July Fair In Valencia. Ready For A Flower Battle?

Spanish rider dressed in traditional Valencian clothes.
Does he remind you of a certain painting by Sorolla?

July in Valencia is hot. Very hot! And you either love it or hate it. Going to the beach might be fun for a while but the heat and the noise of the city are definitely tiresome. And that's what determines the locals to leave Valencia every summer by the thousands. But a city that's barely alive can hardly prosper. And that's why in 1871 the City Hall of Valencia decided to inaugurate the first July Fair, an exhibition with all kind of products for sale, to encourage locals to stay and tourists to come.

July Fair came to be nowadays a tradition in Valencia and it has an extensive program of events, most of which are free of charge. One can enjoy a wide variety of concerts, from classical music to pop, rock and jazz and can sink into the Spanish tradition by attending a flamenco show or a zarzuela play - Spanish musical consisting of spoken passages, songs, choruses, and dances - the whole month of July. A bullfighting spectacle is another Spanish tradition to be experienced in July if you have a stomach for it. I pass!

The peak of the July Fair however is the Flower Battle. Valencians are totally passionate about flowers and they use them in every major event. On the last Sunday of July majestic horse carriages decorated with natural flower artworks parade along Paseo de la Alameda. Each one carries a few Valencians dressed in the theme of the float. After the winners are announced, the flower battle begins. The floats and the public have been previously supplied with yellow and orange flower heads and the fight looks more like a two-way orange shower than a fierce battle. Probably this is the happiest and the most pacifist battle in the history of mankind. And it totally overrules La Tomatina, the tomato battle in Buñol, near Valencia.

Flower battle at July Fair, Valencia

Valencians love the smell of gun powder and firecrackers are part of their culture and they won't miss a chance for anything in the world to make some noise. Fireworks by the sea at midnight are really enjoyable too, especially if you bring in a picnic. I like to listen to the waves and I like long walks on the beach and fireworks just add to the romantic atmosphere.

The medieval fairs organized all over Valencia during the month of July are some of my favorite. You can spend lots of money on colorful candles, handmade earrings and scented sticks or you can just have a look at the pretty little objects and admire the medieval clothing of the craftsmen and women. 

But July Fair cannot be complete without tasting some horchata valenciana. Horchata is an extremely popular milky soft drink in Spain better served very cold or slush. Horchata is made of water, sugar and tiger nuts (chufas), therefore is suitable for vegetarians. You can buy the real homemade horchata from a cafeteria around Valencia or from the Mon Orxata street stalls situated all over the city center. Though the prepackaged horchata is a few times cheaper than the homemade one, the difference in taste is huge. I used to like the prepacked stuff up till I arrived in Valencia and tried the real deal. Now I can't stand the one from the supermarket. Also if you have tasted horchata in South America, you should know they are two different beverages. The South American one is rice-based, so you are still pending to try the Valencian one.

Float ready for the parade at July Fair, Valencia

Float ready for the parade at July Fair, Valencia

Flower battle at July Fair, Valencia

Flower battle at July Fair, Valencia

Float parading at July Fair, Valencia

Float parading at July Fair, Valencia

Float parading at July Fair, Valencia

Float parading at July Fair, Valencia

Float ready for the parade at July Fair, Valencia

Kitty float ready for the parade at July Fair, Valencia