3-5 February
Calafell (Baix Penedès); historic town centre
Town Festival: Festa Major de la candelera
February 4; 17:00; plaça Catalunya
Giant parade: Cercavila gegantera
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4-5 February
Vilanova i la Geltrú (Garraf); Teatre Principal
Dance performance “Birds of ivory”: Ocells d’ivori
By: Belén Cabanes
Entrance ticket required
February 4; at 21:00
February 5; at 19:30
Read more in Catalan 1, 2
5 February
El Vendrell (Baix Penedès); town centre
Food Festival: Xatonada Popular
A festival dedicated to the typical Penedès salad xató.
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5 February
Calafell (Baix Penedès); at 10:00; Passeig Sant Joan de Déu
Duathlon: 2ª Duatló de Calafell
Read more in Catalan: 1, 2,
11-12 February
Vilanova i la Geltrú (Garraf); at 19:30; Pavelló Esportiu del Garraf
Artistic Roller Skating: Catalan championship – Show teams: Campionat de Catalunya - Xous
By: Federació Catalana de Patinatge
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11-22 February
Sitges (Garraf); different bars
Sitges Gay Carnival 2012
11 February; late evening; Bourbon’s bar, Ruby’s
Carnival opening parties
14, February; late evening; Comodín
"The silk shawl night" - La noche de mantillas
15 February; late evening; La Locacola
"The tourist night" - La noche de los turistas
22 February; late evening; La Locacola, Ma Maison
"The Widow Night": La noche de las viudas
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12 February
Vilanova i la Geltrú (Garraf)
Concert: Two big bands competing against each other; Competències Musicals.
At 11:00; From plaça de la Vila, through town centre and to plaça de les Cols
Performance parade: Cercavila de les bandes de les competències
At 12:00; Plaça de les Cols
Concert and competition
Part of the carnival program
By: Banda de l'Escola de Música Mestre Montserrat and Banda de Música d'Alcanar.
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12 February
Les Roquetes (Sant Pere de Ribes, Garraf)
Town Festival in the winter; Festa Major d’Hivern: Santa Eulàlia
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12 February
Sitges (Garraf); at 19:30; Palau Maricel
Concert: Guia Musical: Concerts Pedagògics
By: Joventuts Musicals de Sitges
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16-22 February
All around Penedès
Carnival (carnaval)
The Carnival of Sitges has a spectacular international air, especially during the big parades, Rua de Disbauxa and Rua d'Extermini. The Carnival of Vilanova i la Geltrú, on the other hand, is recognized in Catalonia for preserving local traditions (Festa Patrimonial d’Interes Nacional) and offers the totally unique candy-throwing comparses de Vilanova on the carnival Sunday. These two competing celebrations are presented in detail here below. Find here links to the carnival programs (in Catalan) of the other towns: Vilafranca del Penedès (better link to come), Igualada, Sant Pere de Ribes (pdf-file), Vendrell (pdf-file) and Calafell.
16-22 February
Sitges (Garraf)
Sitges Carnival: Carnaval de Sitges
16 February; 17:00-21:00; Edifici Miramar (C/ Davallada, 12)
The Carnival King’s (S.M. Carles Toltes) family repeatedly and uninterruptedly reads the Carnival Sermon (Predicot): Arribo a primera vista
16 February; 19:00; at La Fragata (Passeig de la Ribera, 1)
Presentation of the Carnival Queen La Bella and the Children’s Carnival Queen; Presentació de la reina del Carnaval de Sitges i de la Reina Infantil.
16 February; approx. 19:30 and onwards; Route: Passeig de la Ribera, Primer de Maig, Marquès de Montroig, Parellades, Cap de la Vila
The Carnival King’s court parades through the town and then meets up with the municipal representatives: Rua de la Cort Imperial i presentació de credencials als representants municipals.
17 February; 9:00 and onwards; throughout the whole municipality
Carnival King and Queen visit the schools of the town.
