Museum of Carnival Figures - Museu de les Fogueres · Alicante

Museum of Carnival Figures (Museo de las Hogueras)

City: Alicante, Autonomous Community of Valencia, Spain
Calle Bustamante, 7, 03001 Alicante, España

General information

The Museu de les Fogueres is a one-of-a-kind museum dedicated to the cultural heritage of the famous Fogueres de Sant Joan, one of the most vibrant and large-scale street festivals in the Valencia region, held annually in honor of Ivan Kupala (June 23-24).

The museum was opened in 1987 and is located in the historic building of the former Town Hall of Alicante (Casa del Ayuntamiento). It demonstrates the richness and uniqueness of the tradition of creating large thematic sculptures – the fogers – which are then burned on the night of the festival.

Historical context

The Fogeres tradition dates back to ancient pagan rituals associated with fire worship and the summer solstice. However, the modern form of the festival took shape in the early XX century, and in 1928 the first official celebration of Fogueres de San Juan took place in Alicante.

At first, participants created small wooden structures decorated with candles. Over time, this escalated into a grand show where craftsmen build huge figures of wood, cardboard and papier-mache - often satirical or political - up to a few meters high.

Every year on June 24, the night of San Juan, most of these structures are burned, symbolizing the purification and transition to a new cycle.

Museum expositions

The museum shows the evolution of the festival from its humble origins to an international event. The main sections of the exposition:

1. History of the festival

• Archival photographs
• Posters from different years
• Video footage
• Documents on the development of tradition

2. The Foger process

• Models and tools
• Project sketches
• Examples of materials and technologies used to create sculptures

3. Exhibition halls

• Here are preserved fragments of the real foger of previous years
• Some works are exhibited in their entirety, especially those that have received major prizes.

4. Satire and public comment

• Foggers often serve as a form of artistic satire on politicians, celebrities and current events.
• In the museum you can see how this side of the festival has changed over the past decades.

Fogueres de San Juan Festival

The annual festival includes:

• Parades
• Concerts
• Fireworks exhibitions
• Foger competitions
• The burning ceremony of the foger (la Cremà) in the evening of June 24

Why you should visit:

• This is a unique opportunity to understand one of the most spectacular and distinctive traditions of Spain.
• The museum combines elements of art, history, craft and social satire.
• Suitable for both adults and children.

Practical information:

• Ticket price: around €3–5 (for adults)
• Free admission: for students, pensioners, children under 12, people with disabilities
• Working hours: usually from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00, but may vary depending on the season
• Languages: information in Spanish, Valencian and English

If you are planning a trip to Alicante, be sure to visit this museum, especially if you are interested in folk traditions, street art or the cultural heritage of Spain.