Fallas in Denia
Nestled along the Mediterranean coast, the charming city of Denia comes alive every March with the vibrant and fiery festival of Fallas, marking one of Spain’s most unique and spirited celebrations. Inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, this dazzling event transforms many cities across the region into a canvas of colossal effigies, fiery displays, and communal joy, showcasing a tradition steeped in creativity, satire, and the welcoming of spring. While Valencia may be the heartland of the Fallas festivities, Denia, with its own distinctive charm and fervor, offers a compelling experience that mirrors the grandeur and intensity of its larger counterpart yet maintains an intimate community feel.
The Fallas in Denia 2024 promises an unforgettable spectacle, inviting locals and visitors alike to immerse themselves in a cultural phenomenon that blends ancient customs with contemporary artistry. As a testament to the enduring bond between Denia and its ancestral traditions, the festival not only honors the town’s heritage but also serves as a dynamic platform for social commentary and artistic expression. From the intricate design of the fallas (monumental sculptures) to the exhilarating burst of fireworks lighting up the night sky, every element of the festival is a tribute to the creativity, ingenuity, and spirited communal life of Denia.
Fallas in Denia has a unique flavor of its own, the festival in the Capital of Marina Alta is a particularly attractive location for the popular Valencian festivity because the sculptures are burned one by one. This way, allows curious people to enjoy the spectacle in all parts of town bit by bit. Whether you’re drawn to the spectacle for its artistic merits, the thrill of the pyrotechnics, or the warmth of community gatherings, the Fallas festival in Denia offers a rich tapestry of experiences that resonate with the essence of Spanish festivity and tradition.
A Brief History of Fallas Denia
The roots of the Fallas festival in Denia, much like those in the rest of the Valencian Community, intertwine deeply with the region’s history, blending medieval customs, pagan rituals, and Christian celebrations into a vibrant tapestry of cultural expression. Originally, Fallas began as a feast day for St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, marking the arrival of spring with the burning of waste materials and old wooden items collected during the winter. This act of purification and renewal, over centuries, evolved into the elaborate festival we witness today, characterized by the creation and destruction of fallas – elaborate sculptures that are as satirical as they are spectacular.
Denia’s adaptation of this tradition has grown in scale and complexity, reflecting both local and global themes through its fallas. These towering figures, crafted with incredible skill and wit, fill the city’s squares and streets, turning Denia into an open-air museum of ephemeral art. Each falla is a marvel of design, engineering, and artistry, representing months of dedication by local artists and communities. They often depict scenes of social, political, and cultural commentary, providing insight into contemporary issues with humor and creativity.
The festival’s crescendo, the ‘Nit de la Cremà’ (Night of the Burning), sees these magnificent sculptures consumed by flames in a symbolic act of regeneration and rebirth. This spectacular finale, lit against the backdrop of Denia’s historic landscapes and Mediterranean charm, is a poignant reminder of the cycle of life and the impermanence of art.
Through periods of prohibition and revival, the Fallas festival has persisted, embodying the resilience and adaptability of the Valencian spirit. Even during the Franco regime, when regional languages and traditions were suppressed, Fallas found a way to endure, adapting its forms of expression to ensure its survival. Today, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Fallas festival stands as a testament to the community’s commitment to its cultural legacy, celebrating not just the arrival of spring but also the enduring power of creativity and community. In Denia, the Fallas festival is more than just a series of events; it is a communal act of creation, celebration, and renewal, deeply woven into the fabric of the city’s identity.
Fallas Denia 2024 Details
- Location: Denia, Spain
- Date: February 8 – March 19
- Entrance: Free
- Accommodation: Denia
- Parade-watching location: Marqués de Campo
- Main events: The Plantà (March 11-16), La Ofrenda (March 17-18), Nit de la Cremà (March 19)
Fallas Denia Map
Where to Stay?
Having experienced the Fallas festival in Denia, it’s clear the entire city vibrates with the festival’s energy, especially during this period. Your accommodation choice should depend on what you’re looking to get out of your visit. If you’re here to dive deep into the festivities, staying close to the city center will keep you near the heart of the action. For those primarily interested in the ‘Nit de la Cremà’ and don’t mind a bit of travel, options outside the center could also work well. Denia’s local transportation, including buses and taxis, efficiently accommodates the influx of visitors, ensuring you’re never too far from the festival’s highlights.
