October 9th is the Day of the Valencian Community. The creation of the Christian Kingdom of València is celebrated. Many institutions have functions and acts intended to celebrate the collective identity of Valencians. The day before, people can visit the Royal Flag at the Crystal Room within the city hall and see Valencian traditional dances and the night fireworks in the Túria Gardens.
At 12 noon the following day, the Royal Flag of València is lowered from the balcony of the city hall. A civic procession takes place next, in which Valencians escort their Royal Flag on a tour in which the Parterre garden is the venue of one of the most important acts. A flower offering is made at the equestrian statue of King Jaume I, while the anthem of València is sung. The procession continues on to Plaça de l’Ajuntament, where the Flag is raised and then returns to the Municipal Historical Archive, where it is guarded. The event comes to an end with a mascletà. The civic procession was declared a Cultural Heritage in 2016.
Numerous towns in València also celebrate this festivity. In València, the falles associations and other cultural groups prepare festive and cultural activities such as recreations and plays, as well as acts of reclamation. On the same day since 1986, the President of the Region grants prestigious distinctions to different personalities in politics, arts and sciences.
