In summer, many of the municipalities of the Valencian Community are full of traditional and popular festivities that are well worth getting to know. Local festivals full of activities of all kinds, where you can soak up the identity of the place and have fun with the family with the multitude of activities that are programmed. In this article, we're going to show you some of these festivals, which are held between June and September in the provinces of Castellón, Valencia and Alicante, that you can't miss. Here we go!
Discover the Region of Valencia's traditional summer festivals with the family
Festivities not to be missed in the province of Alicante
Altea
Altea is known for being one of the towns with the most summer fiestas in the province of Alicante, covering practically every weekend from June to September with a local festival. Altea's summer festivities begin with the ancestral celebration of the "Arbret", as part of the Sant Joan festivities in June. In addition, we can enjoy the Sant Jaume festivities in July and its concerts, exhibitions and children's activities. Or the famous and surprising firework display of the Castell de l'Olla, in honour of San Lorenzo, which is held in August on the beach of Altea.
Benidorm
The great cultural and regional mix found among Benidorm's residents has meant that the city has been picking up the typical celebrations of many autonomous communities, which is why it is easy to find a multitude of festivities throughout the year. Including the summer. However, one of Benidorm's traditional and fun festivals, which you can't miss and which marks the start of the summer, is the Bonfires of San Juan, at the end of June.
Calpe
The town of Calpe offers a wide range of fiestas during the summer, which fill its streets with fire and gunpowder, light and colour, culture and art. Don't miss the Bonfires of San Juan in June, the Fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Carmen on 16th July or the patron saint fiestas in honour of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves in August, which feature a variety of cultural traditions.
El Campello
During the month of July, one of the most important fiestas in El Campello is held, which stands out for its great tradition, emotion and beauty. As well as for the multitude of events that accompany these festivities. These are the festivities of the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of sailors, full of music, fireworks and joy, culminating in a spectacular seafaring procession.
Image by El Campello Tourism
In addition, around the 20th of July, in the church square we can also enjoy the amusing Fireta de Sant Jaume. A popular festival, revived by the locals, with free concerts, craft workshops and activities for all ages. This year 2025 it will be held from 25 to 27 July.
Elche
Summer is the time of the year when the most important and outstanding fiestas in Elche take place. It is during the month of August when the spectacular Misteri d'Elx is celebrated. A festival that has been declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, which is celebrated around the 15th of August and is a unique experience of Elche's tradition and culture. You can't miss it!
Image from visitelche.com
Also in the month of August, the Moors and Christians festivities are celebrated, which fill the streets of the city with colour, music, parades and gunpowder. In addition to the Nit de L'Albà, on the night of the 13th and the Nit de la Roà, in the early hours of the 14th to the 15th.
La Nucía
Of the fiestas in La Nucía, the biggest are those held in honour of the Virgen de la Asunción and San Roque from the 14th to the 18th of August. These are fiestas in which the whole town participates and in which we can enjoy despertaes, parades, flower offerings, concerts, costume parades and mascletaes (fireworks).
Another important celebration for the town is La Nucía Day, which is held on 9 July, to commemorate its founding as an independent town, with a multitude of events and a large medieval market.
Xàbia
Xàbia's summer festivities begin with the traditional Bonfires of Sant Joan, a very popular celebration in many towns along our Mediterranean coast. They continue with the Moors and Christians festivities which fill the town with joy, music, spectacular parades and gunpowder during the month of July. In Xàbia these fiestas are held during the third week of July in Duanes de la Mar.
Another of the events that take place in Xàbia during the month of July and that you cannot miss is the Living Chess, declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest since 2002. As well as the Fiestas in honour of the Virgin of the Angels, which are held in August.
Summer festivals in the province of Castellón
Alcalà de Xivert-Alcossebre
In the town of Alcalà de Xivert - Alcossebre, we can also enjoy traditional festivals during the summer months. In June we have the celebrations of the Festivity of Sant Benet and the Night of Sa Juan. In July we celebrate the Festival of Sant Antoni in Capicorb. And in August we can enjoy the Patron Saint Festivities in honour of Saint John the Baptist and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The main events take place during the last week of the month, generally starting on the third Saturday of August.
Benicàssim
As happens in many municipalities in the Region of Valencia, Benicàssim kicks off the summer season by celebrating the festival of San Juan, on the night of 23rd to 24th June. Shows, fireworks, folkloric dances, distribution of typical sweets and muscatel liven up this magical night every year.
Cabanes
The celebrations of the different festivals in Cabanes are at their most splendid in summer, when some of the most important ones are held: The festivities of San Pedro in July, in honour of the patron saint of sailors. And the patron saint fiestas in August in honour of San Juan Bautista and San Roque.
Castellón de la Plana
On 23 June, the beaches of Castelló are lit up with bonfires, celebrating the shortest night of the year on the Feast of Sant Joan. A few days later, on 29 June, it is the turn of the festival of San Pedro, which is celebrated in the maritime district with many activities that are well worth seeing, such as the sea parade, the offering of flowers and the maritime procession.
Montanejos
Every 25th July the fiestas of Montanejos are held in honour of Saint James, patron saint of the town. During the day there are various activities organised for children, as well as folkloric activities and a nightclub or disco.
