The festivities in the municipality of Mequinenza will officially begin on September 16th with the launching of the chupinazo (firecracker), but activities have already been scheduled for this weekend.
The Mequinenza Town Council has released the program for the 2024 "La Santa" Festival, which will take place from September 16th to 22nd. This busy week of events offers something for everyone, regardless of age and taste. Organizing the program has required extra effort from both the Festival Committee and the Department of Festivals, as the festivities have been extended by a few days compared to previous years. In total, there are nearly 80 activities, all free of charge, including the main "La Santa" events as well as the "Pre-Santa" activities, which mark the beginning of the countdown to the opening firework display. Both local residents and visitors are invited to actively participate in these events, with respect, tolerance, and civic responsibility.
The festivities kick off this weekend with sports taking center stage and will continue until next weekend. On Saturday morning, the 19th Annual "Villa de Mequinenza" Regional Fishing Competition will be held in the "Dellà Segre" fishing area, along with the Grand Popular Clay Pigeon Shooting Competition at the Municipal Shooting Range and the "La Santa" Promotional Regatta at the Municipal Regatta Course. On Sunday, the 24th Annual Bike Day will take place, starting from the Town Hall Square and ending at the Fishermen's Shelter.
On Saturday, September 14th, a water park will be set up at the Municipal Swimming Pools to mark the end of the season. It will be open all day, and in the afternoon, a beach volleyball tournament will be held on the pool court. The Grup d'Art students' art exhibition will also open, and the prize for the poster design competition for the "La Santa" festivities will be awarded to Sara El Gorgi. An afternoon social gathering will follow in the Town Hall Square. On Sunday afternoon, the floats carrying the "Mequinenza residents of 2024" will parade through the streets of Mequinenza, accompanied by giants, big-headed figures, and ninots (papier-mâché figures), along with the Santa Agatoclia Brotherhood's Bugle and Drum Band and the Pintakoda Brass Band, culminating at the Sala Goya where La Rondalla del Poble will perform a concert.
With the ringing of the bells and the launching of the firework rocket, which this year will be carried out by the youth team of the Mequinenza Sports Club, the "La Santa" festivities will officially begin on Monday, September 16th. The first day will include a foam party, a foosball tournament, an inflatable play area, face painting, and a three-point shooting competition at the Municipal Tennis Courts. The festivities will culminate with the "Mequinenza i Mequinensans" (residents of Mequinenza) presentation gala in the Town Hall Square. In the evening, there will be a dance with the Himalaya orchestra in the Town Hall Square, followed by the traditional "Salchichada" (sausage feast). Later that night, a "Super Remember" session will feature performances by Paco Pil, Javi Reyna, and Alex and Giro, along with a Big Bag race at the Interpeñas grounds, in the truck parking area, where a tent will be set up.
On the feast day of Saint Agatoclia, the patron saint, the festivities will begin at 7:00 a.m. with the traditional Floral Wake-Up Call, followed by Mass, a procession, a floral offering, and the distribution of blessed cakes. In the afternoon and evening, there will be a concert and dance sessions with the Nueva Alaska orchestra in the Town Hall Square, and a late-night dance session at the Interpeñas venue with the traditional "Mocador Game."
The following day, the Guiñote Championship takes place in the morning, followed by the Tug-of-War Championship in the afternoon, and then the concert and dance sessions by the Melodía orchestra in the Town Hall Square, and a "Tardeo" session in the Interpeñas Tent with performances by Ziro and local DJs DJ Pelli and DJ Blue 303.
At the fairgrounds, on Thursday, November 19th, "Children's Day" will be celebrated all day long with special prices on all rides. In the morning, the "Botifarra" (sausage) competition and the "Crazy Jump Race," an obstacle course in a giant inflatable park, will take place. In the afternoon, the "Mequinensa Kings League" will be held, followed by a concert and dance sessions with the Pensylvania Orchestra in the Town Hall Square, where the "Pinyols d'Auliva" (olive seed) throwing contest will also be held. In the early hours of the morning, in the marquee, there will be a concert by the Star Ways Band, a mobile disco, and an arm-wrestling competition.
As the weekend approaches, the festivities intensify. On Friday, September 20th, an inflatable park will be set up in Plaza del Minero in the morning, just before the performance by the Estampa Baturra folk group at Sala Goya. Following this performance, the traditional community paella will be served at the Municipal Sports Pavilion. In the afternoon, there will be a Correpeñas (a traditional Basque parade) and a concert and dance sessions with the Welcome Band orchestra in Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Town Hall Square), while the Interpeñas Tent will host the OBK concert and the official Los 40 Principales party, culminating with "Lo Joc de la Cadira" (a traditional Basque game) at the Peñas grounds.
On Saturday, September 22nd, a children's performance is scheduled in the Town Hall Square in the morning, while in the afternoon there will be another edition of the fun "Correllits" (a children's race) with a treasure hunt, followed by a concert and dance sessions with the Cimarrón orchestra. As the sun sets, the "Correfocs" (fire run) will take place, presented by the Colla de Diables i Tambors "Lo Golafre" (a group of devils and drummers). Later that night and into the early hours, the Interpeñas Tent will host performances by Pura Verbena and "Perréalo," featuring Charly Rodriguez, Raúl Malo, and DJ Feli.
Mequinenza will conclude its 2024 "La Santa" festivities on Sunday, September 22nd, with a children's show in the morning at the Town Hall Square. In the afternoon, the league match between Mequinenza and Lalueza will take place at the "Las Rías" Municipal Stadium, followed by a double dance session with the Banda Sonora orchestra, interspersed with snacks and a fireworks display. As is tradition, the grand finale of the week's festivities will be set off in the courtyard of the María Quintana School.