18 February; 10:00 and onwards; Mercat de Sitges
The Carnival King S.M. Carles Toltes and his wife Ramona Seminova plus the Carnival Queen, for her part, make their weekly shopping in the fresh food market.
18 February; 12:00; Route: Casino Prado, Francesc Gumà, Jesús, Cap de Vila, Sant Pau, Passeig de la Ribera, Bonaire, Sant Josep, Espalter, Plaça Espanya.
Races with fancy dressed beds on wheels; Cursa de llits disfressats
18 February; 17:00 and onwards. Route: Sant Francesc, Sant Gaudenci, Sant Josep, Bonaire, Joan Tarrida, Plaça de la Indústria, Marquès de Montroig i Parellades, Cap de la Vila.
Music parade by Markatú Batucada and other percussion groups: Tequereque Festa i cercavila
19 February; 15:00; route: Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Bonaire, Pg. de la Ribera, C/ Espanya, Pl. Espanya, Espalter, Sant Francesc, Cap de la Vila
First Carnival parade for children: Rua infantil de Carnaval
19 February; 19:30: route: Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Bonaire, Pg. de la Ribera, Av. Sofia, Mossèn Joan Llopis Pi, Pl. Espanya, Espalter.
First Major Carnival parade: Rua de la Disbauxa ("the Debauchery Parade")
21 February; 15:00; route: Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Bonaire, Pg. de la Ribera, C/ Espanya, Pl. Espanya, Espalter, Sant Francesc, Cap de la Vila
Final Carnival parade for children: Rua Infantil de Carnaval
21 February; 19:30; route: Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Bonaire, Pg. de la Ribera, Av. Sofia, Mossèn Joan Llopis Pi, Pl. Espanya, Espalter.
The Carnival closing parade: Rua de l’Extermini ("the Extermination Parade")
22 February; Ash Wednesday (dimecres de cendra); 19:00; Route: Parellades, Bonaire and finalizing at La Fragata (Passeig de la Ribera, 1)
Funeral procession for the Carnival King; Esperificació de l’enterrament de la Sardina de S.M. Carles Torras
22 February; 20:00 and onwards. Starting at La Fragata. Route: Passeig de la Ribera, Bonaire, Parellades, Cap de la Vila
Lighting of the funeral pyre accompanied by three tenors followed by the arrival of Mrs. Lent and the public reading of her 'Vegetable Manifest'. Encesa de la pira funerària amb l’acompanyament de tres tenos. Arribada de la Sra. Quaresma i lectura del 'Manifest de la Verdura'.
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16-22 February
Vilanova i la Geltrú (Garraf)
Vilanova Carnival: Carnaval de Vilanova
16 February; Dijous gras, "Fat Thursday"; at 17:30 in front of the pastry bakery Blanch (C/ Francesc Macià, 43) and afterwards in plaça del Mercat.
Meringue batter war (merengada) for children.
16 February; at 23:59 in plaça de les Cols
Meringue batter war (merengada) for adults.
17 February; from 18:30 and onwards; Route: C/ Torre d'Enveja, C/ Tarragona, C/ Pare Garí, Avinguda Francesc Macià, C/ Josep Llanza, Rambla Principal, C/ Sant Gregori, C/ Caputxins, pl. de la Vila.
Arrival of the Carnival King: l’Arrivo de sa Majestat el Rei Carnestoltes
Parade with floats satirically inspired by local events and politics.
18 February; from 11:00 and onwards, Rambla Principal, Mercat del Centre, Mercat del Mar.
Carnival King walks parading with concubines, orchestras and standard bearers. 7
18 February; 11:30, pl. Gallina; 12:30, Mercat del Centre; 13:15, pl. Soler i Gustems; 14:00 pl. Cotxes.
Short satirical plays in Catalan; Ball de Malcasats
18 February; at 17:00, plaça del Mercat
Mr. Caramel’s show for the children followed by a children’s carnival parade (approx. 18:30).
