Fireworks: Ninot Exhibition, Fallas 2022

I always wanted to see fireworks at Calatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, imagining how spectacular they must look against the futurist architecture. Turns out, my imagination was spot-on; the fireworks which celebrated the opening of this year’s Ninot Exhibition (opens in a new tab) looked just as breathtaking as I had hoped. As an unexpected bonus, the wind was completely still, which is pretty rare in this seaside city, allowing the pools of the City of Arts and Sciences to act as reflective surfaces, effectively doubling the spectacle.

Forewarned Is Forearmed

This firework display is something which happens every year, but I always forget about it — I’m not usually yet in Fallas firework-hunting mode by mid-February. But this year, I was ready — I’ve connected to a couple pyro groups online, so am well-informed. How many times over the years, have I suddenly heard explosions going off nearby?! Another fireworks spectacle missed! So frustrating to me, but it won’t happen again. This year, I’ve got my lists and I’m coming prepared. Fallas will not take me by surprise!

Watch the Fireworks

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Anyway, the fireworks for the opening of the Ninot Exhibit were supposed to go off at “approximately” 8pm. By now, we should know that for Valencians, the word “approximately” translates into “at least an hour late”. There are events that always happen on time, like the daily 2pm mascletàs in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento… but for anything that’s dependent on another event ending, be prepared to wait.

Worth the Wait

The weather was cold and drizzly, so it was pretty unpleasant to stand around for a full hour, while the Falleros finished socializing. But the payoff was incredible — not very many other spectators had congregated, so we had plenty of space and were able to choose prime viewing spots right in front of the Science Museum (which you might recognize as a backdrop for the movie Tomorrowland (opens in a new tab)). By the end of the spectacle, we were feeling fired up for this year’s Fallas 2022! With the pandemic still on-going, it’s been hard to get excited for Fallas, not knowing whether it would even happen at all. But now we’re feeling hopeful again.

I’ve been preparing for this year’s festival, by purchasing a new gimbal * for my Nikon camera, and hope to be able to film in extremely high quality. So please stay tuned! If you haven’t done so yet, now would be a perfect time to sign up for our newsletter, so you don’t miss any of our upcoming posts about Fallas 2022!

Written by Mike, &Photos by Jürgen

Written in 2022. Things change on the road, so please check the details before you go.

Recommended Gear for the Ninot Exhibition Fireworks

01 DJI RS 3 Mini Camera Gimbal Stabilizer DJI RS 3 Mini is a gimbal stabilizer that keeps a camera steady while filming. View on Amazon → (opens in new tab) 02 APEXUP Packable Rain Jacket Packable rain jacket from APEXUP that stuffs into a small bag when the weather clears. View on Amazon → (opens in new tab) 03 Hotdot Rechargeable Hand Warmers Hotdot hand warmers with a rechargeable battery, held in the hands for warmth in cold weather. View on Amazon → (opens in new tab) 04 Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod Peak Design carbon fiber travel tripod, built to fold compactly for carrying a camera on trips. View on Amazon → (opens in new tab)

Further Reading

Valencia Fallas Ninot Exhibition 2022 at the City of Arts and Sciences Valencia Summer Fallas 2021 Ninot Exhibition Valencia The 2021 October Fallas of Alzira

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