Year after year, on 23rd September, you can see the children dancing with the ‘cabezudos’ and dragons -made by themselves-, the Castells exhibitions and the firework displays. That's why the Festa Major Petit Festa Major de Sitges is not very small, as it is the children who are the main protagonists of this festival in honour of Santa Tecla.

 

Preliminary events - Santa Tecla

 

Saturday 6 September

Ball de la Lira dinner     

8 pm, Jardins d'El Retiro

Dinner, surprises and dancing with the Loren orchestra. Tribute to loyal members who have been with the organization for 75, 50, 25, 15 and 10 years. Pubillatge: change of band and sash, new Pubilla and new Hereu named.

Price: Non-members €45 / Members €35. Reservations with the organization's secretary.

Organiser: Societat Recreativa El Retiro.

 

Saturday 13 September

50th anniversary celebration of the Colla Jove de Bastons de Sitges

12 noon, Baluard

All groups of the Ball de Bastons de Sitges, a group of veterans from the Colla Jove, in addition to other groups from the region, will participate.

Route: Baluard, pl. Ajuntament, Major, Cap de la Vila, Jesús, Illa de Cuba, Sant Gaudenci, Sant Josep, Bonaire, Pg. de la Ribera and Pl. de la Fragata.

Organiser: Colla Jove del Ball de Bastons de Sitges; in collaboration with the Department of Traditions and Festivities, the Municipal Commission of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla; and Sociedad Recreativa El Retiro.

 

Opening of the exhibition of the 13th Festa Major Photo Contest on Instagram             

1 pm, Vermuteria La Gralla

Admissions accepted until 28 September.

Organiser: Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges.

 

Sunday 14 September

Holi Party

6 pm, Parc de Can Robert

Organiser: Department of Childhood and Youth in collaboration with the Municipal Commission of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla.

 

Wednesday 17 September

Opening of the exhibition Del garatge al carrer

6 pm, Mercat Vell

With festive imagery by the Santa Tecla Children's Morning Room. Registration at sitgesfestamajor.cat.

Opening times: 18, 19 and 20 September from 6 pm to 8 pm Saturday 20 will also be open from 11 am to 2 pm

  

Thursday, September 18

Presentation of the book No t’espantis Llucifer, by Alba Gràcia i Pañella

7 pm, Jardins del Casino Prado Suburense

The book reviews local history over the past fifty years through in the form of satire of the verses of the Ball de Diables and the Drac de Sitges. Winner of the 2019 Jofre Vilà Folklore Award for Popular and Traditional Sitge Culture.

Organiser: Casino Prado Suburense.

 

Official events - Santa Tecla

 

Friday 19 September

Reading of the Children's Proclamation of Santa Tecla

5.30 pm, Palau del Rei Moro

By Alberto and Gina Gutiérrez Cosialls. Then, hot chocolate with melindros for all children. The event ends with the Gegants Moros being dressed.

Organiser: Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges.

 

Kids’ popular rehearsal

7 pm, Palau del Rei Moro

The kids from Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges show their enthusiasm as part of a special rehearsal at Santa Tecla with refreshing watermelon served up for everyone.

Organiser: Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

 

Santa Tecla popular rehearsal

9 pm, Palau del Rei Moro

Organiser: Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

 

Night of les Pubilles and els Hereus

Place and time to be determined

Organiser: Tourism Promotion Office.

 

Saturday 20 September

Meeting of gegants, cabeçuts and dracs petits

11 am, Hort de Can Falç

Children participate in the Festival with pretty, elaborate creations.

 

Transfer of Santa Tecla iconography

12 noon, Parish of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla

The Municipal Commission of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla, representing the municipal authorities, collects the iconography of the Patron Saint from Father Rafael Vilaplana, parish priest. Then, accompanied by the Suburband Musical Group, it will travel to Carrer Santiago Rusiñol, 5, a place designated by the Standard Bearer, Vinyet Caballé i Artigas. Once it reaches its destination, an opening prayer will be heard at the exhibition of the iconography of Santa Tecla.

Route: Baluard, pl. Ajuntament, Major, Cap de la Vila, Jesús and Santiago Rusiñol.

 

Exhibition of the Santa Tecla Banner

During the liturgical celebrations at the Parish.

 

Festa Major Concert

5 pm, Gardens of the Hospital de Sant Joan Baptista

By Agrupació Musical Suburband.

 

Exhibition of the iconography of Santa Tecla

6 pm to 8 pm, c. Santiago Rusiñol, 5

The iconogrphy of Santa Tecla will remain on display at Carrer Santiago Rusiñol 5, a place designated by this year's Standard Bearer, Vinyet Caballé i Artigas.

 

FIRE NIGHT

Timbalada

7.30 pm Fragata

By the drummers from the participating colles.

Route: Fragata, pg. de la Ribera, Sant Pau, Parellades, Cap de la Vila, Major and Pl. Ajuntament.