18 February; at 19:00, Route: pl. de les Casernes, plaça Llarga, pl. de les Cols, carrer de Sant Gregori, rambla Principal, carrer Almirall Colom, plaça de Soler i Gustems, carrer de Sant Sebastià, carrer dels Caputxins.
Moixó Foguer and his sleepwalkers cover Vilanova with feathers
18 February; at 21:00; Rambla principal
Some carnival societies parading and dancing; Nit de mascarots
19 February; From 9:00 and onwards; all around Vilanova
The comparses de Vilanova (carnival societies) dancing around, throwing candy on everyone.
19 February; At 11:30 and 12:00; plaça de la Vila
Candy wars for children
19 February; At 13:00, 13:30, 14:00 and 14:30; plaça de la Vila
Candy wars for adults.
19 February; At 19:00; plaça de les Cols.
"The dances from Vilanova": Dances de Vilanova i balls vuitcentistes
20 February; Vilanova i la Geltrú
Local holiday
20 February; At 17:00; Starting from three different squares; plaça del Xoriguer, plaça Charlie Rivel and plaça de l'Associació d'Alumnes Obreres and heading towards plaça de la Vila.
The children of Vilanova parading and dancing in a rain of confetti; Comparsa del Vidalet - ball de paperets.
20 February; From 19:00, Town centre
Carnival choirs performing satirical songs, separately and throughout the town centre; Coros
20 February; At 21:30, Teatre Principal
Carnival choirs performing satirical songs, together on a stage; Coros
21 February; at 18:00; starting from plaça de les Neus.
The giants Gegants de la Cuyna Vella lead a parade through the town
21 February; at 21:00; plaça de les Cols
The annual carnival costume contest
21 February; at 23:00; Route: carrer de Sant Gregori, carrer dels Caputxins, carrer de la Fruita, plaça de Miró de Montgròs, carrer del Correu, carrer de la Salut, carrer de la Muralla, plaça dels Lledoners
Ruta del Vidalot: Gegants de la Vella Cuyna lead a parade through the town
22 February; Ash Wednesday (Dimecres de cendra); From 18:30; in the Museu Romàntic Can Papiol
The carnival king (el Rei Carnestoltes) lying in state; Obertura de la casa morutòria
22 February; From 20:00; from Museu Romàntic Can Papiol towards plaça de la Vila
The remains of the carnival King solemnly paraded through the town; Seguici de l'enterro de la sardina.
22 February; Approx. 20:30; plaça de la Vila
The last will of the Carnival King read in public and the sardine will be buried, whereupon you can a glass of wine from Penedès accompanied by herring.
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26 February
Vilafranca del Penedès (Alt Penedès); at 18:00; plaça de la Vila
Sardana Dancing: Actes del 150è Aniversari de la Societat Coral el Penedès. Ballada de Sardanes
Music by: Cobla Catània
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26 February
Vilanova i la Geltrú (Garraf); at 19:30; Auditori Municipal Eduard Toldrà
Concert by chamber orchestra
By: Orquestra de Cambra del Garraf
Entrance ticket required
Read more in Catalan
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This agenda is also available in German, Russian and Swedish.
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The Penedès Agenda is a collection of celebrations, cultural activities and traditions which I recommend to foreigners (expats from Barcelona, tourists in Catalonia and others) who want to explore Penedès or events which I consider important from a – highly subjective – international perspective. It is biased towards the comarca Garraf (Vilanova i la Geltrú and Sitges) but also covers Alt Penedès, Baix Penedès and Anoia.
The agenda posts are usually up-dated when I come across new information. To the greatest extent possible I link back to official pages for information on time and locations and cannot guarantee the accuracy of the data presented. Feel free to inform me about events which you think would fit in here, either by writing a comment or contacting me on twitter: @wirdheim
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