Cós Blanc in Salou. Get to the confetti carnival with BusPlana

Every winter, when the cold seems to invade everything, the capital of the Costa Dorada lights up with a special energy. As every year, on the first weekend of February, Salou dresses up to celebrate its winter Festa Major, dedicated to Saint Anthony the Abbot. At the heart of these festivities is one of the most popular and crowded events in the town, where both locals and visitors enjoy an unparalleled light and sound show, the Cós Blanc.

This event, which began spontaneously more than four decades ago, has grown from a simple parade to become a festive landmark throughout Catalonia. What began as a small joke among friends throwing shredded newspaper at each other is now a first-rate technical production that attracts tens of thousands of people eager for music, colour and, of course, an endless shower of confetti.

To make the most of the Cós Blanc in Salou, you can travel with BusPlana from towns such as Tarragona, Vila-seca, Reus or Cambrils. You can check the timetables for our regular routes on our website. We are also the official airport transport provider, and you can purchase official tickets online for your transfers from Barcelona Airport to the Costa Dorada.

The essence of Cós Blanc: More than just a festival

To understand Cós Blanc, you have to understand the passion of the “collas”. For months, hundreds of Salou residents work in secret in their workshops, designing themed costumes and decorating floats that compete in spectacular fashion. It is not just a parade; it is the pride of a town that throws itself into its biggest festival. The name ‘Cós Blanc’ (White Corps) refers to the visual effect created by tonnes of white paper being thrown into the air, creating a dense mist that completely covers the participants, blurring the differences between spectator and protagonist.

The Cós Blanc Family: Fun for all generations

Although this year's events kicked off with a bang on Thursday 29 January, with the opening speech by renowned actor, comedian and showman Edu Soto, the programme is designed so that no one stays at home. Friday 6 February is the day marked on the calendar for families.

Starting at 10:30 a.m., the Zona Diver-Xic's opens, a space designed exclusively for children's enjoyment. This area has inflatables, interactive games and creative workshops that allow the little ones to warm up for the big parade. The atmosphere is vibrant and safe, ideal for children to feel like the real stars of the morning.

At midday, tradition takes over with the Seguici Petit. At 12 noon, in Plaça del Carrilet, the festive elements of Salou in miniature (giants, dwarves and traditional dances performed by children) begin their procession. It is a display of Catalan popular culture that ends at the municipal public library, leaving images full of tenderness and tradition.

Friday afternoon culminates in the “envelat de la Festa Major”. At 5 pm, the magic returns with the Cós Blanc Xic's. Here, the shower of confetti has a more playful and controlled tone. Emblematic characters such as Confetina and Rocky, together with Pirate Dragut, are in charge of leading a musical show that gets young and old dancing. It is the perfect rehearsal for what will happen the next day.

Saturday: The most eagerly awaited day of the year in Salou

Saturday is the day when Salou does not sleep. From very early in the morning, the sound of the Diana Floreada announces through the streets that the big moment has arrived. It is a festive wake-up call that invites everyone to come out onto the streets.

During the morning, Plaça de les Comunitats Autònomes comes alive with a fair aimed at children, ensuring that the wait does not seem long. However, the first visual highlight occurs at 10:30 a.m. with the “Cercavila de lluïment”. This is a key moment for photography lovers: the floats parade in broad daylight, allowing you to admire in detail the craftsmanship, the embroidery on the costumes and the choreography that the collas have rehearsed throughout the winter.

The Cós Blanc

As evening falls, the scene moves to Paseo Jaume I and its adjacent streets. This is where the Cós Blanc reaches its peak. Sound towers and high-powered spotlights are installed along the entire route, turning the street into an open-air disco.

When the lights come on and the first chords of the unified music resound through the loudspeakers, the compressed air cannons begin to launch the first confetti. For two or three hours, the floats parade to the rhythm of a frenetic soundtrack. An unreal atmosphere is created, where you can barely see a metre ahead due to the density of the paper “snow”.

This celebration, with more than 40 years of history, welcomes anyone who wants to enjoy a parade unlike any other. It is not a conventional carnival parade; it is an immersive experience where the more than 20,000 people who gather end up covered in white. After the parade, the party moves back to the envelat, where a grand gala dance is held with the prestigious Montgrins Orchestra, prolonging the fun until well into the early hours of the morning.

A Sunday of tradition, gastronomy and fire

Despite Saturday's exhaustion, Salou wakes up on Sunday 8th February eager to make the most of the last days of its Festa Major. From 9:00 am, the “Matinades de grallers” parade through the town, reminding everyone that the festival is still alive.

Sunday offers an amazing variety of events:

Equestrian Show: On Llevant Beach, the elegance of the horses on the sand offers a peaceful contrast to the hustle and bustle of the previous day.

Cós Blanc for pets: One of the most curious and charming initiatives, where pets also have their own little parade.

Popular Gastronomy: Vermouth in the envelat and the popular fideuada serve to replenish energy and encourage conviviality between locals and tourists.

The festivities come to a close with the culture of fire, so deeply rooted in our land. At 6 pm, Via Roma becomes a river of sparks with the Correfoc. The Diables Maleïts, Bruixes “Latemó”, Xaloc and Morena de Salou dance under the fire to the rhythm of the drums, in a visually stunning spectacle.

Once the correfoc is over, all eyes turn to Advocat Gallego Street. This is where the Castell de Focs will take place, a huge fireworks display that will light up the sky over the Costa Dorada, bringing ten days of intensity, joy and tradition to a close. The winter festivities come to an end, but in Salou they are already counting down the days until the confetti covers everything in white again next year.

Enjoy the Cós Blanc festival with BusPlana

Experience Salou's Cós Blanc, one of the most iconic carnivals on the Costa Dorada, with the convenience of travelling on BusPlana's regular routes, which connect the city with Cambrils, Vila-seca, La Pineda, Reus and Tarragona. You can easily check the timetables on our website. In addition, as the official airport transport provider, you can purchase your tickets online for your transfer from Barcelona Airport to the Costa Dorada.