Events Happening in Sitges
Sitges forms part of Catalunya and it’s renowned worldwide for its Film festival as well as its Carnival. However, Sitges offers a lot more than one can think of. Sitges’ artistic reputation comes forth in every event held in the beautiful city. If you’re ever wondering what you can do whilst there, all of Sitges’ important events have been mentioned below. In case you’re coming from out of town or you’re visiting specifically for one of these events, don’t worry about accommodation. We’ve got you covered!
#1 January – Reyes Magos Parade
Three Kings Day (Reyes Magos) is celebrated every year on January 6th. But the real celebration happens the evening before on January 5th. These two days are the big advent celebration in Spain. December 25th is still celebrated, however to a much lesser extent. The three kings, Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar go around with sweets giving them to children during their long parade around the town. The children also hand out a letter to the kings of their present wish-list. Then on January 6th, the children wake up to the gifts that the three kings have left in their shoes.
Source: www.flikr.com
#2 February – Carnival
The SITGES CARNIVAL is quite a spectacular event. It is renowned for being one of the best parties in all of Spain. Parades take place and the largest ones traditionally take place on Sunday. You usually see about 50 floats and 3,000 people. There’s partying all throughout the event, however, having said this, the event is for everyone not just for adults. It suits every age group and activities for kids are also held. The children’s parades take place in the afternoon and later the adult parades happen at night. the 13-day long festival starts on Jueves Lardo and ends before Ash Wednesday.
#3 March – Sitges Vintage Car Rally
The Sitges Vintage Car Rally has grown in popularity and has become one of the highlights of the year for Barcelona and Sitges. It started in 1959 with only 20 cars. Now around 100 cars and motorbikes participate in this competition whilst onlookers examine the cars. The people competing for dress up in similar attire as that of the 1920s, delighting their thousands of onlookers. The cars are categorised into two groups: (1) Epoch, which is the category for cars produced before 1920 (2) Vintage, which is the category for cars produced between 1909 and 1924.
#4 June
Corpus Christi in Sitges
The Corpus Christi event in Sitges is claimed to be the more beautiful event in Sitges. Major streets are closed to traffic for approximately a day during Corpus Christi. Beautiful flowers are placed on the streets of Sitges creating a flower carpet. Volunteers sketch designs on the streets and flowers are then laid over the designs. Afterwards, on Sunday, a procession of the Most Holy Sacrament is held. If you missed the Girona Temps de Flors, then this is another chance to visit a similar event (only a month later).
Source: www.blocs.mesvilaweb.cat
GAY PRIDE SITGES
The Gay Pride in Sitges is one of the biggest Pride celebrations in Spain. It includes an open-air stage with celebrity guests and DJs. Floats and parades are held and people can also enjoy the wide variety of GAY BARS. The lively atmosphere and huge crowds make for an unforgettable night. Participation in the parade is free, however, if you would like to participate in the float you must register.
Source: www.blog.staysitges.com
Noche de San Juan
This feast is memorable because it celebrates the long-awaited Summer. For Catalans, this long day is very important and it’s celebrated in every city. The concept behind this feast is that the sun reaches its highest point before beginning to drop and it symbolises fertility and wealth and therefore must be given strength. This strength is projected through bonfires and fireworks lit on beaches. Most people gather around bonfires celebrating together along with music and food. This event lasts all night.
Source: www.lesmoreresdesitges.com
#5 August – Fiesta Mayor de Sitges
Fiesta Mayor de Sitges is in honour of the apostle Saint Bartomeu and the virgin and protomartyr Santa Tecla. The reason for the festival lies in the patronage of the town and in the ownership of the parish of the town, which is shared by both compatriots since the 16th century. The devotion and introduction of the cult to Saint Bartholomew extended to the town, the patronage of Sitges and its temple corresponded only to Santa Tecla. A lot of different activities and events are held throughout the entire feast, along with concerts, parties, and speeches from different people.
www.gaysitgesguide.com
#6 October
International Film Festival
This is one of our all-time favourite FILM FESTIVALS. This festival stimulates a universe of encounters, exhibitions, presentations, and screenings of fantasy films from all over the world. It started in 1968 and nowadays, celebrities from all over the world travel to Sitges. Top-level movie stars such as directors and producers fly out to Sitges in order to celebrate the creation of art through film.
Source: www.barcelonesmoltmes.cat
Wine Festival Sitges
The best Catalan wines are presented to locals and tourists. Anyone can go and taste these magnificent wines and it’s also possible to buy them. Also known as ‘Festa de la Verema’ or Wine Harvest Festival. This event happens in the PENEDÈS region and there is a variety of wine tasting, food stalls, grape treading as well as barrel carrying contests which take place on Sunday. The winemaking ritual is a festival for both family and friends.
Location
How to get here
- Bus: Take the Monbus from Ronda Universitat to Sitges (this bus will pass through the airport T-1)
- Train: Take the R2S train from Barcelona Sants in the direction of VincenÇ De Calders
- Car: Take the B-20 out of the city center and join the C-32
Sitges, 08870, Barcelona
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