Festivals

La Tomatina

Buñol, during the last Wednesday of August, is the site of a bizarre festival. It is literally a food fight featuring thousands of people and tons of tomatoes being flung at each other. No one can be a mere spectator and nobody in the range of the combatants is spared. Legend has it that the festival grew out of a squabble in town which quickly developed into a mass brawl. The event has gained international recognition in spite of authorities trying to stop it.

Las Fallas (19 March)

Huge papier-mâché monuments (fallas) are erected in the crossroads and squares of Valencia and ceremonially set alight. This tradition is incorporated into the Christian calendar and dedicated to Saint Joseph. The festival has grown to rank among the most important in Spain. It has spawning a mini-industry with workshops turning out incredible giant effigies, and fireworks. The festival lasts for a week and costs thousands of Euros.

Moors and Christians

Alcoi (Alicante) - Two armies representing the Moors and Christians all dressed in elaborate hand made costumes march into the city, where they perform ceremonies and fight mock battles in commemoration of the expulsion of the Moors from the region during the reconquest.

Other traditional events and celebrations included in the cultural calendar of Valencia are

Bullfighting / Corridas
Bullrunning and Pamplona
Carnival / Carneval
Corpus Cristo
Fallas
Feria Andaluz
Fogueres de San Juan
Horse Fair
Misteri d'Elx
Sant Antoni
Sant Jordi
Semana Santa / Holy Week

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