The Fiesta de San Juan is to commemorate the summer, and takes place on the longest day of the year. The fiesta is celebrated throughout Spain between the 21st and 24th of June when the hours of light outweigh the darkness. There are several variations to the celebrations between the different provinces and towns, although fire, sun and water all play integral parts to the festivities.

If one were to look down at Spain from above, the country would be lit up by bonfires throughout the night during the San Juan Fiesta. Bonfires are prepared in the afternoon and are left to burn in the night darkness honouring the light of the summer. Jumping over a bonfire three times during the fiesta will cleanse the soul of a person according to old tradition, and still takes place throughout the country. Perfumed water made of seven different plants is also prepared to cleanse people and this is prepared by the women according to custom.

The San Juan fiesta is celebrated all over Spain, with even more festivities taking place along the extensive coastline. With bonfires lighting the beaches, local residents jump into the sea as the clock strikes midnight to wash away evil and be granted ever lasting beauty. In some of the coastal towns, residents dance on the beach around the bonfires before going in for a midnight dip. In other areas, large cardboard statues are built which are then burned together with the bonfires. These paper statues are typically built weeks in advance and are judged for their creativity and uniqueness. In Valencia the best statues are kept in the local museum to be visited throughout the year.

The Fiesta de San Juan is a festive occasion that can be enjoyed by both visitors and residents. Food and drink are aplenty, and stalls line up in the streets selling their traditional recipes and treats. Dance shows and firework competitions are popular, as are fairs and parades. The streets are alive with music and dance throughout the fiesta week, and many activities are on offer. The night sky is lit up with bonfires, fireworks and the burning of the gigantic statues in honour of light and summer.