Program of the Festa Major - in English

Within Catalonia, Vilanova i la Geltrú has a good reputation for preserving its traditional festivals. Coming Friday, July 27, is the first day of our Festa Major 2007. Colour booklets of the program are readily available at a number of local bookstores. They contain pictures, descriptions of the activities to come and even a word list explaining all the oddities and details related to this annual event- that is if you are a Catalan-speaking insider of the culture.

For non-Catalan speaking outsiders, be they tourists or resident foreigners like me, I here below present the full Festa Major program translated into English. Enjoy Vilanova i la Geltrú while we show you our craziests side.

Special thanks go to Vilanova native Ramon Canyelles i Ricart. Without his help I would not have been able to decipher that Campionat de Botifarra does not refer to a sausage eating competition, but to a card game. Quite a difference, is it not?

Official Program of the Festa Major 2007

Friday July 27

7 p.m.: Opening of the exhibition: Una mirada a la festa (A Look at the Party); by Enric C. Ricart
Place: The library of the Balaguer Musueum. From Jul 27 to Sep 2.

7.30 p.m.: Rehearsal by the Folk-Dance Association
Place: plaça de Sant Antoni

Beach Handball Tournament
Place: on the beach platja del Far
(the Festa Major program does not indicate the time of the event)

9 p.m.: Presentation of the new Festa Major fans for the Procession of Vilanova Legends (Cercavila de l’imaginari)
Place: Where avinguda de Francesc Macià intersects with C/ Vapor
Artists: Roser Amela, Idoya Archilla, Anselm Cabús, Xavier Duran, Albert Lleó, Carolina Raventós, Sebastià Serra and Martí Valero

10.30 p.m.: The Correfoc of Vilanova i la Geltrú (a dance procession of fire and crackers)
With the participation of Ball de Diables (devils dance) groups from here as well as guests from other towns. The dragons of Vilanova and la Geltrú, respectively, also take part.
Route through the town: Plaça de les Neus, C/ la Bomba, plaça de Sant Antoni, C/ l'Església, plaça Llarga, C/ Mercaders, plaça de les Cols, C/ Sant Gregori, rambla Principal, C/ Cristòfol Colom, C/ Sant Felip Neri, C/ Fruita and plaça de la Vila.

10.30 p.m.: The doors open to the concert: La Excepción

midnight: Concert: Muchachito Bombo Infierno; Place: The Athletic Stadion

midnight: Festa Major Dancing with the group Travelin Band; Place: plaça de les Cols

Saturday July 28

Beach Handball Tournament
Place: on the beach platja del Far
(the Festa Major program does not indicate the time of the event)

noon.: The 25th anniversary of the Flower Garland Dancers of Vilanova i la Geltrú (Cercolets)
With the participation of dance groups from here and from other towns
Route through the town: rambla Principal, avinguda de Francesc Macià and plaça de la Vila

Followed by a performance to take place in plaça de la Vila

6 p.m.: Opening of the exhibition: Goigs de la mare de déu de les neus – A poetic elegy to the patron saint of Vilanova i la Geltrú; Place: The club premises of Penya Filatèlica. From Jul 28 to Aug 4.

7 p.m.: Opening of the photography exhibition: The Festa Major 50 years ago
Place: the exhibition hall sala Toc. From Jul 28 to Aug 6.

7 p.m.: Performance by Castellers (Human Towers) With the Castellers group Bordagassos from here and groups invited from other towns; Place: plaça de la Vila

9 p.m.: Fishing competition
Place: the beach platja de Ribes Roges; For more information or to sign up, contact SEPC La Gavina

10.30 p.m.: Jazz Concert with the Sílvia Orrico Trio; Place: Foment Vilanoví (plaça de les Cols)

Followed by a Jam Session of Blues and Jazz; Place: Dick's Jazz Bar (C/ Unió)

11 p.m.: Festa Major Dancing: A Latin Night.
Place: plaça de la Vila

Sunday July 29

10 a.m.: A bike tour through the streets of Vilanova, guided by Francesc Carnicer; Starting point: The tower Torre Blava at the beach Ribes Roges

7 p.m.: Opeing of the art exhibition: Esclat de Festa Major (The Sparkle of Festa Major) by Rosa Pastó i Figueres; Place: Foment Vilanoví (Plaça de les Cols), From Jul 29 to Aug 15

