TOURISM · VILANOVA I LA GELTRÚ

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Holding festivals is one the main activities of the town.
The most emblematic festival is Carnival, and the most spectacular and authentic events are the processions formed by large groups of people all wearing similar costumes. Every year "Els Tres Tombs" a festival of horses and carts, plays the leading part in the celebrations on the feast day of St. Antoni Abat. On the days around August 5th the most important festival of the summer takes place: the Festa Major.

FESTIVALS

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Other festive occasions


Els tres tombs

Els Tres Tombs is an ancient festival that was originally celebrated by farmers and mule drivers, with their animals and all the people who worked with farm animals. In more recent times the mule drivers took over the festival, and so, to a lesser extent, did the small farmers, whose descendants have kept it alive to this day. The main ceremony is the blessing of teams of horses and carts outside Sant Antoni's church. After the blessing the flags are solemnly marched three times ("tres tombs") round La Rambla by all the participants. Here, delicious "tortells de Sant Antoni" cakes are sold from carts.
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Carnival

Vilanova i la Geltrú is one of the few places in Spain that resisted Franco's prohibition of Carnival celebrations. Like Tenerife and Cadiz, Vilanova did not have to re-invent Carnival with the return of democracy. The Carnival we celebrate in the town is the same one that our grandparents and great-grandparents celebrated. It is without doubt the last remaining pearl in the string of Catalan-Antillian carnivals which were once celebrated all along the coastline. The festival lasts from the Saturday before Maundy Thursday until Ash Wednesday, a total of 13 days.
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The Festa Major

Vilanova i la Geltrú celebrates its Festa Major on August 5. This is the town's main summer festival. It was started more than a century ago as the result of a promise made to the Virgin of the Snows in return for saving the town's vines. There are some outstanding processions, direct descendants of the old religious processions, that contain characters and other theatrical elements drawn from the ancient Catalan festive tradition: giants, dragon, theatrical mules, devils, and a long list of dances and traditional entertainment. Vilanova is one of the Catalan towns that has best preserved the secular festive calendar. It is well worth spending a day at the Festa Major.
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Other festive activities

The "Xatonada" (Carnival) The "Xatonada" is a social and gastronomic ritual that is carried out on Maundy Thursday in all Vilanova homes. The dish is brought out into the street once a year at Carnival time to allow all visitors to participate in the tradition. International Festival of Popular Traditional Music Since 1981 at the end of July, musicians come from all over the world to play on the festival stage and stroll through the streets of the town playing their traditional and popular melodies. The Trade Fair A November Trade Fair has been held in Vilanova i la Geltrú since the 14th century. Although it has come up against all kinds of obstacles the Fira is still held every year, accompanied by the cold weather. District festivals They may take place at any time of year but are more frequent once Spring has come. The different neighbourhoods have their own festivals with night time celebrations, coloured lights, dances, games and all kinds of social occasions and entertaining activities. Week of the Sea The Week of the Sea is yet another expression of the town's marine traditions. In the last week of June many activities related to the sea and its people take place down by the port. Friends of the Railway The Vilanova Friends of the Railways Association runs a miniature circuit all the year round on the Passeig de Ribes Roges, on the sea front. It is open to the public at the weekend.
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