Tarragona is a city awash in light and colour. The mild climate and Mediterranean character, the charm of the streets and the warmth of the people make it an ideal spot for outdoor leisure and cultural pursuits. Tarragona is also synonymous with festivities, and here the festivities take to the streets. Thanks to the many traditional local and Catalan regional holidays, the agenda is packed with celebrations all year long.
Holiday calendar
Three Kings' Day (Epiphany) - 5 January
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The Three Wise Men disembark at the port and tour the town handing out candy to children.
Carnival - 5-12 February Go to website
One of the most widely attended carnivals in Catalonia, it is known for its spectacular float-filled parades and citywide dancing. Of particular note are the Rua de l'Artesania and Rua de Lluïment parades, the "Judgement of Carnestoltes, King of the Carnival", and the crema de la bóta, the burning of the Carnival King figure in an enormous wineskin at the festivities' end.
Els tres tombs - 17 March Go to website
Procession of horses and carriages through the city's different streets. Blessing of the animals, handing out of gifts and of the typical "coques de Sant Antoni".
Tarragona Family Week - 22-27 March
Tarraco Family Week offers the chance of visiting Tarragona with the family enjoying many advantages such as special offers in accommodation, restaurants and shops, as well as free tickets for families to visit monuments, participate in educational workshops, and leisure and cultural activities.
Easter Week - 24 March-1 April Go to website
The city celebrates the passion, death and resurrection of Christ with masses, rosaries and processions. On the afternoon of Good Friday, armed “soldiers” embark on traditional marches in preparation for the Holy Burial procession. The custom dates back to the year 1550 and has been officially declared a Festival of National Heritage Interest.
Sant Jordi (St. George's Day) - 23 April
On this Catalan holiday dedicated to love and culture, the city brims with scarlet roses, endless books, sardana dancing and human castles.
dTapes - 25 April-12 May Go to website
For two weeks Tarragona becomes the Catalan tapa capital. Many of the city’s restaurant establishments take part in this gastronomic fiesta by offering tapas based on our home-grown ingredients.
Tarraco Viva - 16-26 May Go to website
Symposium designed to raise awareness of ancient Roman history and culture with maximum scientific rigor: conferences, workshops, re-enactments of daily life in the ancient Roman era, as well as period soldiers, gladiatorial fights, theatre, music and cuisine.
Rice culinary event - 29 May-16 june Go to website
Taste special dishes with rice as the star ingredient
3rd Minipop Festival - 31 May-2 June Go to website
The city hosts this three-day-long festival where both children and adults can enjoy a wide variety if activities held within the festival: Creative workshops, children's design fair and pop music concerts.
The DO Tarragona Wine Fair - 31 May-2 June Go to website
Corpus Christi - 2 June
The scent of flatbread with cherries permeates the air, while “dancing eggs” are held aloft on the sparkling jets of fountains. The city holds a parade renowned for its religious and traditional elements, including the Magi de les Timbales (a drummer who announces the festival by horse), towering giants and dances.
Sant Joan (St. John's Eve) - 23 and 24 June
This celebration of the summer solstice dates back to before the Christian era. It is a night of roaring bonfires, witches, dazzling fireworks and parties till dawn.
Tarragona, city of human towers - 24-30 June
A week that brings us closer to the human towers, a cultural element declared World Heritage by the UNESCO. Share the strength, the bravery, the equilibrium, the “seny” of the human tower world; a unique experience, a living culture.
FITT - 26-30 June Go to website
Tarragona International Theatre Festival
Sant Pere (Saint Peter) - 29 June
This is the main festival of the fishermen’s quarter, El Serrallo, and one of the most traditional local festivals in the city of Tarragona. The main event is the procession of Sant Pere, in which the image of the saint is paraded through the streets of the neighbourhood accompanied by other popular figures.
International Fireworks Competition - 3-6 July
10.30 pm - Location: Platja del Miracle
ETC - 12 July-20 September Go to website
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Summer cultural agenda in Tarragona: music, theatre, dance and more...
Tarragona Living History - 12 July-31 August
Join us on an exciting journey to Tarragona’s Roman past through historical re-enactments.
Mare de Déu del Carme (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) - 16 July
The procession of Mare de Déu del Carme is an excellent example of a very traditional event in Tarragona’s fishermen’s quarter. Fishermen and sailors carry the Virgin of Mount Carmel ceremoniously across the waters of the Mediterranean, disembarking in the El Serrallo neighbourhood.
Sant Magà - 15-19 August
This is one of the city’s major festivals and is celebrated with fascinating elements of local popular culture, such as Magí de les Timbales, the giants, the Gegantons Negritos, dwarves, bastoners (dancers hitting sticks together in rhythm) and more. All these festive figures come together to accompany the water of Sant Magí, the central focus of the festival. The castells (human towers) also play a role in the celebration, along with a wide variety of festive and cultural events (concerts, theatre, etc.).
Sant Roc – Saint Roch - 16 August
This is the celebration of one of the best known streets in the Parta Alta (historic quarter) and one of the most traditional in the city. A cannon signals the start of the parade, in which giants and other popular figures dance through the streets to bring the neighbourhood to life. You won’t want to miss seeing the Cós del Bou giants, known as the Gegants Vells (the old giants), which are the oldest giants in the city (1825) and were given to the residents of the Cós del Bou neighbourhood by the city hall in 1904.
Catalan National Day - 11 September
Elaborate flower arrangements are laid and Catalan nationalist acts are held to commemorate historical events.
Santa Tecla - 14-24 September Go to website
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The City Festival in capital letters, Santa Tecla is a burst of joy, music and colour that courses through the city for ten straight days. It blends all the traditional elements of the Seguici Popular with an endless variety of dances, human castles, spark-throwing nighttime parades, mythological beasts, mediaeval treats and “spoken dances” (verse re-enactments of the struggle between good and evil) conserved or recovered throughout Catalonia. Officially declared a Festival of Tourism Interest, a Traditional Festival of National Interest and a Festival of National Heritage Interest.
Human Castle Competition - October in even-numbered years Go to website
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The best colles (human castle troupes) gather in Tàrraco Arena Plaça for the longest, most contested and most thrilling performances imaginable.
4th "Romesco" culinary event - October Go to website
Treat yourself to Tarragona's most celebrated dish. Tasting menu.
Tarragona Mediaeval Market - October
Exhibition of traditional professions, giants and big-heads, medieval passacaglia, crafts, gastronomy, workshops...
SCAN International Photography Festival - 2014 Go to website
All Saints' Day - 1 November
The streets abound with stands selling fresh-roasted chestnuts. This holiday is best known for the traditional pine-nut sweets called panellets that fill the pastry shops and its flowers for the departed.
Christmas - December
In mid-December, Tarragona is decked with festive Christmas lights and hosts its annual Christmas Fair, with stands selling figurines for home-made nativity scenes and an ample assortment of ornaments and crafts.
New Year's Eve - 31 December
The deceptively named Home dels Nassos, or Man of the Many Noses, roams the streets, giving candy to the crowds. At night, friends celebrate with parties at hotels and associations.
