FESTIVE SEASON IN VALENCIA
December 1 2024 - January 6 2025
The festive season presents expats with a kaleidoscope overflowing with a variety of wonderful experiences. Bright lights suspended across many city streets, with the big reveal occurring on the first Saturday of December.
The display is lit from dark until midnight and continues each evening until the twelfth day of Christmas. With his birthday falling on January 5, your writer is amused that some parts of the world consider Epiphany, while others mark this a day later.
The Nativity scene will be on the recently redesigned Plaza de la Reina, while the city aims to spread the joy farther this year with Christmas displays in many different neighbourhoods beyond the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The city hall will again be lit by video installations.
Beyond Christmas celebrations, New Year traditions across Spain are unique and this holds true for Valencia. Beyond the grapes, this year it appears that fireworks will be displayed ate various sites along the Turia.
The “larger than life” affair of Three Kings with processions and celebrations form the final act of this five week performance of local festivities.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
By Vincent Green, Nov 20 2023
Fundació Visit València
Av. de les Corts Valencianes, 41
46015 València
+34 963 390 390
NEW YEAR IN VALENCIA
The fun of New Year starts with vengeance the evening before when the residents of Valencia enjoy a lengthy dinner with friends or family before going out. As new year’s eve proceeds, the streets start to fill with locals, expats and tourists. Celebrations include the quirky national custom of swallowing a grape each second during the countdown to midnight.
OCEANOGRAFIC VALENCIA
The Oceanografic in Valencia excites with surprising insights. Situated in the spectacular surroundings of the City of Arts and Sciences it is the largest aquarium in Europe.
The main city beach in Valencia is known as Playa Malvarrosa, which includes Playa del Cabanyal. Well over two kilometres in length, this beautiful stretch of sand is as peaceful off season as it is popular during warmer weather. There is more than enough space to bathe, relax and play ball games.
