If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing Valencia at its most joyful, July is your month.

The Feria de Julio isn’t just another festival. It’s a city-wide celebration filled with flowers, fireworks, music, and tradition. Every year, locals and visitors fill the streets, gathering for open-air concerts, vibrant parades, and unforgettable nights under the Valencian sky.

As a host teacher with the Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP), I see students fall in love with this festival year after year. It’s a chance to feel the rhythm of the city and practice Spanish in the most joyful, real-life setting.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through nine of the best things to do at Feria de Julio and why this summer festival is the perfect way to connect with Spanish culture.

Why Feria de Julio Is More Than Just a Summer Event

Back in 1871, city leaders wanted to keep people in Valencia during the hot season. Their answer? Create something worth staying for.

That idea became the great Valencia fair, or as locals call it, Feria de Julio. Over the years, it has grown into one of the cultural events that truly define the city. Today, it’s not just about entertainment, it’s a celebration of Valencian identity.

In every corner of the city, something is happening: a puppet show in the plaza, a band setting up in the park, or a street filled with flowers and laughter. And the best part? You don’t need a plan. Just walk outside and follow the sound of drums or the scent of paella.

The festival brings everyone together: families, tourists, students, and neighbors. It’s a time when Valencia opens its heart and says, “Come join us.”

Things to do at feria de julio Festival

1. Important event to open the Feria de Julio

This year, 2025, on July 1st, València will kick off the Gran Feria with a unique live concert performed 4 meters above the ground. The show, called Piano Sky, will blend music, dance, lights, and fireworks in a spectacular celebration of the city’s cultural spirit.

A Piano in the Sky and Fireworks: How València Will Launch the 2025 Gran Feria

A breathtaking musical show, suspended 4 meters in the air and accompanied by fireworks, will kick off a month-long celebration of culture, entertainment, and tradition.

2. Watch the Flower Battle in the Alameda

If you only see one thing at Valencia’s July festival, let it be this.

The Battle of Flowers, or Batalla de Flores, is a closing event that feels more like a dream. On the last Sunday of July, floats covered in blossoms parade down the Alameda promenade, each one more colorful than the last. People dressed in traditional costumes, especially young ladies representing different districts, ride the floats, laughing and tossing flowers into the crowd.

And the crowd tosses them back.

It’s a spectacular battle of petals, colors, and joy. No anger, just celebration. Streets fill with fragrance and smiles. Cameras click, music plays, and for a moment, it feels like all of Valencia is dancing.

This event isn’t just beautiful. It’s unforgettable.

This year, 2025, the traditional Flower Battle will take place on Sunday, July 27th at 8:00 PM on Paseo de la Alameda. This vibrant parade, which marks the grand finale of the fair, will feature 30 flower-covered floats in a colorful celebration.

3. Experience the Thrill of Mascletàs

You don’t just hear a mascletà, you feel it.

Every Saturday in July, people gather in front of the town hall to witness one of the most exciting traditions of the great fair. Firecrackers and rhythmic explosions build in intensity, shaking the ground and stirring your chest like a heartbeat. It lasts for nearly an hour, but your ears and memory will carry the sound much longer.

This isn’t your typical fireworks show. It’s raw, emotional, and deeply rooted in Valencian culture. For locals, the mascletà is a symbol of pride. For visitors, it’s an unforgettable rush of energy.

And when the final boom hits, the crowd bursts into applause, smiling, exhilarated, and ready for more.

4. Enjoy Open-Air Concerts Under the Stars

One of the best parts of Valencia’s July festival is stumbling upon a free concert in the park. You might hear a local flamenco group setting up, or see international artists sound-checking as the sun sets.

Head to Viveros Gardens, where the open-air stage hosts everything from pop and rock to traditional Spanish sounds. These musical performances often feel more intimate than big arenas, just you, the music, and the night air.

Pack a blanket, grab a snack, and settle in. You’ll be surrounded by locals doing the same, nodding along to the rhythm or getting up to dance.

