Fiesta Queens out today in their traditional dresses

Today marks the end of the Fallas, a traditional fiesta in the Valencian community - and tonight they will all be burnt. It is also Spanish Fathers Day here and officially a Bank Holiday, but many shops have been open. The restaurants have certainly been pretty busy over the lunchtime period, which is when most families eat their main meal of the day.

Falla "Rincon"

There are 3 Fallas in Benidorm - with each main one there is also a smaller childrens one next to it.

The first one is in the Rincon de Loix, almost opposite Burger King; the second at the bottom of the Avd Mediterraneo where the Calle Gambo starts (pedestrianized road with Specsavers at the top end)  and the third is up in the Old Town, on Calle Ortuña.

Mascletas on Avd Med

This afternoon they let of giant "mascletas" - a series of firecrackers that go off in sequence one after another that solely make a HUGE noise.
They actually closed off the top end of the Avd Mediterraneo and caused traffic mayhem to let them off - there were also some in the Old Town as well as fireworks.... yes at 2 o´clock in the afternoon!

This is what you could see - thick grey smoke!

I am all for keeping up tradition - sadly I can´t think of any in the UK anymore, but fireworks in the middle of the afternoon? As well as police controlling the crowds there was also the fire brigade on standby just incase something went wrong - great use of resources!

Falla "Centro"

The Fallas will be burnt at different times - so technically you could race around and catch all three - but you´d need to be rather fit I think.
The 3 children´s ones will all be burnt at the same time - 11pm.
The first of the main ones is being lit at 12 midnight in the Rincon de Loix.

Falla ¨Els Tolls"

After that, at 00.30am race up the Avd Mediterraneo to the Plaza Triangular and lastly, at 1:00am the one in the Old Town.
If you are thinking of going wrap up warm - although the weather has been glorious throughout the day, with temperatures reaching 21 degrees it gets rather chilly once that sun goes down.

Although you will be vying to get to the front to watch the action, once it is lit the intensity of the fire will soon have you edging backwards - either that or the spray from the firemans hoses which keep the embers at bay!
Also, leave any valuables at home - there will be lots of people... and probably lots of pickpockets about too!

Going up in smoke!