Las Fallas

Come March and the whole of Valencia is filled with colours, noise and gigantic structures in the unique and raucous festival, Las Fallas. A whole year leads up to March 1, when communities and neighbourhoods put up elaborate papier mache installations. And for 19 days afterwards, firework displays are set off twice each day and the whole city enjoys this big carnival with more than 350 such installations scattered all over. On March 19, girls and women dress up in beautiful costumes and participate in an elaborate parade. There’s partying, music and crowd everywhere. As evening falls, the city lights up in surreal colours and the frenzy ratchets up several notches. The community sets fire to their papier mache structures at midnight and festival ends when the main one near the town hall goes up in flames, and the whole city admires this one giant bonfire.