October

The Party of the Liquor or ‘Aiguardent’of El Prat de Comte (15 th and 16 th October)

The Party of the Aiguardent of El Prat de Comte, in Terra Alta, was born with the inauguration of the restoration of the ancient distillery in 2001. In this space the neighbors made their own liquor after the vintage, but now it does not work as consequence of an accident which took place a hundred years ago. At present, this so much characteristic equipment and its traditional activity are completely recovered. The distillery takes part of a big set which has been reconstructed and it represents the life of the ancestors: the oven of bread, the mill of oil and that of wheat are other equipments which are still preserved in El Prat de Comte.

The participation on this party gives the possibility of tasting an extense variety of liquors, always accompanied of typical candies of the village. Moreover it is possible to know other parties dedicated to the production of liquors and tasting the Galician Caña, the Catalan Ratafia, etc. Many neighborings open their homes to offer their ‘aiguardent’ which is distilled by theyself and they organize samples and exhibitions. Moreover, the visitor will be able to see the different exhibitions of painting and handmade products, playing with traditional Catalan skittles, contemplating the work of the lacemakers and taking part of many activities like the flight in balloon. The acts schedule is based on the distillery’s building of El Prat de Comte, which is the central stage of the party and the place where the liquor is distilled.

The Day of Saint Úrsula in Valls (20th and 21st October)

The cradle city of the ‘castellers’ or human towers celebrates the parties of Saint Úrsula with an extensive programme of activities which includes the Encounter of the Child Bestiary of Valls, the Party-Fire, exhibitions, concerts, a gastronomic conference and the Day of Saint Úrsula when an exhibition of human towers confronts the two main local groups that traditionally closes the season.

The Fair of Saint Úrsula is traditionally celebrated about the first Sunday after the 21st October - day of Saint Úrsula -. Its beginnings had a strictly commercial meaning so the Fair was an exhange point of products and services, but nowadays it is a big party which is structured around the three great acts commented before. The performance of the two human tower ‘colles’ or groups – the Colla Jove and the Colla Vella – celebrated on Sunday at noon in the Plaça del Blat is the most well-known festive activity of the party. Valls has been the cradle of the ‘castellers’ passion and one of the towns with more tradition on this field.

The Fair of Saint Úrsula is also known by another singular act: the Encounter of Child Bestiary of the Schools of Valls. It takes out the street the handmade Bestiary that pupils have made during the last year. Furthermore, the party proposes to enjoy the funfair placed on the Fornàs, the giants’ dance on Sunday or the concert of protest groups on Saturday night.