Batalla de Flores

Since abut 1892, to celebrate the end of the Feria de Julio here in Valencia, there has been one last event called the Batalla de flores aka Battle of Flowers. This event takes place on the last sunday during the feria. When we asked our expert Valencian friends, no one had any idea the history of this event... eventually they decided "well, we needed a reason for a fiesta!"

Lots of big floats are constructed, most of them using flowers. Then the falleras get all dressed up again, most of them in their traditional dresses but some in themed outfits to match the float. They come equipped this time with tennis rackets.

After a showing of the floats and lots of smiling and waving, a few fireworks are set off, because we're in Valencia. Then the battle began.

Falleras throwing flowers at the crowd (those who paid were admitted VIP and equipped with boxes of flowers)
And the crowd throwing flowers at the falleras
The falleras luckally had protection: a tennis racket which most used as a shield rather than a weapon.

Ruben risked his life to get us flowers, like a REAL man ;)

The battle lasted about 10-15 minutes. When it was over, we were free to have our own battle.

Rosemarie and I took on a group of small children, we targeted them because one kid had a batman shirt and we figured he was a badass.

Those kids threw dirt!!! And eventually we were outnumbered but we put up a good fight! Show no mercy... TOMA!

you can just see the dirt coming at us!