Águilas’ carnaval is one of the wildest in the country. Vinaròs also has good carnaval celebrations.
Valencia’s Las Fallas is by far the biggest of the bonfire festivals, and indeed one of the most important fiestas in all Spain. The whole thing costs over €1 million, most of which goes up in smoke (literally) on the final Nit de Foc when the grotesque caricatures, fashioned from papier-mâché and wood, are burned. Throughout, there are bullfights, music and stupendous fireworks.
Smaller fallas festivals in Xàtiva, Benidorm and Denia.
Castellón de la Plana celebrates the end of Moorish rule with pilgrimages and processions of huge floats.
In Elche, there are, naturally, big Palm Sunday celebrations making use of the local palms, while throughout the week there are also religious processions in Cartagena, Lorca, Orihuela and Valencia. The Easter processions in Murcia are particularly famous, and they continue into the following week with, on the Tuesday, the Bando de la Huerta, a huge parade of floats celebrating local agriculture, and, on the Saturday evening, the riotous “Burial of the Sardine” which marks the end of these spring festivals.
After a colourful procession in Alcoy, a huge battle commences between the two sides in the main square.
Fiesta in Alhama de Murcia, and Moros y Cristianos in Caravaca de la Cruz.
The climax of this celebration in Valencia is when the statue of the Virgin is transferred from her basilica to the cathedral.
In Altea.
Magnificent hogueras festival in Alicante (and San Juan de Alicante) with processions and fireworks, culminating as huge effigies and bonfires are burnt in the streets at midnight. It’s celebrated on a smaller scale on the beaches of Valencia (Malvarossa, Cabanyal and Aloboraya) with bonfire-jumping. Altea also celebrates with a popular tree-bearing procession and a bonfire in the old town.
Dancing in the streets of Denia, plus music and mock battles.
In Orihuela.
Valencia hosts music, bullfights and above all fireworks, ending with the Battle of the Flowers in the Alameda.
Benicàssim’s international music festival, a massive party bringing together the major names in alternative and electronic music.
Villajoyosa sees battles by both land and sea.
Festival in El Palmar with processions by boat into the lake.
Elche presents a mystery play, based on a drama dating back to medieval times.
Xàtiva’s fair has a very extensive cultural dimension including concerts, plays and exhibitions, plus bullfights and barrages of fireworks.
Local festivities in Denia.
A riotous free-for-all of tomato-throwing takes place in Buñol on the last Wednesday of the month. There’s also a music festival in Morella.
Local fiesta in Sagunto, and at the same time the great Moros y Cristianos festival and a mystery play in Elche.
In Villena.
Bull-running through Segorbe’s streets.
Celebrations in Peñíscola’s old quarter include a human tower construction.
In Benicàssim with bands and a “blazing bull”.
Benidorm celebrates its patron saint’s day.
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