Experience the tradition of the Santa Tecla Festival in Tarragona with BusPlana

Tarragona dresses up to celebrate its patron saint, Santa Tecla, in a festival that combines tradition, popular culture, music, and a unique atmosphere that fills the city streets. Declared a Heritage Festival of National Interest and a Festival of State Tourist Interest, these celebrations are a must for residents and visitors of the province of Tarragona at this time of year.  

You can travel to Tarragona with BusPlana's regular routes from towns such as Valls, Vila-seca, Salou, and Cambrils, among many others. You can check the timetables on our website. We are also the official airport transport provider, so if you are arriving by plane, you can purchase official tickets for your transfer from Barcelona Airport to Tarragona, Salou, PortAventura World, Cambrils, La Pineda, and Reus online.     

A tradition with centuries of history  

The Santa Tecla Festival is much more than a popular celebration: it has been part of the soul of the people of Tarragona for more than seven centuries. Its origins date back to 1321, when the relic of the arm of Santa Tecla, patron saint of the city, arrived in the city. Since then, every September Tarragona honors its protector by holding religious and festive events in her honor, which, over time, have become the city's main festival.  

The tradition is kept alive with events such as: “La Crida,” “Els Castells,” “Coffee, drink, and cigar for a peseta,” “La Tronada,” “La Baixada de l'Àliga,” the “Seguici Popular,” and the “Pilars caminants,” which descend from the cathedral square to the Plaça de la Font.  

How Tarragona celebrates Santa Tecla  

The Santa Tecla Festival is held from September 12th to 24th in Tarragona, with more than 500 events on the program this year, including a wide variety of activities, cultural events, and traditional shows for all audiences throughout the day and night.  

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the famous pasodoble Amparito Roca, which is the soundtrack to the Santa Tecla festivities. For this reason, this anthem will be more prominent than ever during these days.  

On Saturday, September 13th, “La Crida” will take place in the Plaça de la Font, where the starting signal for this year's festivities will be given from the balcony of the town hall.  

On Sunday, September 14th, the first Sunday of the festivities, the “Cercavila” parade of the participating "collas" will take place from Plaça del Rei to Plaça de la Font, starting at 12 noon in the same square. 

On Thursday, September 18th, starting at 6 p.m., the little ones will be the stars of the show: the Baixadeta. La Aligueta, La Mulasseta, El Lleonet, the Gegants Moros Petits, the Negritos Petits, the Gegants Vells Petits, and La Cucafereta. They will begin their journey from Pla de la Seu to Plaça de la Font, to the rhythm of brass bands and accompanied by all those in attendance.  

Featured concerts  

On Saturday, September 20th, Tarragona will beat to the rhythm of live music. At 8 p.m., Parc del Francolí will host a free concert by Miki Núñez, a contemporary pop artist. At the Tarraco Arena, starting at 8:30 p.m., Amaral will present the new songs from their latest album on their “Dolce Vita Tour,” as well as delighting us with their well-known songs.  

The night of the Seguici Popular  

On Sunday, September 21st, starting at midnight, an explosion of excitement, tradition, and celebration will take over Tarragona, with the first musical notes marking the start of the “Baixada.” From Pla de la Seu, the Àliga, the Gegants Vells, the Lléo, and the Mulassa will dance for all attendees. From there, the procession will move to Plaça del Rei, ending the night at Plaça de la Font with the Ball de l'Any.  

The Eve of Santa Tecla 

Monday afternoon will kick off at 6:45 p.m. in Plaça de la Font with a very special moment: the celebration of the centenary of the pasodoble Amparito Roca, a festive anthem for Tarragona. This will be followed by the Cercavila de Santa Tecla, the first time that the full Seguici Popular comes out, with its most emblematic figures: the Ball de Diables, the Drac, the Bou, the Víbria, the Griu, the Ball d'en Serrallonga, l'Àliga, the Mulassa, the Cucafera, the Lleó and the Gegants, among other traditional dances and figures. Later, in Plaça del Rei, the "Versots y parlaments dels balls parlats" will be performed, while in Plaça de les Cols you can enjoy the Moixiganga, accompanied by the music of So Nat - Grallers de Tarragona.  

The night will continue with the traditional Revetlla clàssica on Rambla Nova, performed by the Orquestra la Principal de la Bisbal, and with the lively Revetlla més teclera in Plaça de la Font, featuring Piratas Rumbversions and La Divand. For those looking for a more musical atmosphere, Parc del Francolí will host a large concert organized by RAC105 as part of its Gira105 tour, with performances by Enric Font, Mon DJ, and Nàtura.  

Santa Tecla's Day  

On Tuesday, September 23rd, at 7 a.m., from Plaça de la Font, the Toc de matinades will ring out through the streets to wake up the city. Starting at 11 a.m., the Tanda de lluïment del Seguici Popular will take place, an exhibition in which the most emblematic figures and dances of the festive procession will be presented to the public with all their energy, color, and tradition. At 1 p.m., the Diada Castellera de Santa Tecla will follow, a day in which local collas will offer their best human towers.  

That same afternoon, starting at 7 p.m., the solemn procession of the Arm of Santa Tecla will begin at Pla de la Seu, winding its way through the streets of the old town accompanied by the entire Seguici Popular. This parade, steeped in solemnity, tradition, and collective sentiment, will end at the Cathedral, where all the festive elements will come together in a joint dance.  

The culmination of Santa Tecla's big day will come when the clock strikes 11 p.m. From the Punta del Miracle, the sky over Tarragona will be lit up with a spectacular fireworks display by “Pirotecnia Valenciana,” winner of the “Ciutat de Tarragona” International Fireworks Competition held last July.  

Pilars caminants and Correfoc finale  

On Wednesday, September 24th, the day of La Mercè, at noon, the city will also experience another of the most symbolic moments of the festival: the collas castelleras will take to the streets once again to put on a spectacular display of "pilars caminants".  

Later in the evening, at 10 pm, the festival will come to a grand close with the Correfoc, which will wind its way through the historic center from Plaça de la Mitja Lluna. Diables and fire beasts will fill the streets with sparks and rhythm that will awaken all the senses of those who witness it. A living pyrotechnic explosion that will bid farewell to Santa Tecla in style.  

Celebrate the Santa Tecla festivities with BusPlana  

With BusPlana's regular routes, you can easily reach Tarragona from many towns in the Camp de Tarragona region, such as Valls, Vila-seca, Salou, and Cambrils. Check our website and plan your route. Also, remember that we are the official airport transport, so you can purchase official tickets for transfers from Barcelona Airport to Tarragona, Salou, PortAventura World, Cambrils, Reus, and La Pineda online. 

And best of all: with BusPlana, your trip is part of the experience. Just hop on the bus and get ready to party. Happy Santa Tecla!