Tàrrega, in central Catalonia, concluded its nine-day May Festival yesterday with a very positive assessment, marked by high public participation and good attendance at the sixty programmed events.
One of the most popular moments was the Nit del Tararot, held on Saturday night, which again filled the Plaça Major. This event offered a large explosion of popular culture, combining fire, theatre, and music. For this edition, the Guixanet group revived a nocturnal parade first presented two decades ago, based on a historical episode from the city.
According to the story, which took place 701 years ago, a bourgeois organised a procession to court a young woman. However, another man, driven by jealousy, threw stones from a rooftop as the procession passed, seriously injuring a musician who died five days later. The case went to popular trial, though the accused was acquitted due to lack of evidence. The current recreation reinterpreted the story, giving more prominence to the young woman and offering a feminist perspective.
Giant Figures and Human Towers
The Nit del Tararot included thirty guest groups, alongside local participants. Among the most notable figures were the Caramot del Vendrell, considered Europe's largest fire dragon, weighing 750 kilograms and over 20 metres long. Also present was the Romà giant from the Manlleu Giant Group, the tallest in Catalonia, standing over five metres high and weighing 110 kilograms. The Mulassa de Valls, also considered the largest in Catalonia, weighed 100 kilograms and measured 4.6 metres long, 2.95 metres high, and 1.1 metres wide. The public also saw the Pedrafoc, Tàrrega's new dragon, which debuted on Friday. The Margeners de Guissona and the Falcons de Vilanova also took part, offering their usual human constructions and aerial figures.
Saturday night continued into the early hours with a correfoc, or fire run, led by the Diables de BAT and the Diables lo Jordiet de Garcia group. This was followed by concerts featuring Fades and Sexenni, and a DJ set by PD Xena, which kept the festive atmosphere going until 5am.
Closing Day Events
The closing day featured the thirty-seventh Giant Gathering, organised by the Fal·lera Gegantera, which brought together twelve groups and nearly forty figures. Among the new additions, the Nona, the inclusive giantess from the Alba school, was presented for the first time at a gathering.
The final day's programme also included the traditional Picacampanar, visits to the bell tower of Santa Maria de l'Alba church organised by the scouts, a dance with the Maravella orchestra, and a fireworks display, which marked the end of the celebration.
