Vilafranca de Bonany is gearing up to celebrate one of its most cherished and anticipated events: the Festes de Santa Bàrbara 2024, honouring the town’s patron saint. Taking place from Sunday, 1st December to Sunday, 8th December, the event combines tradition, culture, and entertainment, with a special highlight on the preparation and sharing of traditional doughnuts (buñuelos) with sweet wine (mistela), a defining hallmark of these celebrations.

The pinnacle of the Festes de Santa Bàrbara 2024 is on 4th December, the feast day of Santa Bàrbara. Following the Solemn Mass, presided over by the Bishop of Mallorca, the community gathers in Plaça Major to enjoy the homemade doughnuts with mistela. This cherished tradition reinforces the familial and welcoming spirit of the event. It is accompanied by the dance of the Cavallets and the Geganta Bàrbara, enlivened by the traditional sounds of the xeremiers, creating a heartfelt homage to Vilafranca’s cultural heritage.

Culture, Art, Gastronomy, and Music

The festivities kick off on 1st December with the Santa Bàrbara Market, where Plaça Major comes alive with stalls of artisanal products, craft workshops, and musical performances, such as Vilatukada. There will also be an Open Doors Day at the renovated Town Hall, featuring visits to the artisanal nativity scene created by Antònia Domenge. This nativity scene will also be part of the Nativity Route, which runs from 6th December to 6th January.

The programme features traditional activities such as the Sopar dels Barbuts (Dinner of the Bearded Men), the Camillada with music and hot chocolate, and the Cursa des Tro, a popular running race with 14km and 8km options. This year also marks the debut of a Tongue Twister Contest at the Municipal Library, specially designed for children.

The cultural programme includes the painting exhibition “Painting and Poetry: Landscapes, Seascapes, and Flowers” by Felipe Cáliz, complemented by a poetic vermouth inviting attendees to share texts inspired by autumnal landscapes. Music plays a central role throughout the celebration, with the Santa Bàrbara Special Horabaixa, featuring DJs and the band Islanders, as well as concerts like Backdoors at Bar Es Glop.

Festes de Santa Bàrbara 2024 Programme

Cartel Fira de Santa Bàrbara 2024 de Vilafranca de BonanySunday, 1st December

  • 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
    • Santa Bàrbara Market in Plaça Major.
    • Guided tours of the renovated Town Hall and the handcrafted nativity scene by Antònia Domenge.
    • Craft workshop: Painting of Christmas clay figurines by Escola de Fang Damita.
  • 11:00 am: Geganta “Bàrbara” presentation. Live music by Joan Florit and Pere Joan Martorell.
  • 11:30 am: Reception of giants from the Santa Margalida Giant Troupe and parade.
  • 12:30 pm: Vilatukada performance in Plaça Major. Concludes with the traditional Santa Bàrbara Firecracker Show.
  • 1:30 pm: Farewell dance of the giants.

Monday, 2nd December

  • 5:00 pm: Tongue Twister Contest in Catalan for children at the Municipal Library: PER SANTA BÀRBARA, EMBARBUSSAMENTS AMB BARBA!

Tuesday, 3rd December

  • 9:30 am: Doughnut preparation at CEIP Es Cremat and exhibition: “10 Years of Cavallets at School”.
  • 1:40 pm: Dance of the Cavallets performed by 6th-grade students in the schoolyard.

Wednesday, 4th December: Santa Bàrbara Feast Day

  • 9:00 am: Preparation of the dough for Santa Bàrbara doughnuts at “Ca l’amo en Jaume des Forn”.
  • 10:00 am: Doughnut preparation at the Residència (c/ Francesc Sansó, 7).
  • 4:00 pm: Petanque tournament at Josep Maria Llompart Park.
  • 6:30 pm: Opening of the exhibition “PAINTING AND POETRY: Landscapes, Seascapes, and Flowers” by Felipe Cáliz Morales at Rectoria Vella.
  • 6:45 pm: Parade of the Geganta Bàrbara from Plaça Major to the Parish Church.
  • 7:00 pm: Solemn Mass in honour of Santa Bàrbara, presided over by Bishop Sebastià Taltavull. Includes the Santa Bàrbara hymn and dances performed by Aires Vilafranquins. Concludes with traditional doughnuts and mistela in Plaça Major.

Thursday, 5th December

  • 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm: Exhibition “PAINTING AND POETRY: Landscapes, Seascapes, and Flowers” by Felipe Cáliz Morales.
  • 8:00 pm: Camillada in Plaça Major with hot chocolate and ensaïmada for everyone. Passatemps activity by Quinta’03 and live music by Duo Xic.

Friday, 6th December

  • 12:00 pm: Poetic vermouth at Rectoria Vella with readings inspired by autumnal landscapes.
  • 7:00 pm: Rock’n Bar concert featuring Backdoors at Bar Es Glop. Followed by a DJ session.

Saturday, 7th December

  • 2:00 pm: SOPAR DELS BARBUTS at Hortella d’en Cotanet.
  • 5:30 pm: Horabaixa at Josep Maria Llompart Park with DJs DELACHAVES, EUGESH, and MIKI X KRLS, and a performance by Islanders. Food truck and bar available.
  • 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm: Exhibition “PAINTING AND POETRY: Landscapes, Seascapes, and Flowers” by Felipe Cáliz Morales.

Sunday, 8th December

  • 10:00 am: VI Cursa des Tro (14km or 8km race) starting at Josep Maria Llompart Park.
  • 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Last chance to visit the exhibition “PAINTING AND POETRY: Landscapes, Seascapes, and Flowers”.
  • 5:00 pm: Football match at Es Molí Nou: CF Vilafranca vs Palmanyola.

For more details, visit the official website: www.ajvilafrancadebonany.net.