Spain is a country with an incredibly rich history and culture, which is reflected in the many big and small cultural events that are on throughout the year.
From La Tomatina to the carnival of Tenerife, most of these events are very child-friendly and a great way to explore Spanish culture while having fun.
Here are five amazing cultural events in Spain that are great to visit with kids!
Top 5 Child-Friendly Must See Cultural Events in Spain
There is nothing better than experiencing the local culture of the destination you have traveled to for your vacation and one of the best ways is to see a cultural festival.
The list of family-friendly festivals and events in Spain will ensure that you all get to have a great time whilst being immersed in the local culture.
1. The Falles
If your kids love fireworks, colourful characters and light shows, you should book a holiday to Valencia in March!
That's when the entire city will be celebrating the Falles or Fallas, a one-of-a-kind festival during which Valencia is decorated with lights and with giant wooden dolls or ninots.
The dolls are usually very colourful and modelled after famous people, characters and animals. For an entire week, you can admire the ninots, but on the final night of the festival, they are burnt in huge bonfires.
In most neighbourhoods you can choose from two bonfires: one for children, which is smaller and is lit around 10 pm, and one for the adults that takes place later at night.
Apart from the main bonfire events, there are parades, fireworks displays, attractions, and food stalls all throughout Valencia. This unique event lasts for one entire week and is Valencia's way of celebrating its patron saint.
When: Every year from March 15 to March 19
Where: Valencia city center
2. El Día de los Reyes Magos
When you decide to spend your family holiday in Spain, one of the most magical times of the year to visit is during Christmas and New Year.
We recommend that you don't just head home after New Year's Day, rather stick around until Three Kings Day, or el Día de los Reyes Magos! This holiday is very big in Spain and is celebrated in every town.
On the night before the 6th of January, every family heads to the city centre, where a giant parade will walk through the streets of the town, with dancers and street performers doing tricks.
Of course, the three kings themselves are also in attendance and throw different types of sweets at the kids in the audience.
Don't forget to bring a bag to catch all the delicious treats that will be coming your way!
When: Every year on January 5th
Where: Every city in Spain has their own parade, and the larger cities will usually have more spectacular ones.
3. The International Kite Festival
In Spain there is one festival that is incredibly fun and colourful to visit with children.
Head to Fuerteventura and enjoy incredible views of a sky dotted with colourful kites in all shapes and sizes!
The International Kite Festival is visited by kite lovers from all over the world hoping to spot unique creations and great piloting. You will be able to enjoy performances from professional kite pilots, but amateurs are also welcome to participate in the festival!
Apart from the main kite flying event, there are many workshops for young and old. Learn how to fly a kite and even make your very own during the festival.
When you go to the event, you should definitely attend the spectacular night-flying event, and the family day (usually the last day of the festival), when children receive free kites to fly and win prizes, and little teddy bears parachute from the sky with sweets for everyone attending.
When: Every year, on the weekend closest to November 8
Where: Corralejo, Fuerteventura
4. The Calafell Family Weekend
As the name suggests, the Calafell Family Weekend is the ultimate family event in Spain!
Three days filled with activities, performances and most importantly, a lot of fun are waiting for you in Calafell on the Costa Dorada.
Everything at this festival is about kids: throughout the city you can join workshops and games or admire the performances of magicians, clowns and acrobats, while at the stage on the beach of Calafell you can enjoy several child-friendly concerts.
Each year there is also a theatre performance by a local theatre company of a famous fairytale.
During the Family Weekend, there are also special initiatives for children at the many historical landmarks of the city, such as the Castillo de la Santa Cruz, an impressive medieval castle overlooking the sea.
This festival is fun for the entire family, but if you have young children they will absolutely love everything there is to see and do in Calafell!
When: Every year during the last weekend of April
Where: Calafell, Tarragona
5. The Semana Medieval of Montblanc
Knights, wizards and dragons: what's not to love about mediaeval fairs? Your kids will absolutely love the mediaeval fair of Montblanc!
While there are many medieval events in Spain, the Montblanc fair is definitely one of the bigger and more impressive fairs. The event honors the patron saint of the region, Saint George, during an entire week of shows and festivities.
During the day, you can explore the fairground and enjoy performances by jugglers and acrobats, greet the princess, her knights, and the royal court, and learn everything about life in medieval times.
Learn how objects like glass, swords, and baskets were made thanks to the many artisans that are ready to show you their craft and make sure to visit the falconers and the archery range as well!
At night, actors depict the story of Saint George and the dragon during a spectacular show with an actual fire-breathing dragon!
When: Every year around the day of Saint George, April 23
Where: Montblanc, Tarragona
Final Thoughts
We hope that this list of the best family-friendly cultural events to see in Spain will help when planning your next family holiday.
Let us know which of the events you have seen or will plan to see!
