La Palanca: Contemporary Circus Festival in Esparreguera
This weekend, Esparreguera becomes a stage for contemporary circus arts with the sixth edition of La Palanca, running from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October. The festival opens with a double premiere: Eh?! by Flying Pikmis Company, an aerial trapeze act transforming chaos into resistance, and Entre el cel i la terra by Circ Pistolet, an acrobatic portés performance exploring human fragility and balance. Both shows take place on Friday evening, with the first at 18:30 outside the Teatre de La Passió (free entry) and the second at 20:00 inside the theatre (tickets €8 or €5.60).
The festival closes with Refugi, a tightrope and balance act by local artist Manolo Alcántara.
Saturday features a new itinerant format, La Palanca es mou, beginning at 12:00 with the Always Drinking Marching Band joined by performers Antonia González, Javier Garrido and Circ Vermut. Street performances continue throughout the day, including Desorientat by Guga at 18:00 on Plaça de la Pagesia and Ruta by Capicua Company at 20:00 on Plaça del Centre, all free to attend. Sunday includes family-friendly acts such as Hats by JAM Company at 11:00 in the theatre’s small hall (€6 or €4.20), and Pilots, an itinerant show by La Finestra Nou Circ starting at 12:00. The festival concludes with Clam by Fèmut Company at 18:00 on Plaça de la Unió and the closing performance Refugi at 19:00 at the main theatre. A new feature this year is La Luma, a host character played by Esparreguera actress Maria Coll, welcoming audiences before major shows. Inclusive circus workshops have also been held ahead of the event with participants from Can Comelles Occupational Workshop and FIL Foundation, supported by the Barcelona Provincial Council. Tickets for paid events are available via entrades.esparreguera.cat.
31st Bages Wine Harvest Festival in Artés
The 31st Festa de la Verema del Bages takes place in Artés from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October, celebrating the wine-making heritage of the DO Pla de Bages region. The opening event begins at 19:30 on Friday at Celler Més que Paraules in Fals-Fonollosa, featuring a standing dinner with music by Marc River and Rocío (€22; registration required at festaveremabages.cat). Saturday offers a full day of wine-focused activities. From 9:00, a dry-stone heritage route starts in Artés, followed by a shawl-weaving workshop at Espai Tines from 10:00. At noon in Plaça Vella, singer-songwriter Joan Colomo hosts a musical vermouth. Winery visits during the morning include tastings (€15) across the DO Pla de Bages route, covering Navàs, Súria, Sant Benet and Sallent. Later Saturday, ViArt invites artistic expression using wine as paint at 17:00, while Tastos amb ritme presents local wines and cuisine from 18:00 in Plaça Vella. At 18:30, sardana dancers Jovenívola de Sabadell perform in the church square. A blind wine-tasting for couples starts at 19:00 in Plaça del Padró (€30; registration needed). Evening entertainment includes Jambolainers at 19:00 and live music by La Big Bandida until 01:00. On Sunday, the 25th Sparkling Wine Cork Exchange returns from 9:30 to 12:00 on Carrer Rocafort. The old town hosts an artisan fair from 10:00, with craft demonstrations and a children's clue game. At 12:00, there's a community grape-stomping and must workshop. Pairing sessions follow, including a proximity pairing at 12:30 (€18; registration required) and a tasting of DO Pla de Bages’ latest releases at 18:00 (€15; registration required). Cellars Solergibert and Artium remain open for visits, and exhibitions of cork sculptures by Dami Vila and farmhouse models by Manel Serra continue on Carrer Rocafort. Full details at festaveremabages.cat/programa/.
Fungi, Art and Family Events Across Central Catalonia
In Berga, the 68th Mushroom Pickers Contest takes place on Sunday 4 October at Pla de Puigventós, Espinalbet. Registration and breakfast begin at 9:00, followed by the official competition start. A children’s mushroom contest runs from 10:00 for ages 4–10. Awards are presented at 11:30, followed by the weighing and judging of entries, with prizes awarded at 12:30. A parade heads back to Berga at 13:00, leading to evening sardanas at 18:00 and a human tower performance (pilar d’honor) by Castellers de Berga at 19:45 on Plaça de la Creu. The night ends with a bonfire at 20:00. Also in Berga, the rapid autumn painting contest Memorial Enric Besora runs on Saturday 3 October at the Cinema Catalunya building. Registration and canvas stamping occur from 8:00 to 9:00, with judging at 14:00. Total prizes amount to €1,450. Paintings remain on display until 20:00. In Camps, the 20th Craftsmen’s Fair runs Sunday from 9:00 to 13:40, featuring artisan food and crafts, chainsaw sculpture contests, a Catalan cream workshop and storytelling. A communal lunch is available for €9. The event includes a flea market, children’s play area and street theatre. Further afield, Castelltallat hosts its third footpath route on Saturday 3 October, a 10 km circular walk starting at 9:00 from Cal Prat Barrina. Registration is required by calling Susanna at 615 97 98 61. An arrozada (rice cook-out) follows at 13:30 at the village hall. More information is available at castelltallat.cat. Meanwhile, the Mort de Riures Festival in Igualada continues its themed programme around death and remembrance, with family illustration workshops, micro-story contests and performances such as Un 8 by Inflatable Company and Dues ales by Farrés Brothers. Full schedule at festivalmortderiures.cat.
Reported by festaveremabages.cat, entradessolsones.com, campionatmaqui.cat, castelltallat.cat, festivalmortderiures.cat, esparreguera.cat, ara.cat, labustia.cat, naciodigital.cat, Regió 7.