The first weekend of September marks the start of the Patron Saint Fiestas of Montanejos, in honour of the Virgen del Rosario, Virgen de los Desamparados and the Sacred Heart.
Morella
Every 6 years, in August, Morella celebrates the Sexenni: A historical celebration, which is part of its main festivities in honour of the Virgin of Vallivana, full of parades and cultural activities. In 2024, the 55th edition of the Sexenni of Morella was held, where we could enjoy unique dances and particular biblical scenes that run through the decorated streets of the town. The Sexenni has been declared a Representative Manifestation of Intangible Cultural Heritage, a Festival of National Tourist Interest and of Intangible Cultural Interest. The next celebration will be in 2030.
The year before the Sexenni, the Anunci is celebrated, a very popular festival in which 50 tons of confetti are thrown.
However, the rest of the years, there are also summer celebrations in Morella. During the month of August, the Festes de Sant Roc are held and the second weekend of September is the traditional Feria de Morella (Morella Fair).
Oropesa del Mar
Every year, Oropesa del Mar welcomes the summer with the Fiestas de San Juan, on the night of 24th June. A few days later, on 28th June, the fiestas of San Pedro are celebrated with the traditional distribution of Coca de San Pedro and muscatel. In addition, on 16th July, the festivity of the Virgen del Carmen is celebrated with the traditional seafaring procession and the patron saint's fiestas of San Jaime, around 25th July, with a multitude of events, including the usual street parties.
Peñíscola
In Peñíscola the patron saint's fiestas, in honour of the Virgen de la Ermitana, are held every year in the first fortnight of September. During these days, Peñíscola dresses up with parades, music and a multitude of cultural events and activities for all ages.
Alt Maestrat
If we talk about the festivals of the Alt Maestrat we also find celebrations and festivities during the summer, in their villages. In fact, the patron saint festivals of all of them are held every August.
In Culla, precisely, the patron saint festivities are held the week of 15, 16 and 17 August, in honour of El Salvador, the Virgin of the Assumption and Sant Roc.
In Catí there is a festival every month: the second week of July, the so-called Fiestas de la Juventud (Youth Festival), organised by the young people of the municipality, in which music, dancing, dinners and different lively activities make up the festive agenda. The Friday before the Assumption (15th August) is the start of Catí's main festivities, the Fiestas de Agosto. And on 8 September, Mare de Déu de l'Avellà Day is celebrated.
The patron saint festivities of Benassal are also held, starting on the last weekend of August, in honour of Sant Cristòfol and Sant Roc. Different cultural, sporting and festive activities take place. From the typical ‘ball pla’, to exhibitions, concerts, open-air dances, fancy-dress balls, races, parades... And much more!
And in Albocàsser, the first weekend of July, the hermitage of Sant Pau hosts the traditional agricultural fair of Albocàsser, whose origins date back, no doubt, to the year 1752 where the first writings about it appear. And in August, the patron saint festivities are held in honour of the Virgin of the Assumption.
Xilxes
The town of Xilxes also celebrates fiestas in summer. Specifically, the second or third week of August, depending on how it falls in the calendar, the traditional Fiestas de San Roque are held. A festival in which we can enjoy dances, craft fair, local trade fair, routes... And more activities.
Province of Valencia
Ayora
During the summer, in Ayora, we can also enjoy the August festivities, which are held between the 6th and 15th of the month. At the beginning of September there is also another festival. In this case, in honour of the Virgen del Rosario.
Buñol
If there is one fun and original fiesta that stands out among the summer festivals in the Region of Valencia, it is La Tomatina de Bunyol. This great tomato-throwing festival, declared to be of International Tourist Interest, which is held on the last Wednesday in August, is known worldwide and attracts thousands of participants every year. So that the youngest can also enjoy this multitudinous tradition in a safe way, a few days before, a children's tomatina is organised on the Saturday before for the enjoyment of boys and girls aged between 4 and 14 years old.
Cofrentes
The August Fiestas in Cofrentes, which are held around 15 August in honour of Our Lady of the Assumption, are the town's main festivities. You can enjoy a wide range of events and activities for all tastes and ages, such as the parade with a parade of floats, open-air dances, concerts, shows, the medieval market and sporting activities.
Cullera
Although in Cullera the main festivals are held at other times of the year, you can also enjoy the start of summer with the festival of the night of San Juan.
El Puig de Santa Maria
Summer in El Puig is full of festivities and celebrations. They begin with the celebration of the traditional Noche de San Juan. Then, in August, between the 13th and 15th, the fiestas of Sant Roc are celebrated with their traditional "Coetà" and "les albaes". And later, on the first Sunday and Monday of September, the Festes de la Mare de Déu del Puig are held. You can enjoy musical shows, paella night, a comedy parade, mascletás, fireworks displays and processions.
Gandia
After the celebration of the night of San Juan, Gandia's festivities take place from the 14th to the 16th of July, in honour of its patron saint. Among the many events that take place, the most important is the seafaring procession in which the Virgen del Carmen goes out to sea on a fishing boat, together with the Mare de Déu Blanqueta.
These are some of the most outstanding festivals you can enjoy in the Region of Valencia during the summer. Each one of them offers a unique and enriching experience, perfect to enjoy with the family and get to know the rich culture and traditions of this region. Don't miss them!
