Category: Events and Holidays

Festival of San Juan: Summer Solstice in Valencia

Valencia marks the arrival of summer with fire. On the shortest night of the year, the city celebrates La Nit de Sant Joan, the night of St John — a fire-lit festival that draws thousands to the beach.

The tradition is rooted in both Christian and pre-Christian customs. According to Christian lore, St. John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus, and his birth was marked by bonfires. That’s why the feast day falls on June 24. But many historians believe the celebration predates Christianity, tracing its origins to ancient solstice rituals.

Regardless of its beginnings, the festival has evolved into one of Valencia’s most beloved summer events.

Firewood, Fire Jumps, and Midnight Dips

Each year, as the sun sets on June 23, bonfires blaze across Valencia’s beaches. The City Council hands out free firewood at Cabanyal and Malvarrosa beaches in the early evening — but be warned, lines are long and supplies go fast. Many locals come prepared with their own wood.

Fires are only permitted in designated areas, and strictly banned on the southern beaches of El Saler due to the proximity to the Dehesa Natural Park, where the risk of wildfires is high. Police and fire crews will be out in force to keep things safe.

After dark, families and friends gather around bonfires to cook dinner, play music, and enjoy the sea breeze. Tradition holds that jumping over the fire seven times brings good luck for the year ahead. Then, at midnight, the bold rush into the sea, leaping through the waves seven times to welcome the new season.

It’s an all-night celebration, and clean-up begins as early as 4 a.m., when tractors roll through the sand collecting leftover debris.

Tips for Enjoying the Night

  • Expect crowds. San Juan is one of the most popular nights of the year in Valencia.
  • Leave the car at home. Biking or public transport is best, though even extra buses and metro services tend to be packed. Traffic restrictions will be strictly enforced near the beach.
  • Check local rules. If you’re heading to quieter beaches like Patacona or Port Saplaya, note that each municipality has its own regulations on bonfires. Some may not allow them at all.
  • Emergency services — including police, fire brigades, and medics — will be present throughout the night.

Plan Ahead

June 24 is a public holiday in Valencia, meaning many shops and supermarkets will be closed. Make sure to stock up on supplies before the festivities begin.

Official resources and regulations:

Want to learn more about San Juan? Check out these guides:

Corpus Christi in Valencia: Biblical Mysteries, Good v Evil, and an Epic Water Fight

One of Valencia’s oldest and most symbolic festivals, Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ) is celebrated on the Sunday 60 days after Easter. Records of the event date back to the 13th century, making it one of the city’s most enduring traditions outside of Fallas.

Las Rocas

Festivities begin Friday evening with the procession of Las Rocas — giant wooden floats shaped like ships and adorned with fantastical biblical imagery. Traditionally pulled by horses, these monumental structures are rolled from the Alamedita de Serranos (Casa de las Rocas) to the Basilica in Plaza de la Virgen, where they remain on display until Sunday.

There are eleven Rocas in total, four of them from the 16th century. The origin of their name (“The Rocks”) is uncertain, though some say they were once even larger before being trimmed down in 1912 to pass under tram lines. Originally used for staging biblical mystery plays (Els Misteris), they remain an awe-inspiring sight.

La Poalà & Els Misteris

Saturday is all about setting the stage. At noon, locals hang buckets along Carrer dels Cabillers and Calle Avellanas, in preparation for Sunday’s epic water fight with King Herod’s soldiers — a tradition known as La Poalà.

That evening, children perform in Els Misteris, biblical plays featuring King Herod, Saint Christopher, and Adam and Eve, on a stage in Plaza de la Virgen, often accompanied by live music.

Sunday: The Convite Parade

Sunday is the heart of Corpus Christi. At noon, the Convite Parade begins at Plaza Manises and winds through the Old City toward the Cathedral. Watch for:

  • The Capellá de les Roques, a figure on horseback, cloaked in black velvet. He represents the Church and invites citizens to join the celebration.
  • The Moma and the Momos: A highlight of the parade, the Moma (virtue) dressed in white, dances among seven Momos (the deadly sins), who try — but fail — to defeat her.
  • Nanos and Gegants: Traditional dances with towering giant puppets.
  • La Magrana: A ribbon-weaving dance reminiscent of a maypole.
  • Traditional children’s troupes like Els Arcots, Els Pastorets, and Els Turcs, dressed as knights and soldiers in mock battles, or shepherds bearing floral arches.

And of course, just as the parade turns onto Carrer dels Cabillers, those buckets from Saturday come into play! Water rains down from balconies as residents “attack” King Herod’s soldiers in one of the festival’s most playful (and wet) traditions—perfect for cooling off in the summer heat.

Final Highlights

At 2 pm, Plaza del Ayuntamiento stages a booming Mascletà. The day winds down with a solemn sunset procession returning to the Cathedral, where flower petals fall like confetti.

This year’s Corpus Christi is extra festive: It falls just one day before the bonfires of San Juan!

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