The official program for the Town Festival of Igualada (Anoia, Barcelona) – Festa Major de Sant Bartomeu -, is only available in Catalan and this is why I publish this overview with explanations and recommendations in English.Thursday, August 23
19:15; starting point in the street C/ Prat de Riba; finish in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Photo opportunity – Catalan culture: Parade with performances by giants (gegants), the eagle (àliga) and "big-heads" (capgrossos and nans). Rounded off through a short performance by each group – Acompanya la imatgeria a la plaça
Full route: C/ Prat de la Riba, C/ Milà i Fontanals, C/ Aurora, C/ d'Òdena, rbla. de Sant Isidre, C/ Garcia Fossas, pl. Creu, C/ Argent, pl. Ajuntament
21:00; in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Performances and opening speeches by various cultural entities – Som d’Igualada (“We’re from Igualada”)
22:00; in the building claustre de l’Escola Pia
Catalan culture – Sardana Concert
Band: Cobla Principal de Llobregat
Friday, August 24
12:00; in the street Rambla de Sant Isidre
Photo opportunity - Catalan culture: Tronada (“Thunderstorm”) – a huge string of fire crackers.
Catalans love to flavour their town festivals with the sound of explosions and the smell of gunpowder.
18:00; in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Photo opportunity - Catalan culture: Dance performances – Catalan stick dance (ball de bastons), the shepherds’ dance (ball de pastorets), the Moixiganga de Bitrac Dansa and a lot more.
19:00; in the basilica Santa Maria
Catholic traditions – Missa cantata: A sung mass in honour of Sant Bartomeu – the patron saint of Igualada
20:00; starting point in the square plaça del Pilar; finish in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Photo opportunity – Catalan culture: Parade with performances by trabucaires (people dancing with blunderbusses), devils, several variations of local folk dances and, most importantly, the figure of Sant Bartomeu. Rounded off through a joint performance by all groups – Cercavila de Sant Bartomeu.
Attention: The devils dancing under fire and other groups use noisy fire crackers which might scare children, however, these groups are all in the beginning of the parade.
Full route: pl. Pilar, pl. Bruc, C/ de Santa Maria, pl. Pius XII, C/ Custiol, rbla. Sant Isidre,
C/ de Garcia Fossas, pl. Creu, C/ Argent, pl. Ajuntament.
21:30 (approximately); in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Photo opportunity – Catalan culture: Performance by devils (diables) dancing under fire and reading satirical verses
Language: Catalan
Group: Ball de Sant Miquel i els Diables
22:00; in the street C/ Dr. Joan Mercader
Tapas (in Catalan: tapes) and drinks for €1,50 or more: Barraques’12 – Tasta El Rec
23:00; starting point in the square plaça de Sant Miquel; finish in the square plaça dels Traginers
Photo opportunity – Catalan culture: "Fire-Run" / Correfoc – Firespitting monsters and devils dancing under fire
Groups: Pixapólvora d'Igualada, Diables d'Igualada amb la Víbria jove d'Igualada, Cabrons de Vilanova del Camí, Ball de Sant Miquel i els Diables, Mal Llamp
Attention: Wear old clothes - covering arms and legs - and use a hat in case you plan to join the devils under the fire.
Full route: pl. Sant Miquel, C/ Sant Roc, C/ Sant Sebastià, pl. Creu, C/ de Sant Domènec, pl. Catarineu, C/ Creueta, C/ Traginers, pl. Traginers.
23:30; in the street C/ Dr. Joan Mercader
Catalan culture: Dancing to gralla music
A gralla is the wind instrument used to accompany the construction of human towers (castells).
Saturday, August 25
12:30; starting point in the square plaça Catarineu; finish in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Music parade - Musicada
Band: Banda de Música d'Igualada
Full route: pl. Catarineu, C/ Sant Ignasi, pl. Bas i Jordi, C/ de Sant Antoni M Claret, trav. Sant Domènec, C/ Sant Domènec, pl. Creu, C/ Argent, pl. Ajuntament.
18:00-22:00; in the square plaça Cal Font
Wall climbing competition
Organiser: Ingravita
19:00; starting point and finish in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Photo opportunity – Catalan culture: Parade with performances by devils dancing under fire (diables), fire spitting monsters, giants (gegants) and big-heads (capgrossos and nans). Rounded off by a performance by each group and the devils Diables d’Igualada reading their satirical verses.