Recommended locations: Plaza del Consell, Calle Marqués de Campo, Las Marinas Beach, Near Montgó Natural Park or any other place in Denia for a peaceful retreat.
Fallas Denia 2024 Schedule
The Fallas in Denia 2024 promises an array of events filled with tradition, art, and community spirit. To help you navigate through the festivities, here’s a breakdown of the schedule:
Week 1
Thursday, February 8
- 19:00: Opening of the Fallas clubhouses
- 19:30: Visit of the judging panel to the clubhouses participating in the decorated clubhouses prize
Saturday, February 10
- 18:15: Gathering of the Fallas commissions, Local Fallas Board, major Falleras of Dénia, and courts of honor on Federico García Lorca street.
- 18:30: Visit of the major Falleras of Dénia, courts of honor, Local Fallas Board, and commissions to the clubhouses of the Fallas Camp Roig, Campaments, Darrere del Castell, Les Roques, and Baix la Mar, and Fallas announcements
Week 2
Thursday, February 15
- 19:30: Visit of the judging panel to the clubhouses participating in the decorated clubhouses prize
Friday, February 16
- 10:30 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 19:00: Reception of Ninots participants of the Ninot Exhibition at Casa de la Marquesa Valero de Palma
- 19:45: Gathering of the Fallas commissions, Local Fallas Board, major Falleras of Dénia, and courts of honor in Valgamediós Square.
- 18:30: Visit of the major Falleras of Dénia, courts of honor, Local Fallas Board, and commissions to the clubhouses of the Fallas West, Center, Port Rotes, Diana, Saladar, and Paris Pedrera, and Fallas announcements
Saturday, February 17
- 17:45: Gathering of the Fallas officials 2024 at the end of Marqués de Campo street
- 18:00: Parade to the Ninot Exhibition
- 18:30: Opening of the Ninot Exhibition 2024 at Casa de la Marquesa
- 20:00: Crida by the major Falleras of Dénia, Mar Moncho Roselló and Candela Marco Jiménez, and proclamation, in Constitució square
- 21:00: Fallera Gala Dinner with the award of the 2024 Exemplary Fallero distinction and awards of JLF and JCF at L’Androna Multiespai Room.
Sunday, February 18
- 18:30: Children’s Fallera Gala with the awards of JLF and JCF. Afterwards, snack for the attending children.
Week 3
- Pause
Week 4
March 1 to 14
- 14:00: Tir de carcasses (firecracker event)
Saturday, March 2
- 13:00: Dinar de Germanor (Brotherhood meal) in Torrecremada, and awarding of the Best Fallas Ban, Best Fallas Presentations, Best Showcase, Best Presenters, Best Keepers, Child’s Pardoned Ninot, and Adult’s Pardoned Ninot
Sunday, March 3
- 12:00: Concert by the Artistic Musical Group of Dénia, at the crossroads of Saladar Av. and Diana St.
Week 5
Wednesday, March 6
- 09:45 to 13:30 and 16:45 to 20:30: Fallera blood donation in Llunàtics Multipurpose Room.
