night of St John (24th). Tents, called ‘barracas’, are set up around town where most of the drinking and dancing takes place.
La Tomatina
Last Wednesday of August
La Tomatina is the biggest food fight festival held in Buñol in the Region of Valencia. Thousands of participants come from all over the world to fight in a brutal battle where more than 45,000 kilos of ripe tomatoes get hurled across the air, hitting whoever is in the way.
On the night before the tomato fight, participants of the festival compete in a paella cooking contest. After the epic battle, the festival ensues with music, dancing and fireworks.
Grape Harvest Festival
20-31 August
The Utiel-Requena wine region, in the province of Valencia, offers an enjoyable free flow of delicious wines, concerts, comedy, fireworks, parades and much more. It’s worth a visit to the town and its historic underground wine cellars.
Rice Festival and International Paella Contest
5-14 September
Fond of paella? the Valencian town of Sueca hosts its Rice Festival and the International Paella Contest, one of the oldest culinary contests held in Spain. Chefs from around the world compete and share the recipes for this special dish. The paellas are made with rice grown in the Albufera Nature Park. You will also have the chance to learn more about lots of other local rice dishes.
National and International events
Valencia Escena Oberta: International Festival of Performing Arts
February
Theater, music and dance together at the Valencia Escena Oberta festival known as VEO, one of the most innovative festival of transgressive proposals which programming is built around contemporary creation, the new drama and extreme scenic experiences. Some of the most important Spanish and international companies share stages, streets and audiences.
Valencia Festival of Media Awards
19-21 April
The Festival of Media is the world’s first global festival of media creativity and innovation. In its third year, it has become a must attend two day conference offering unrivalled networking opportunities at a conference and exhibition designed to showcase the best creative media thinking and explore emerging media opportunities. This year celebrates the launch of the inaugural Festival of Media Awards (FMAs) in Valencia, a global awards programme for the media industry designed to reflect the radical changes taking place in the communications business.
Cinema Jove International Film Festival
June
The Cinema Jove International Film Festival, considered as one of the most important film festivals held in Spain, has become in a meeting point for young filmmakers from the all over the world. Every month of June, Valencia offers the most interesting and creative films. There are two sections where films compete in: one for feature films screened for the first time in Spain and another for the best, most consolidated shorts on the international scene; these constitute the thrust of a programme which also embraces tribute to veteran filmmakers, young “cult movie” directors and exhibitions.
Benicàssim International Festival Heineken
17-20 July
Spain’s biggest festival, and a point of reference in the international scene, plays host each summer to more than 100 artists who come to perform across its 4 stages. Benicàssim, a small town on the Costa de Azahar in the Region of Valencia, turns into the European capital of music for over a week.
Eclèctic Festival
July
This hugely successful annual festival offers music concerts of top international artists ranging from classical to pop music perfomances in the large open air spaces of the City of the Arts and Sciences.
Paralell activities for children also takes place: fairs and markets, fireworks, food and drink, plays and other activities. All shows during Eclèctic Festival are completely free to the public.
Campus Party
July – August
New technologies also have their place in Valencia at the Campus Party in July and August. This is the biggest festival for networked computer users in the world. Here, participants can share their interests and experiences while taking part in all kinds of activities associated with I.T. and communications.
Mediterranean Film Festival
October
A specialist film festival in celebration of the Mediterranean culture with cinematographic cultural activities, film competitions and parallel events. Its objective is to promote an intercultural dialogue and understanding between the different cultures from the Mediterranean area.
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