Attention: The devils dancing under fire and other groups use noisy fire crackers which might scare children, however, these groups are in the beginning of the parade.
Full route: pl. Ajuntament, C/ Santa Maria, pl. Pius XII, C/ Roser, C/ Sant Jordi, rbla.
General Vives, rbla. Sant Isidre, C/ Garcia Fossas, pl. Creu, C/ Argent, pl. Ajuntament.
19:00; in the square plaça Pompeu Fabra
Samba style concert by a percussion ensemble - Batucada
Band: “Tutan Komon”
22:00; in the square plaça de Cal Font
Pop Concert - Pop-Rock en Català
Band: Macedònia
00:00; in the square plaça de Cal Font
Pop Concert - Pop-Rock en Català
Band: Teràpia de Shock
01:30; in the square plaça de Cal Font
Pop Concert - Pop-Rock en Català
Band: Els Catarres
03:00; in the street C/ Dr. Joan Mercader
Rock / Ska Concert – Pop-Rock en Català: El Rec Bull 2012
Band: Pastorets Rock
Sunday, August 26
08:00; in the streets of the old town
Catalan culture: Morning melodies - Matinades
Bands: Gralles i tabals dels Moixiganguers d'Igualada, Grallers de Dessota, Grallers de la Carpeta Verda and Grallers del Bisbalet
09:30; starting point in the street Rambla de Sant Isidre; finish in the square plaça del Bruc
Photo opportunity – Catalan culture: Parade with performances by fire spitting monsters, devils (diables) dancing under fire, giants (gegants), big-heads (capgrossos and nans) and groups performing various folk dances.
Attention: The fire spitting monsters and devils use noisy fire crackers but all walk in the beginning of the parade.
Full route: Rambla Sant Isidre, C/ Custiol, pl. Pilar, C/ Born, pl. Ajuntament, C/ Santa Maria, pl. Bruc.
10:00; in the basilica Santa Maria
Catholic traditions – Religious service: Festa Major 2012
12:15; in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Photo opportunity – Catalan culture: Humant towers (castells) – Diada de la Festa Major
Teams (colles): Moixiganguers d’Igualada, Capgrossos de Mataró and Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls
Capgrossos de Mataró and Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls rank among the best human tower building teams in Catalonia.
18:00; in the street Rambla de Sant Isidre
Catalan culture: Sardana dancing
Band: Orquestra Selvatana
20:00; in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Catalan culture – Concert: Festa Major 2012
Band: Orquestra Selvatana
20:30; in the square plaça del Pilar
Tug of war competition: Estira fort!
23:00; in the square plaça del Pilar
Concert by Catalan Singer-Songwriter
Musician: Miquel del Roig
Monday, August 27
19:00; starting point in the street C/ de l’Aurora; finish in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Photo opportunity – Catalan culture: Children’s parade with performances – Small fire spitting monsters, “little devils” dancing under fire, “small giants” and several groups performing folk dances.
Attention: Although this is a children’s parade, some groups in the beginning of the parade use noisy fire crackers.
Full route: C/ Aurora, C/ Sant Magí, rambla Sant Isidre, C/ Custiol, pl. Pius XII, C/ Santa Maria, pl. Ajuntament.
19:00; in the park parc de l’Estació Vella
Catalan culture – Concert: Havaneres (In Spanish: habaneras)
Band: Pescadors de l’Escala
20:00; in the street Rambla de Sant Isidre
Catalan culture: Sardana dancing
Band: Cobla Ciutat de Terrassa
23:00; in the square plaça Cal Font
Music and Fireworks – Piromusical “Somnis” (“Dreams”)
By: Pirotècnia Igual, S.A.
Visca la Festa Major d’Igualada!
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Find here the full official program in Catalan for the Town Festival in Igualada – Festa Major de Sant Bartomeu, or “La Coll@nada”.
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The fact that Igualada has the same patron saint as Sitges – Sant Bartomeu – makes their main town festivals coincide. Although I would not want to change these historic traditions, I cannot help feeling a bit sad, since as a result I never find the time to fully explore the Festa Major d’Igualada.
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By Erik Wirdheim – your guide in English and Swedish to the wine region Penedès (Catalonia, Spain).
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