Amposta's annual Festa del Mercat a la Plaça, a historical re-enactment event, will mark its 18th edition from 15 to 17 May. This year's festival will centre on early 20th-century sport, according to Amposta City Council officials.
Mayor Adam Tomàs described the event as “one of the most participatory in the city”, noting that “the Festa del Mercat is made by the citizens for the citizens”. He added that much of its success comes from residents dressing in period costume to honour their ancestors who shaped modern Amposta. The festival will feature 111 activities, blending traditional elements with new additions.
Cycling and Football Take Centre Stage
The main theme for this 18th edition is the centenary of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya's passage over the Pont Penjant (Suspension Bridge) in 1926. Ferran Rebull Barrena, great-grandson of Ricardo Rebull, a prominent Amposta cyclist of that era, will serve as the town crier. Beyond cycling, the festival will also honour Club de Futbol Amposta, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2025. Historical re-enactment football matches are planned throughout the weekend.
The festival officially starts on Friday, 15 May, with the inauguration and opening speech. It will end on Sunday, 17 May, with the traditional “Lo Passeig” parade. A re-enactment of the Volta Ciclista will take place on Saturday afternoon, while the period football matches are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday mornings.
New Activities and Community Involvement
New activities for this year include a night route. Popular returning events are the Enigmatic Race with Les Serenes, the Dinner in the Dark, and the Taste the Night Market. Organisers confirmed that the “Pepito de Canes” costume contest remains a key part of encouraging a period atmosphere in the streets. This year, more characters and trades from 20th-century Amposta will be represented than ever before.
As a prelude to the main event, the Museu de les Terres de l’Ebre will host a talk on Thursday, 30 April, titled “From the Rice Field to the Velodrome: Cycling in Amposta in the Early 20th Century”. Ricardo Rebull's grandson will deliver the talk, exploring the bicycle's importance at the start of the last century. Traditional games with schools and institutes will also return, with this year's addition of a bike ride led by students from Institut Montsià.
Tickets for the various shows and activities go on sale from 9am on Tuesday, 28 April. They can be bought online at festadelmercat.cat or in person at the Culture Office in Plaça del Mercat.