7 p.m.: The procession of the Falcons (acrobatic human towers); Route through the town: plaça de les Neus, rambla Principal, avinguda de Francesc Macià and plaça de la Vila

Directly followed by: An exhibition of the Falcons (acrobatic human towers); Place: plaça de la Vila

8.30 p.m.: Flying of the Catalan Flag at the Bell Tower (Pengem la Senyera del Campanar)Place: the bell tower of the church Sant Antoni Abat (located at the top of the Rambla; the bell tower is located at the northern end of the church)

10 p.m.: A Night of Dance
With the participation of: Dansa de Vilanova, Ministrers de la Vila-Nova and l'Esbart Dansaire from Andorra la Vella.
Place: plaça de la Vila

Monday July 30

7 p.m.: Childrens tales related to Festa Major
Narrator: local artist Eva Bolaño; An activity for Catalan speaking children; Place: Foment Vilanoví (Plaça de les Cols)

9 p.m.: A night walk up to the peak of the hill Talaia in the light of the full moon; Starting point: plaça de Sant Antoni

10.30 p.m.: Dances to the local wind-instrument Gralla
Place: plaça dels Lledoners

11 p.m.: A Country Night. Festa Major Dancing With the group The Country Revival Farmers Place: plaça del Mercat

11 p.m.: VNG GRUPS; Performance by the groups: Gentle Music Men, Suî Te MoMo; Place: plaça de la Vila

Tuesday July 31

5.30 p.m.: Competition of Simultaneos Chess; Place: rambla Principal in front of the premises of La Gran Penya

6 p.m.: A public discussion in Catalan on the topic "La Sala i La Festa"; Place: La Sala

7 p.m.: A Workshop in Fan Decorations; An activity for children; Place: plaça de les Cols

10 p.m.: The Festa Major Cinema: Ice Age 2 (dubbed into Catalan); Place: plaça del Mercat

11 p.m.: Festa Major Dancing
With the group: Rauxa Rumbeta - folk and other rhythms
Place: plaça de la Vila

Wednesday August 1

7 p.m.: La Jordina s’ho imagina
An activity for Catalan speaking children; A game based on the book Un estiu diferent... narrator: Jordina Biosca; Place: Plaça de les Cols

7 p.m.: Championships in the local card game Botifarra
Place: plaça de les Neus; For more information and to sign up, contact Can Pistraus at C/ Santa Madrona, 33

9.30 p.m.: The Festa Major Dinner With entertainment by Travelin Band and the magician Ferran; Place: plaça del Mercat; Tickets can be bought at the Festa Major booth in plaça de la Vila and in the restaurant Ca la Maria

10.30 p.m.: Singing of Havaneres by the group Port Vell; Place: plaça de les Cols

11 p.m.: A Night of Folk Music - Dancing to the group Marcel Casellas i la Principal de la Nit Place: plaça de la Vila

Thursday August 2

11 a.m: Workshop: Let’s play with Festa Major pictures (Juguem amb l’auca de la Festa Major)
An activity most likely best suited for Catalan speaking children; Place: The library of the Balaguer Museum

7 p.m.: Peter and the wolf
A puppet theatre performance in Catalan for children
Place: plaça de les Cols

7.30 p.m.: Lecture on the topic Imatges Festives de Ricart
Lecturer: Francesc X. Puig Rovira; Place: The library of the Balaguer Museum

11 p.m.: The Variety Show of Festa Major with Merche Mar and El Molino; Place: plaça del Mercat

11 p.m.: A Night of Soul and Dance
With the group Soul Bandits; Place: plaça de la Vila

11 p.m.: The Concert of Festa Major
with Pedro Javier Hermosilla / Antonio Orozco; Place: The Athletic Stadion

Friday August 3

10 a.m.: A Spectacular Painting in Three Dimensions
Artist Toni Ortiz makes a big format 3D picture throughout the whole day
Place: plaça de les Cols

11 a.m.: A Festa Major Workshop. Based on the Fishermen’s Dance (in the Procession of Vilanova Legends)
A Childrens activity: Make your own fancy boat dress
Place: The library Armand Cardona Torrandell (refer to this library for more information and to sign up)

6 p.m.: Concert by the La Rondalla La Família; Place: the gardens of the hospital Sant Antoni Abat

7 p.m.: Concert with the group Macedònia
One of the first performances by the new generation of Macedònia; Place: plaça Mediterrània

8.30 p.m.: Tour of the Giants of Vilanova
Place: the church dels Josepets; Route through the town: C/ Sant Magí, C/ horts, C/ Major, C/ Josep Anton Marquès, C/ la Bomba, plaça de les Neus, rambla Principal, avinguda de Francesc Macià and plaça de la Vila.