Week 6
Monday, March 11 to Saturday, March 16
- La Planta (Eng. Planting of the Fallas)
Thursday, March 14
- 20:00: First Night of Serenades to the major Falleras of Dénia in the following order:
- Major Falleras of Dénia – Plaza de la Constitució (Constitution Square)
- Falla Les Roques
- Falla West
- Falla Campaments
- Falla Behind the Castle
- Falla Baix la Mar
Friday, March 15
- 10:00: Breakfast in the Fallas areas
- 10:00: The FFMM, Mar Moncho Roselló and Candela Marco Jiménez, will welcome visitors at the Tourist Office of Oculist Buigues square
- 14:00: Tir de carcasses (firecracker event) and Plantà meal in the Fallas neighborhoods
- 20:00: Second Night of Serenades:
- Falla Camp Roig
- Falla Paris-Pedrera
- Falla Saladar
- Falla Diana
- Falla Port Rotes
- Falla Center
Saturday, March 16
- 08:00: Planting of the Fallas monuments in the different districts of the city
- 10:00: Breakfast in all the Fallas districts
- 12:30: Planting of the Local Fallas Board’s Falla in Consell Square
- 14:00: Tir de carcasses (firecracker event) and Plantà meal in the Fallas neighborhoods
- 18:00: Courtesy visit of the major Falleras of Dénia, Courts of Honor, and Local Fallas Board to the Fallas districts in the following order:
- Falla Les Roques
- Falla Baix la Mar
- Falla Behind the Castle
- Falla Campaments
- Falla West
- Falla Camp Roig
- Falla Paris-Pedrera
- Falla Saladar
- Falla Diana
- Falla Port Rotes
- Falla Center
- 21:00: Plantà dinner
- 22:00: Announcement rockets for the Night of the Planting
Denia Fallas Main Event
Sunday, March 17- La Ofrenda
- 07:00: Wake-up call in the Fallas areas
- 08:00: Visit of the judging panel to the Fallas
- 09:00: Visit of the rest of the juries
- 10:45: Gathering of all the commissions in the Town Hall Square
- 11:00: Tribute to the major Falleras of Dénia and to the major Falleras of Les Roques, Behind the Castle, and Baix la Mar
- 13:00: Awarding of children’s prizes at the Town Hall
- 14:00: Mascletà in the different Fallas districts
- 18:15: Gathering of all the commissions on Patricio Ferrándiz street.
- 18:30: Homages to the major Falleras of Paris Pedrera, Camp Roig, Campaments, and West
- 20:30: Awarding of the prizes for the big Fallas 2024 at the Town Hall
- 23:00: Festivals in the Fallas districts
Monday, March 18 – La Ofrenda
- 07:00: Wake-up call in the Fallas areas
- 11:15: Gathering of all the commissions in Consell square
- 11:30: Tribute to the major Falleras of Center, Port Rotes, Diana, and Saladar
- 14:00: Mascletà in the Fallas districts
- 20:30: Mascletà in Jaume I Square
- 23:00: Festivals in the Fallas districts
Tuesday, March 19 – St. Joseph’s Day
- 07:00: Wake-up call in the Fallas areas
- 08:00: Children’s wake-up call
- 10:00: Parades in the Fallas areas
- 11:00: Mass in honor of St. Joseph at the Church of the Assumption
- 11:00: Flower offering in honor of la Virgen de los Desamparados (the Virgin of the Forsaken). Route: Marqués de Campo St., Diana St., Magallanes, Convent Sq.
- 14:30: Mascletàs in the Fallas districts
- 18:00: Parades in the Fallas districts
- 19:00: Reception for the new presidents for the 2024-2025 period in the Town Hall Square
Burning Times of the Fallas Dénia 2024
- 20:00: Burning of the Local Fallas Board of Dénia’s Falla
- 20:30: Burning of the children’s Fallas of the First Section except for the first prize winner: Falla Campaments, Port-Rotes Falla, Falla Saladar, Falla Les Roques, Falla Darrere del Castell & Falla Nou Camp Roig
- 21:00: Burning of the winning children’s Falla of the First Section and children’s Fallas of the Special Section except for the first prize winner: Falla Diana, Falla Oeste, Falla Baix la Mar & Falla Paris-Pedrera
- 21:30: Burning of the winning children’s Falla of the Special Section: Falla Centro
- 22:30: Burning of the Fallas of the Seventh and Sixth Prize: Falla Campaments & Falla Nou Camp Roig
- 23:00: Burning of the Fallas of the Fifth and Fourth Prize: Port-Rotes Falla & Falla Les Roques
- 23:30: Burning of the Fallas of the Third and Second Prize: Falla Saladar & Falla Diana
- 23:45: Burning of the winning Falla of the First Prize: Falla Darrere del Castell
- 00:30: Burning of the Fallas of the fourth and third prize of the Special Section: Falla Baix la Mar & Falla Paris-Pedrera
- 01:15: Burning of the Falla of the second prize of the Special Section: Falla Oeste
- 01:30: Burning of the winning Falla of the Special Section: Falla Centro
The times for the Nit de la Cremà (Eng. Burning of the Fallas) are approximate.
References & Useful Links
- Fallas de Denia 2024 Schedule Source (In Spanish)
- Public Transport
- Alsa Buses
- Alicante-Benidorm-Denia Tram
- Taxi in Denia
- Accommodation in Denia on Booking.com
Gallery of Fallas Denia
2022
