Buen finde! Here is your round-up of culture news and weekend highlights for 19–22 June.
Reminder: Monday, 23 June, is a public holiday for the Festival of San Juan. Most shops will be closed.
Festivals Weekend
It’s a double festival weekend in Valencia!
Corpus Christi events begin on Friday, 20 June, with Las Rocas—11 monumental wooden floats that will be transferred to Plaza de la Virgen. Performances and activities will take place on Saturday, but the main event is the colorful parade and mascletà on Sunday, 22 June.
Full schedule of Corpus Christi events – Visit Valencia
San Juan, celebrated on Monday, 23 June, brings bonfires to the beach. The Ayuntamiento will distribute free firewood at Malvarrosa and Cabanyal beaches. This is one of Valencia’s most popular summer festivals, so expect large crowds and late-night celebrations. Extra public transport will be available. Each municipality sets its own rules for bonfires, so check ahead.
Official guidance for San Juan – Valencia City Council
Award-winning Food
Two Spanish restaurants, Etxebarri and DiverXO, are finalists for the title of Best Restaurant in the World this weekend in Turin, Italy.
Etxebarri and DiverXO compete for the throne – Las Provincias
Meanwhile, Valencian restaurant Enboga has won top honors at the International Fideuà competition in Gandía, where 34 cooking teams from 9 countries competed.
Enboga wins top fideuà prize – Las Provincias
Still hungry? Check out the Ruta de Paquito, where 19 bars and restaurants are celebrating the iconic lamb sandwich, or paquito.
It’s also your last chance to catch Champions Burger, a family-friendly burger fest with 24 contenders, held on the pitch at Mestalla Stadium.
More info – Champions Burger Valencia
Summer Film Fest
Cinema Jove, Valencia’s youth film festival, opens this weekend with a special focus on the early films of Ridley Scott—including Alien and Blade Runner. All screenings are VOSE (original version with Spanish subtitles).
La Rambleta also launches its Cine de Verano series of outdoor films, running through 12 July. Most are VOSE, though some foreign films may be dubbed. Check ahead to be sure.
Solax Cinema, a new outdoor pop-up, is screening One for the Money this Saturday in the courtyard of the L’Iber Museum in El Carmen. They have a rotating list of films for the summer.
Live Music
Thursday, 19 June – Berklee Ensemble Nights wraps up at CaixaForum with final performances by the KneeBody Ensemble (Albert Palau) and the Mediterranean Ensemble (Perico Sambeat).
More details – Berklee Valencia
Friday, 20 June – The Nits Voramar festival kicks off at the Marina, with a diverse lineup including Cuban hip-hop legends Orishas and indie-rock favorites Wilco.
Saturday, 21 June – The Palau de la Música presents a free outdoor concert featuring Valencia’s Symphony Orchestra and the Spanish Cinema Soundtrack Orchestra in the Turia Gardens.
Event details – Palau de la Música
Literary Events
Thursday, 19 June – Club Hemingway is hosting its English-language Open Mic Night for creative writing and storytelling at Radio City, El Carmen.
Next weekend: Book Lovers in Ruzafa will hold their Open Mic night. Seats are limited, so be sure to book ahead.
Event info – Book Lovers Instagram
Sports & Performance
Valencia Basket faces off against Real Madrid in the Endesa League final this Friday and Sunday at the Movistar Arena in Madrid.
Also this weekend, catch Contorsions, Valencia’s annual acrobatics festival. All performances are free, though some indoor shows require booking. The festival opens with an outdoor show at Plaza de la Virgen on Thursday, 19 June.
Looking ahead to next weekend, the Royal Yacht Club of Valencia will host the Queen’s Trophy Regatta, with over 110 boats competing.