What’s On This Weekend: Animal Blessings and Lots of Live Music

Buen finde! After a few days of sunshine, Aemet is forecasting a spot of rain for Valencia. Most festivals are still planned, but it’s worth checking for last-minute schedule changes.

Festivals and Traditions

This weekend marks the festival of San Antonio Abad, also known locally as Sant Antoni del Porquet, the patron saint of animals. On Saturday, January 17, pet owners will bring their animals to the Church of San Antonio for the traditional blessing. Expect everything from pigeons, dogs, and cats to police horses and farm donkeys.

The celebration also includes a nearby festival market and, of course, fireworks: a correfoc on Friday, a nighttime mascletà on Saturday, and a fireworks finale on Sunday. Full details and the complete program are available on the Ayuntamiento agenda.

Traditional Valencian dance continues with Balls al Carrer on Sunday, this time at Plaza Manises in the historic city center.

And for those who can’t wait for Fallas: on Saturday, the Gala de la Pirotecnia will set the fireworks schedule for the festival season. The event concludes—naturally—with a five-minute fireworks display using 80 kilos of gunpowder. This year it takes place in the Turia gardens near the Novotel Hotel. More details via Visit Valencia.

Fans of traditional Valencian music can also catch Va de Dones, a stringed-instrument ensemble performing at the Octubre Cultural Center on Friday.

Coming up:
Ruzafa’s Festival of San Blas runs from January 30 to February 1. Valencia’s oldest festival market returns with traditional music, food, and artisan crafts.

Film, Theatre and Dance

La Filmoteca is screening the Billy Wilder classic Sunset Boulevard this week.

Valencia’s award-winning Ramon Llull bookstore will host a special bilingual French–Spanish reading with author Marc Roger on Tuesday.

Coming up:

• The EYAS Dance Project arrives at Carme Teatre from January 30 to February 1.
• Les Arts stages ¡Viva!, an avant-garde flamenco production, on January 30.
• Ballet lovers can look ahead to back-to-back productions of Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty at Teatro Olympia in February, performed by Ballet Clásico Internacional.

Art Events

IVAM, Valencia’s contemporary art museum, is hosting a special closing visit to Inhabiting the Shadows with curator Blanca de la Torre. Event in Spanish.

The Hortensia Herrero Art Center (CAHH) will hold a special event exploring the work of Eduardo Chillida on Wednesday, January 21. Beyond Chillida includes a presentation of his work and a conversation with his son, Mikel Chillida, and CAHH Artistic Director Javier Mollins. Event in Spanish.

These are also the final days to catch La Ruta at Bombas Gens Digital Arts Center, an immersive exhibition tracing Valencia’s legendary 1980s and 90s club scene.

Live Music

Burning House in Cabanyal has a packed lineup, including Trilog’s blend of flamenco jazz and Indian rhythms, and Candela’s bossa nova–jazz fusion. Next week features Iranian jazz artist Nika Afkari.

Jimmy Glass hosts Cuban trumpeter Carlos Sanduy on Thursday, followed next Tuesday by Philadelphia-born jazz trumpeter Duane Eubanks.

16 Toneladas welcomes Berlin-based darkwave band Pink Turns Blue, with Belgian punk-rockers Maria Iskariot arriving next week.

Loco Club hosts American indie-folk artist Dekker and rock veterans Supersuckers this week.

The CCCC – Centre del Carme debuts a new free concert series spotlighting local urban music—from hip-hop and reggaeton to trap, rock, flamenco, and jazz. This Friday’s performance features Anna Millo, blending soul, R&B, pop, and hip-hop.

Les Arts presents Va de Bach, a family-friendly introduction to Bach’s music, alongside a recital by German baritone Christian Gerhaher.

Palau de la Música hosts a special chamber music program with the Casals Quartet on Monday and Tuesday.

On Tuesday, composer José Zárate presents his book of solo piano works, accompanied by a free recital from pianist Diego Ramos at SGAE in El Carmen.

Coming up:

• Jardí Electronic returns with open-air electronic music at Parc Central on January 24.
• Afro-jazz musician Doudou Nganga leads an ensemble at Jimmy Glass on January 27.

Sports

The Caixa Popular 5K race series continues this Sunday in Tres Cruces.

Valencia Basket faces Paris Basketball on Tuesday at Roig Arena.

Coming up:

• Football fans can catch Levante UD vs Elche CF on January 23 and Valencia CF vs RCD Espanyol on January 24.
• Chess aficionados: Valencia’s El Albal Open begins February 1, with a special category for under-14s.

Shopping

If you’re still in the mood for bargain-hunting, the 1 Euro Flea Market returns this Sunday to Plaza Santiago Suárez.

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That’s plenty for the weekend! I’ll be back on Monday with the week’s news update.