Valls, in Catalonia, will become the centre for human tower traditions and popular culture from 17 to 26 October 2025, during the Santa Úrsula Fair. The city, known as the birthplace of castells, will offer ten days of events combining tradition, heritage, music, fire, and creativity.

The Valls City Council and various organising committees have created a programme that establishes the fair as a key event in Catalonia's cultural calendar. The main event will be the human tower day on Sunday, 26 October, when the Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls and the Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls will fill Plaça del Blat for their most anticipated performance of the year.

Castells at the Core of the Fair

The human tower day, the Casteller Symposium, the dance show “Aleta”, and the Children's Fair will place the casteller world at the heart of the programme. The Castells Fair and the Children's Fair in Plaça del Quarter, along with the Casteller Museum, will also be central to the festivities. The 13th Catalan Casteller Symposium reinforces Valls' role as a respected reference point for studying and reflecting on human towers. The symposium's opening conference on Saturday, 25 October, will feature choreographer Marc Fernández and musician Ivó Jordà, two artists and experienced castellers who connect tradition with musical art.

The symposium's round tables will discuss topics such as the economic management of human tower groups and innovations in casteller techniques. This year, the symposium includes a Gastronomic Exhibition titled “The Three Rounds of the Castells”, offering a special tasting by brothers Rafel, Joan, and Enric Castells, focusing on local produce.

Museum Activities and Children's Events

The Catalan Casteller Museum will host many additional activities during the fair. These include book presentations, discussions, screenings, and a special episode of the podcast 'Quarts Amunt' with participation from both Valls human tower groups. On Sunday, 19 October, the museum will stage the dance show “Aleta” by the Marc Fernández company. This production combines movement and human tower imagery to explore the values of effort and collective cooperation. The show is a co-production involving Plataforma Arts de Carrer, Fira Mediterrània, Danseu Festival, and Escena Patrimonio (Spanish UNESCO World Heritage Cities Group).

Separately, the Castells Fair will feature over twenty stands and forty workshops, demonstrations, and games for all ages. The Children's Fair will offer creative and participatory activities for younger visitors. These include a collaborative mural, lettering and human tower doll workshops, pop-up postcards, inflatables, and cooperative balance games. It will also have an 8-metre-tall inflatable human tower, described as the world's tallest.

Celebrating 300 Years of Giants

Another major focus of this year's fair is the commemoration of the 300th anniversary of Valls' giants (1725-2025). This event highlights three centuries of continuous giant tradition. To celebrate, the Pati de Sant Roc will host a large exhibition featuring over forty figures, including giants, 'gegantons' (smaller giants), and 'gegants petits' (small giants). This unprecedented display aims to rediscover Valls' giant heritage.

The Institut d’Estudis Vallencs will present a talk on 16 October titled “New giants were made, which did not exist before”, given by Francesc Sans and Gerard Picó. They will review the origins and evolution of the Valls giants, which the city first presented in 1725 for the blessing of the Sanctuary of the Mare de Déu del Lledó, also celebrating its tricentenary this year.

The highlight of the giant commemoration will be on Saturday, 25 October, with the 'Tomb dels 300'. This extraordinary parade of Valls' giants marks their 300th anniversary. Accompanied by invited historic groups, including the Negritos of Tarragona, the Indis of Reus, and the giants of Vilafranca del Penedès and Montblanc, the Lladrefaves, the Gegantona, the Geganta, and the Gegant de la Porra will parade through the streets of the Historic Centre. This event offers a unique tribute to three hundred years of cultural legacy.

Other giant-related events include the parade for the 25th anniversary of the Capgrossos del Calçot, which will process through the city streets on Sunday afternoon, 26 October.

Popular Processions and Fire Events

The popular procession is again a key part of the fair, with a programme highlighting fire, bestiary figures, and public participation. The Santa Úrsula Correfoc (fire run) will bring fire to the festivities, colouring Valls red on Saturday, 25 October. It will feature the spoken dance of the Devils, the ascent of the Dragons, satirical verses, the descent of the Archangel, and a new addition this year, the 'Revetlla Diabòlica' (Diabolical Evening Party), which will end the fiery night with music and celebration in Plaça de l’Oli.

The 25th anniversary of the School Bestiary Exhibition adds another significant date to this Santa Úrsula Fair. The exhibition, on Friday, 24 October, will be the opening act of Santa Úrsula's ritual sequence. Hundreds of children from the city's schools and institutes will parade with their bestiary figures and dwarfs created by each centre. This large procession will end in the Pati with the 'enfaixada' (wrapping of the waist) of Josep Busquets' sculpture 'El Casteller'.

The programme also includes established events such as 'Les Corts' on the first Saturday of the fair, 18 October, with a historical re-enactment of the Wine Revolt and a wine tasting in the Carme cloister. The 'Correbous' (bull run), on Saturday, 25 October, reaches its 13th edition.

Music, Theatre, and Contemporary Culture

The Santa Úrsula Fair 2025 also offers a high-level cultural programme. In music, Sau will present “A Film Concert” on Saturday, 18 October, at the Cultural Centre. This immersive audiovisual experience, premiering in Valls, combines projections, documentary fragments, and the band's greatest hits.

On Friday, 24 October, the Teatre Principal will host a concert by Manu Guix, who will perform songs from his discography in an acoustic format. The singer will also focus on his latest work, “Moments”, in a unique concert where the audience can freely choose the repertoire.

The theatre programme features “Boja” (Crazy) by Mariona Esplugues, a finalist for the BBVA Theatre Award. This show, scheduled for Sunday, 19 October, at the Teatre Principal, addresses mental health and the author's experiences with humour and sensitivity. The cultural programme will also include a concert by Abel Tomàs and Emma Stratton, performing works by Franz Schubert, organised by the Friends of Music of Valls at the Teatre Principal. Several exhibitions will also be on display, notably one dedicated to the Valls photographer, industrialist, and patron Francesc Blasi Vallespinosa (1872-1949).