 

Espetegafoc

8.30 pm, Pl. Ajuntament

Route: Pl. Ajuntament, Baluard, Fonollar, Sant Joan, Davallada, Barcelona, Aigua, Sant Domènech, Major and Pl. Ajuntament.

 Event with fireworks

 

Correfoc

9.30 pm, Port de n’Alegre

Correfoc with the three groups from Ball de Diables de Sitges, the Young Group, the Old Group and the Agrupació de Balls Populars, as well as invited groups.

Route: Port de n’Alegre, Fonollar, Baluard and Pl. Ajuntament, where the final bonfire will be lit.

 Event with fireworks

 

Fire Night Concerts

Starting at 11 pm, Fragata

With performances by Miquel del Roig and Ground Kids.

Organiser: La Saca (Sitgetana de Cultura i Animació).

 

Sunday 21 September

Gathering of gegants, cabeçuts and dracs petits

10 am, Pl. Ajuntament

Then, a parade featuring the participants.

Route: Pl. Ajuntament, Major, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Sant Pau, Pg. de la Ribera and Fragata.

 

Children's dance performances

Once the parade ends, at Fragata, the gegants and cabeçuts perform a final joint dance and then, in order of arrival, the dance by children's dance groups takes place with the Ball de bastons, Panderetes, Pastorets, Cercolets, Cintes, Gitanes, Moixiganga and children from Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

 

Exhibition of the iconography of Santa Tecla

11 am to 1 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm, C. Santiago Rusiñol, 5

The iconogrphy of Santa Tecla will remain on display at the place designated by this year's Standard Bearer.

 

Gathering of dracs and colles infantils de diables

5.30 pm, Pont d'en Domènech

March involving the participants, which will end with a lighting ceremony.

Route: Pg. de la Ribera to Fragata.

 

Ball parlat de diables infantils

Once the lighting ceremony has ended, at Fragata, they will perform in this order: Diables de l’Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges, Colla Vella de Diables and Colla Jove de Diables.

 Event with fireworks

 

Exhibition of the Santa Tecla Banner

During the liturgical celebrations at the Parish.

 

Monday 22 September La Vigília

Exhibition of the iconography of Santa Tecla

11 am to 7 pm (when the popular procession starts),  C. Santiago Rusiñol, 5

The iconogrphy of Santa Tecla will remain on display at the place designated by this year's Standard Bearer.

 

Plaque in homage of Ramon Soler

12 noon Pl. dels Artistes

In memory of this dedicated local, a pillar of local tradition.

 

Lighting of the 21 morterets and sounding of the bells

2 pm, Platja de la Fragata

By the Gegants Americanos de Sitges, who are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year.

 Event with fireworks

 

Popular procession

7 pm, starting at Carrer Santiago Rusiñol, 5

The popular dances, figures, musicians and authorities, with the Suburband Musical Group, gather around the tabernacle of Santa Tecla and head to the Parish Church.

Route: Santiago Rusiñol, Jesús, Cap de la Vila, Major, Aigua, Sant Damià, Rafael Llopart, Port de n’Alegre, Passatge la Vall, Davallada, d’en Bosc and Pl. Ajuntament.

Upon arriving at the parish church, the dancers receive the iconography of Santa Tecla which, accompanied by the authorities, the Standard Bearers and the chord holders, is placed in the presbytery to preside over the liturgical acts of the day.

 Event with fireworks

 

 

Bonfire

11 pm, Fragata

Stunning bonfire organised by Pirotècnia Igual, S.A.

 Event with fireworks

 

Santa Tecla Eve

As the bonfire comes to an end, Pg. de la Ribera

Gralles dance by colla Trinitat and colla Dinapontus from Escola de Grallers de Sitges. Hits to make you dance to the sound of traditional Catalan music. Then, local DJs: A-si-vale DJs, Les pitjor impossible DJs and DJs HXO. Organiser: Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges and Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla Municipal Committee.

From midnight, Cap de la Vila

Sardanes dancing with music by Cobla Sitgetana.

 

Tuesday 23 September. Santa Tecla festivities

Children's Morning Fun

Three parallel routes (check the maps) and breakfast for participating children when they finish.

In collaboration with: Ametller Origen, Caprabo and Bonpreu-Esclat.

 Event with fireworks

 

Fire morning

6.30 am, Davallada

The bèsties infantils alternate between the colles de diables, who participate in this order: Colla de Diables de l’Agrupació de Balls Populars, Colla Vella de Diables and Colla Jove de Diables.

Route: Davallada, Barcelona, Àngel Vidal, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Sant Josep, Espalter, Pl. Pou Vedre, Bassa Rodona, Santa Tecla, Primer de Maig, Pg. de la Ribera (by the sea) and Fragata.