10 p.m.: A Concert from Two Sides
By the band from the Music School of Maestro Montserrat and the music band Maestro Lupi de Benavente (Zamora); Place: plaça de la Vila

10 p.m.: Theatre in Catalan: L'autèntic amic de Carlo Goldoni; By the theatre group Rossegall Place: Círcol Catòlic (C/ Sant Gervasi)

11.30 p.m.: Rock concert MANANI ROCK FM'07; With the groups: Kon-Ira (Vilanova i la Geltrú), Boikot (Madrid) and Olive Tree (Portugal); Place: plaça dels Pescadors (the Fish Market)

Midnight: Festa Major Dancing with the group The Big Jamboree; Place: plaça del Mercat

Followed by a performance by the DJ LUCKY BASTARDS

Saturday August 4

11 a.m.: The Arrival of Councillors and Festa Major Representatives
Accompanied by the grallers (wind-instrument blowers) Havana Xica; Place: plaça de la Vila

11.30 a.m.: The Invitation to Festa Major
By writer and philosopher Rafael Argullol i Murgadas; Place: The Meeting Hall of the Ajuntament (Plaça de la Vila)

Noon: The firing of 12 Small Mortars; By Pirotècnia Igual; Place: plaça de la Vila

Bell ringing at all the churches of the town.

Followed by: Gathering for the Open Procession
Place: plaça de la Vila

5 p.m.: A Café Concert
With the musicians Jordi Inglada and Cristina Boixadera, Marcets de Sitges and Clau de Mar; Place: C/ Major (in front of the premises of the Folk Dance Association)

6 p.m.: Concert with La Rondalla La Família; Place: The premises of Casa d' Empara

7 p.m.: Miniature Train Rides; Place: The park at the beach Ribes Roges

7 p.m.: Procession of the evening before (Cercavila de la Vigília); Place: plaça de l' Assumpció Route through the town: plaça Font i Gumà, C/ Pont, plaça del Pou, C/ Palmerar de Baix, plaça Llarga, C/ Mercaders, plaça de les Cols, C/ Sant Gregori, plaça de les Neus, rambla Principal, C/ l'Almirall Colom, plaça dels Carros, C/ Sant Sebastià, C/ Col·legi and C/ Escolapis.

8 p.m.: Dance Performances, Performances by Castellers (Human Towers) etc.; Place: plaça de la Vila

11 p.m.: The Spectacular Fireworks of the Festa Major
By Pirotècnia Igual; Place: platja de Ribes Roges (at the bull Pasífae)

Midnight: Listen to Sardana Music
By Cobla Ciutat de Cornellà; Place: rambla Principal

Midnight: The Gala Dance
By the Orquestra Magnum; Place: plaça de la Vila

Midnight: Dancing for 7 hours (Ball de les 7 hores); Performance by the Catalan rock group Els Pets (Forming part of their 2007 tour Com anar al cel i tornar); Place: the beach promendade at Ribes Roges; Sponsored by the real estate agencies LLARS.NET and VORAMAR

Followed by the orchestra Privada; Place: the beach promendade at Ribes Roges

Midnight: The Rock Concert Manani Rock FM'07; Performances by: Raggatunning (Vilanova i la Geltrú), Fundación Tony Manero (Barcelona), Strombers (Catalunya) and DJ Petit (Vilanova i la Geltrú)
Place: plaça dels Pescadors (the Fish Market)

Sunday August 5

7.30 a.m.: The happy and drink-inviting morning music of the Festa Major (Alegres i Traguejades Matinades de Festa Major); By the Festa Major gralla (a wind-instrument) blowers
Place: Different starting points but all heading for plaça de la Vila

9 a.m.: The Go-To-Service Procession (Cercavila d’Anada a Ofici); Route through the town: plaça de la Vila, C/ Caputxins, plaça de les Cols, C/ Comerç, C/ l'Església and plaça de Sant Antoni

10.30 a.m.: The Festa Major Art Fair; Place: rambla Principal

10.30 a.m.: The Solemn Festa Major Service; A solemn mass by reverend Jaume Berdoy, parson of the Sant Antoni Abat parish
Place: The church of Sant Antoni Abat

