Food festivals in Valencia worth planning a trip around, by month.
Food festivals in Valencia worth planning a trip around, by month.
Las Fallas in Valencia (UNESCO World Heritage) runs March 15-19 with 400-plus fallas sculptures across the city, bunyols de carabassa stalls and street-paella culture.
Focus: Bunyols de carabassa, fartons, churros, street paella
Tip: Mascletas at 14:00 daily in Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Cremà on March 19 burns every sculpture.
La Tomatina in Bunol 38 km west of Valencia is the world's largest tomato-throwing festival, with 100 metric tons of tomatoes and 20,000 ticketed participants.
Focus: Tomato culture, paella in Bunol
Tip: Tickets mandatory since 2013, sell out months ahead through tomatina.es. Trains from Valencia run on the day.
Feria de Julio is Valencia's month-long summer festival, with bullfights, fireworks, food stalls and the Battle of Flowers parade along Paseo de la Alameda.
Focus: Street food, paella, sangria
Tip: The Battle of Flowers parade is the last week of July. Food stalls run across the city in Plaza del Ayuntamiento and Mercado Central.
Dia de la Comunitat Valenciana on October 9 commemorates the 1238 reconquest of Valencia, with esgarraet plates, parades and a public-holiday paella lunch tradition.
Focus: Esgarraet, paella, Valencian classics
Tip: Public holiday in Valencia. Restaurants book up for the lunchtime paella; reserve 3 weeks ahead.
World Paella Day on September 20 was launched by Visit Valencia in 2018 to celebrate paella valenciana, with restaurant promotions and the World Paella Day Cup competition.
Focus: Paella valenciana
Tip: Most paella restaurants run special menus. The World Paella Day Cup is the international chef competition.