 

Big morning

7 am C. Fonollar

Route: Fonollar, Baluard Vidal i Quadras, Port de n’Alegre, Rafel Llopart, Sant Damià, Sant Sebastià, Jesús, Sant Bartomeu, Sant Gaudenci, Sant Francesc, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Sant Pere, Pg. de la Ribera (inland side) and Fragata.

 

Small morning

8 am, Pl. Ajuntament

Route: Pl. Ajuntament,  d’en Bosch, Davallada, Barcelona, Àngel Vidal, Cap de la Vila, Major, Nou, Pg. de la Ribera, Fragata.

 

Church ceremony in honour of Santa Tecla

11 am, Parish Church of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla

The ceremony is presided over by Father Raphael Vilaplana Moltó, parish priest. This year, the Colla dels Gegants de la Vila, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Gegants Nous, make the offering to our patron saint, on behalf of the entire town.

At the end of the celebration, the Cor dels Amics de l’Orgue dedicate songs to the Saint.

 

Departure of the procession

After the ceremony, starts off from the Baluard

Musical parade by Agrupació Musical Suburband, which accompanies the authorities to the Town Hall. Then, all the dancers and their respective musicians perform simultaneously, along with the Cobla Maricel and La Banda.

After the performance of the dancers and figures, La Banda plays Els Segadors, the Catalan national anthem.

 Event with fireworks

 

Human tower performance

Once the departure of the procession is complete, Pl. Ajuntament

By Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

 

Santa Tecla vermouth concert

1 pm (after the departure of the procession), the musicians arrive once the event begins.

Societat Recreativa El Retiro, with Cobla Maricel.

Casino Prado Suburense, with Agrupació Musical Suburband.

 

Descent of the walking human tower by Jove de Sitges

6.30 pm, Baluard

Descent of the human walking tower via stairs of La Punta.

 

Procession in honour of Santa Tecla

7 pm, Baluard

The tabernacle of Santa Tecla is paraded through the streets and squares of the town, carried by the girls from the town's neighbourhoods and organisations. The religious procession begins with the parish standard carried by the Corps of Porters of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla. The Gegants, beasts and dancers, with their musicians, kick start the Procession, which is presided over by Father Rafel Vilaplana i Moltó and members of the Town Council, closing ranks with the Agrupació Musical Suburband.

Vinyet Caballé i Artigas has been designated as Standard Bearer of the Santa Tecla Stander, who has named Sara Fullera Caballé, Aleth Font Fullera and Raquel Martín Mata as chord holders.

Route: Baluard, Fonollar, Sant Joan, Davallada, Barcelona, Santiago Rusiñol, Jesús, Sant Bartomeu, Sant Gaudenci (Tram en calma), Sant Francesc, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Bonaire, pg. de la Ribera, Nou, Major, Pl. de l’Ajuntament and Baluard.

Before the procession heads down Pg. de la Ribera, Cobla Sitgetana performs several sardana dances.  They then perform Els Gegants de Sitges, by Tomàs Gil, and Processó de Santa Tecla, by Jordi Pañella Virella, with the corresponding walk.

When the religious procession passes reaches Pg. de la Ribera, the patron saint of the town is greeted by volley fire and the ringing of bells.

 Event with fireworks

 

Entrance of Santa Tecla to the Parish Church

When the tabernacle arrives at parish church, the dancers and musicians receive the iconography of the patron saint and pay homage to her as she enters the church, amidst fireworks and bell ringing.

Inside the temple, the prayer Us he miram Santa Tecla is read.

 Event with fireworks

 

Final Ballad of the Bèsties de Foc and Gegants

Following the closing prayer, in front of the Town Hall, to bid farewell to the traditional acts of the Festa Major, the Final Ballad of the Bèsties de Foc and Gegants takes place.

 Event with fireworks

 

End-of-festivities party

Starting at midnight, Pg. de la Ribera

Dancing with music by tribute act Les que faltaband and La Greska DJ.

 

Wednesday 24 September

Open day at Sitges museums

10 am to 7 pm,  Museu del Cau Ferrat and Museu de Maricel

10 am to 2 pm, Sala Vaixells (Palau Maricel). Exhibition L’elogi del dibuix. La col·lecció Manuel Puig.

Organiser: Sitges museums.

 

Saturday 27 September

Santa Tecla human tower exhibition

6 pm, Cap de la Vila

Festivities with Xicots de Vilafranca, Castellers de Sant Cugat, Nois de la Torre and Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

Organiser: Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

 

Sunday 28 September

Santa Tecla trumpet and organ concert

6 pm, Parish of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla

By Salvador Pérez Descals (trumpet) and Hèctor París (organ).

Voluntary donations.

 

35th National Competition of Sardana Groups, Vila de Sitges Trophy

6 pm, Fragata

Catalonia Youth and Territorial Championship, Barcelona Regions, with the Cobla Maricel.

Organiser: Els Amics de la Sardana.