After the service The Leaving-The-Service Procession (Cercavila de Sortida d’Ofici)
Route through the town: plaça de les Neus, rambla Principal, avinguda de Francesc Macià and plaça de la Vila

12.30 p.m.: Dance Performances, Performances by Castellers (Human Towers) etc.; Place: plaça de la Vila

1.30 p.m.: A Greeting to Les Neus
Place: In the patio of the Ajuntament (Plaça de la Vila)

6 p.m.: Concert of Catalan Music By the Cobla-Orquestra Costa Brava; Place: plaça del Mercat

6 p.m.: Folk Dance Performance; Place: plaça de la Vila

Followed by the Dance of the Giants etc.
Place: plaça de la Vila

7 p.m.: The Festa Major Football Game
Between CF Vilanova and CE Sabadell FC; Place: The Municipal Stadion dels Alumnes Obrers

8 p.m.: Listen to Sardana Music By the Cobla-Orquestra Costa Brava; Place: avinguda de Francesc Macià (in front of the main gate of the market hall)

9 p.m.: The Procession related to the Town’s Vow to its Patron Saint (Cercavila del vot del poble); Route through the town: plaça de la Vila, C/ Escolapis, C/ l'Almirall Colom, plaça dels Carros, C/ Llibertat, C/ Tetuan, rambla Principal and plaça de les Neus

Followed by the Renovation of the Town’s Vow to its Patron Saint
Speaches by reverend Jaume Berdoy, parson of the parish Sant Antoni Abat, and Lord Mayor Joan Ignasi Elena
Place: plaça de les Neus

To be followed by the Fireworks of the Town’s Vow
By: Pirotècnia Igual; Place: plaça de les Neus

Midnight: Festa Major Dancing
By l'Orquestra Costa Brava; Place: plaça del Mercat

Midnight: The Night of DJ:s
By Walkie Talkie, The Trol·lys and Molecular Man; Place: plaça de la Vila

Monday August 6

6 p.m.: Procession of Vilanova Legends (Cercavila de l’Imaginari)
Route through the town: plaça de la Peixateria Vella, C/ Pàdua, C/ Mercaders, plaça de les Cols, C/ Sant Gregori, rambla Principal, C/ l'Almirall Colom, C/ Escolapis and plaça de la Vila

Followed by the Dance Procession related to Vilanova Legends (Passada de Balls de l’Imaginari)

7 p.m.: Lyrical Concert of Opera and Sarsuela (Spanish Light Operas)
By the company of maestro Damunt; Place: Teatre Círcol Catòlic

9 p.m.: Nomination of the 2008 Festa Major Representatives and Farewell Party for the 2007 Representatives; Place: The session hall of the Ajuntament

Followed by Sardana Music from Vilanova, by the Cobla Sant Jordi-Ciutat de Barcelona; Place: plaça de la Vila

00.07 a.m.: The Dance of the Festa Major Representatives
By the Cocodrilo Club (DJ Revival Albert Malla); Place: plaça del Mercat

Exhibitions

Una Mirada a la Festa (A Look at the Party); by Enric C. Ricart
Place: The library of the Balaguer Museum; From Jul 27 to Sep 2; Morning opening hours: from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., from Tuesday to Sunday; Afternoon opening hours: from 4.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., from Tuesday to Saturday (with the exception of Thursday); Thursday evening opening hours: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Mondays closed

Goigs de la Mare de Déu de les Neus (An exhibitions of poetic elegies to Vilanova i la Geltrú’s patron saint)
Place: The premises of the club Penya Filatèlica; From Jul 28 to Aug 4.
Opening hours: from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

La Festa Major de fa cinquanta anys - 1950-1960 (The Festa Major 50 years ago); A photography exhibition by Ramir Horro and Jordi Mas (The Garraf Regional Archives); Place: Exhibition hall sala Toc; From Jul 28 to Aug 6.
Opening hours: from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Esclat de Festa Major (The sparkle of Festa Major)
By Rosa Pastó i Figueres; Theme: Pictures of correfoc (processions with fire and crackers), Vilanova’s procession of legends etc.
Place: Foment Vilanoví (Plaça de les Cols); From Jul 29 to Aug 15.
Opening hours: from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Orígens. Cinc fites en l’evolució humana (Origins. The Five Milestones of Human Evolution)Place: plaça del Port; From July 23 to Aug 30
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Friday 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays closed