This is what summer in Valencia sounds like: joyful, spontaneous, and shared.

5. See the Night Sky Light Up with Fireworks

If you’re like me, you’ll pause whatever you’re doing when the sky starts to crackle.

At Feria de Julio, the fireworks displays aren’t just background entertainment. They are moments when the city holds its breath and then bursts into light. I remember standing near the Palau Gardens one evening, watching colors bloom above me like giant flowers. It felt like time slowed down just for a second.

You can find a good spot along the river or near major plazas. Bring something to sit on, or just lean back against a bench. These shows are free, often unexpected, and always magical.

Wait for the grand finale, you’ll know it when you see it. The whole crowd goes quiet, then erupts in cheers.

You’ll clap too. You won’t be able to help it.

The Great July Night (Saturday, July 19):

• Live musical performances throughout the city
• Free entry to museums until late at night
• Grand pyromusical show at Monteolivete Bridge at 12:30 AM

6. Join the Parades and Dance with Locals

There’s something about the rhythm of a drum band that pulls you in.

During the great Valencia fair, the streets come alive with parades that feel more like moving parties. I remember walking along Calle de la Reina, caught between laughter, music, and giant figures towering over the crowd. Locals dressed in historical costumes danced, waved, and handed out sweets to kids.

You don’t just watch these parades, you join them. Someone will smile at you, take your hand, and before you know it, you’re dancing with strangers who feel like old friends.

The highlight? The Moors and Christians parade. It turns Valencia into a living timeline, retelling stories of tradition, identity, and unity through dazzling costumes and epic staging.

If you’re in town, don’t just stand on the sidelines. Step in. Be part of it.

7. Walk Through Illuminated Streets and Markets

One of my favorite memories from the Feria? Just wandering.

As night falls, Valencia glows. The streets light up, music flows from every corner, and you’ll find cozy amusement fair rides next to craft stalls and churro stands. I remember strolling across the Puente de las Flores, the scent of night jasmine in the air, lights flickering on the water, and people laughing everywhere.

You don’t need a map. Just follow your feet and see what you discover. One moment you’re at a puppet show, the next you’re listening to a string quartet in a quiet corner.

And you? You’ll feel it too, that sense of being both lost and exactly where you’re supposed to be.

8. Taste Traditional Valencian Summer Dishes

You can’t enjoy Valencian folklore on an empty stomach.

One of the best ways to connect with the culture is through its food. I still remember my first glass of horchata on a hot afternoon, cold, sweet, and just right. Pair it with soft fartons or a plate of paella and you’ve got the perfect break between events.

During the great fair, food stalls pop up all over the city. I usually stop near the Plaza de Toros, where local vendors serve everything from grilled sardines to creamy flan. You’ll find old family recipes next to trendy bites every flavor tells a story.

So if you’re walking past something that smells incredible… stop. Order. Taste. You’ll learn more Spanish with your fork than you will in a textbook.

9. Learn Spanish While Living at the Festival

Feria de Julio isn’t just a celebration, it’s a classroom in disguise.

Every year, I host students through our Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP), and during the Christmas festival or a quiet walk near the Palau de la Música, I see it click for them. Words they once struggled with come more easily now. Why? Because they’re hearing Spanish in real moments at food stalls, during legendary jam sessions, or while asking for directions on the street.

You don’t need a textbook here. Just a curious mind, open ears, and the courage to say hola to the person next to you. That’s how you start building confidence in language and in life.

Feria de Julio gives you a reason to speak. And every time you do, you’ll feel more connected to Valencia and to yourself.

Join Our SHIP Theme Week During Feria de Julio

Want to go beyond sightseeing? Let this festival be your classroom, your home, and your adventure.

With our Spanish Homestay Immersion Program (SHIP), you’ll stay with a local host, explore the Feria together, and practice Spanish through real conversations. From fireworks to flower battles, every moment becomes part of your language journey.

Don’t just learn Spanish—live it.

👉 Book your SHIP week now and experience Valencia like never before.