Fiestas are an absolute vital part Spanish life. Even the smallest of villages has a couple of days a year for a big party. Finding a local event is easy and participating can be fun, giving you a real taste of culture.

In Scotland its called Hogmanay, and in Spain they call it Nochevieja. New Year is celebrated by eating a grape for every stroke of the clock in the local town squares. This signifies the start of the year and the start of the year long celebrations and parties the Spanish call Fiestas.

Some of the main Fiestas celebrated include Las Fallas which is a huge carnival parade famous particularly in Valencia. The larger than life cartoon characters are burnt at the end of the parade. Most towns have a similar parade.
La Tomatina is the tomato fight Fiesta celebrated in Bunol, near Valencia. You may have seen this on a TV advert.
Semena Santa is the religious week celebrated through out Spain in the lead up to Easter.
Pamplona is famous for the bull run through the streets but is celebrated in most Spanish towns including Calpe.
The summer festival, Verano, is celebrated in August in Calpe and ends with parades and like most Fiestas, fireworks.
Probably the most famous through out Spain is the Moros y Cristians. The celebration of the wars between the Moors and the Christians. Usually held in October in Calpe and well worth seeing.
On January 5th there is a great parade to celebrate the arrival of the 3 Kings bearing gifts for the Spanish kids to celebrate Christmas.