Brand new to this forum...We are a recently retired couple, who don' do much drinking/partying, and typically get worn out after a few hours at public events where there are huge crowds of people.. We are planning our first visit to Valencia (tickets to Spain already booked) and by coincidence, the dates give us the opportunity to be there during Las Fallas. What's crazy is that it seems to us such an extraordinary event, that despite everything I said about our preferences, we would like to have at least a little bit of that experience.

Although many of the hotels are already booked, it appears there are more vacancies if we visit for a few days ending before Friday (March 15) or a few days starting on Sunday (March 17). My questions, hopefully not too many:

• is the weekend the busiest time, with fewer crowds before or after?
• if we only visit during part of Las Fallas, would it be better for us to be there before the weekend or after? Perhaps for a proper experience we must be there on the weekend?
• are there areas where we can stay that will be quiet enough (without firecrackers and music in the street) at night that we can sleep?
• will it still be possible to visit primary tourist sites of Valencia and will they be much more crowded than usual?

Thanks!