Celebrate Santa Tecla Festival in Tarragona, with BusPlana

Tarragona is once again celebrating its great festival, known as Santa Tecla Festival, patron saint of the city, with more than 500 events that will take place from the 15th to the 24th of September. It has a programme for all ages that includes a wide variety of cultural, recreational, traditional and festive events, as well as DJ sessions and concerts by renowned and emerging artists.   

At BusPlana we offer public service transportation with wide schedules that you can check on our website, so that you can travel to Tarragona, from Salou, Vila-seca La Pineda, Cambrils or Valls, without any worries. You can also check the night bus schedules, so you can get around comfortably. 

More than 700 years since the arrival of the relic of Santa Tecla  

The Festivities of Santa Tecla is one of the most deeply rooted festivities in the city and the most representative of popular culture, due to the great participation of the elements that make up the cultural entourage of Tarragona. These festivities have their origins in the arrival of the relic of the holy arm of Santa Tecla, in 1321, from Armenia, when the entire population and the guilds of the city took to the streets to celebrate this milestone.     

The town crier for 2023, Oriol Grau  

In 2023, the town herald, the “pregonero”, of this year's festivities, Oriol Grau, actor, vocalist and scriptwriter from Tarragona, a person who has played an important role in the town's culture, will kick off the celebrations. The event will take place on the 21st of September, in the Plenary Hall of Tarragona City Hall. At the end of the event, the three toques of the proclamation will be played, and the fireworks will be fired to start the festivities, followed by the parade of the giants along Rambla Nova. That same night, the Baixada de l'Àliga, one of the most popular events of the festivities, will be held.     

Concerts and DJ sessions  

La Terrasseta is also back, with its 12th edition, full of concerts and DJ sessions, from September 14 to 17, in Saavedra Park. This year's programme is especially focused on highlighting female talent on stage. That is why the line-up is mainly made up of women.   

The programme, which includes up to 18 events, features concerts, DJ sessions, circus, open-air cinema, talks and gastronomic activities, among others.   

Highlights include performances by Mujeres on 14th of September; Sara Hebe and Testarudes on 15th of September; Jhana Beat, Meli Perea, Joan Garriga and El Mariatxi Galàctic, and Joan Dausà on 16th of September; and Cookah P & Boom Fighters and Sergi Estrella on 17th of September.  

Among the DJ sessions, you can enjoy The Clitorians, on the 15th of September; Luna Roja, on the 16th; and Niña Mai, on the 17th of September.  

There will also be circus, with Maite Guevara, on the 16th of September; as well as talks on transformative culture, circus cabaret, and an open-air cinema session on the 17th of September.   

Remember that with BusPlana you can enjoy all these events in a comfortable and sustainable way. You can check all the available schedules on our website.  

More traditional events  

Among the most traditional events, it is worth mentioning the “castells” days, organised by the different groups of Tarragona. The first of these will take place on the first Sunday of the festival, with the participation of the two best groups in the city and the two most important ones on the “casteller” scene. On the big day, 23rd of September, the four groups from Tarragona will also perform in Plaza de la Font, one of the main town's squares: Colla Castellers Xiquets de Tarragona, Colla Jove dels Xiquets de Tarragona, Xiquets del Serrallo and Castellers de Sant Pere i Sant Pau. And, finally, their last performance will be on Day of La Mercè, 24th of September, with the walking pillars, from the Plaza de las Cols, to reach City Hall. 

On the other hand, several parades of the popular elements of the city are scheduled, such as Ball de Diables, Ball de Serrallonga, Àliga, Drac de Sant Roc, Bou, Víbria, Mulassa, Cucafera, Lion, giants, nanos, and popular dances, such as Ball de Bastons, Ball de Gitanes or Ball de Cercolets, among many others. They will take to the streets on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of September. The small entourage will also take part in the festivities, on the 19th; and the fire elements will be the star of the correfoc at the end of the festival, on the 24th of September.   

The big day, 23rd of September  

On the Day of Santa Tecla, 23rd of September, Tarragona contemplates a series of traditional events that will bring the big day of the festivities to life. It will begin with the "toques de matinales”, played by “grallers” and the drums. There will also be a parade in “Ida y Vuelta de Oficio” and a ceremonial in Tarragona Cathedral. At midday, there will be a dance in Plaça de la Font, followed by an exhibition of “Castells”.     

One of the most representative events of the festival is the procession of the relic of the holy arm of Santa Tecla, which will take place in the afternoon, starting at 7 p.m., from Plaça de la Font to the Cathedral of Tarragona, where it will be received by the citizens, greeted by all the festive elements of the city and sing the “Goigs de la Santa”.    

The finishing touch to the big day of Santa Tecla will be provided by the fireworks, which will be set off from Punta del Miracle, and which can be seen from anywhere in the city. This year, the fireworks will be the work of Pirotecnia Martí, from Burriana (Castellón), winner of the 31st 'Ciutat de Tarragona' International Fireworks Competition, held last July.  

To travel to Tarragona, you can check the schedules of the regular BusPlana lines at empresaplana.cat. Remember that there are different night schedules to come from towns such as Salou, Vila-seca La Pineda, Cambrils, Valls or Reus.