Valencia is bracing for an electrifying evening on March 19, 2025, as the city comes alive with the Cabalgata del Fuego, marking the much-anticipated climax of the Fallas festival. The procession, which is set to begin at 7:00 PM, will take a spectacular route through the city, starting from Calle de La Paz and winding its way through Ruzafa and Colón streets before culminating at Puerta del Mar. This grand spectacle promises to be both a feast for the senses and a vibrant celebration of fire, a fundamental element of the Fallas tradition.
The Cabalgata del Fuego serves as the prelude to a night filled with emotion and excitement, bridging the celebratory atmosphere with the poignant farewell to the elaborate fallas monuments that have filled the streets over the previous days. This vibrant fire parade, also known as a 'correfocs,' is characterized by exuberant performances featuring pyrotechnics, music, dance, and acrobatics. Hundreds of performers and participants will take to the streets, transforming them into a moving celebration of light and fire. The event reaches its thrilling conclusion with a fireworks display before the Cremà infantil, which takes place at Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Coinciding with the Cabalgata, Valencia will also witness the Nit de la Cremà, an evening steeped in tradition where approximately 800 fallas monuments are set ablaze. The Cremà of the children's fallas kicks off at 8:00 PM, with the winners of the Special Section, the Jerusalem Convent, set to ignite at 8:30 PM. Notably, the children’s falla in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento will be set on fire at 9:00 PM, much to the delight of spectators young and old.
As the clock strikes 10:00 PM, the grand Cremà of all main fallas will ensue, marking the ritualistic destruction of these intricate creations. By 10:30 PM, the monumental Jerusalem Convent will succumb to flames once more, having made a significant mark during the festivities this year by securing multiple awards, including the esteemed Ninot Indultat large. This year’s celebrations forecast an unforgettable finale, as the last falla in the Town Hall Square is set to be consumed by fire around 11:00 PM, casting a warm glow across the city, symbolizing the end of Fallas until 2026.
Adding to the excitement will be a pyrotechnic display orchestrated by Caballer FX, a family-run fireworks company with deep historical roots in Valencia. This company has made its mark in the local pyrotechnic scene since its inception in 2004 and continues to be led by Mª José Lora Zamorano, who carries on her family legacy stemming back to her great-grandfather in 1877. They will set off the fireworks at the finale of the cremà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, ensuring that spectators have an unforgettable sensory experience to accompany the evening’s events.
March 19 is more than just a date for locals; it is the culmination of days filled with rich culture, artistic expression, and community celebration. From the early morning flower offering ceremony to the daytime mascletà at Plaza del Ayuntamiento at 2:00 PM, the action will be unrelenting. Coupled with the solemn Mass in honor of Saint Joseph at noon—where influential figures like the Archbishop of Valencia will officiate--there is an inherent joy that permeates the festival as communities come together.
The vibrant tapestry of events not only showcases Valencia’s historical traditions but also cements the Fallas festival as a time of togetherness and happiness, promising memories that will last a lifetime. This celebration of creativity, art, and community rituals introduces fire as a protagonist, portraying it as a symbol of renewal and purification that heralds the arrival of spring. With locals recognizing this evening as a departure from the cheerful chaos of the festival, the warmth and unity within the community frame the significance of the evenings ahead.
As the sun begins to set and the clock ticks toward the evening's excitement, Valencia prepares itself for an unforgettable celebration of fire, artistry, and community spirit. The Cabalgata del Fuego and its accompanying cremà events exemplify the very best of what the Fallas festival embodies—celebrating life, creativity, and the inevitable cycle of rebirth that comes as winter surrenders to spring.
