Valls will host its traditional Tres Tombs festival from 9 to 11 January, featuring a programme of new activities and the return of restored heritage carriages. The festival, declared a National Traditional Festival by the Generalitat, opens the annual Tres Tombs calendar across Catalonia.

The celebration starts on Friday, 9 January, with the opening of the exhibition “Valls capital del patrimoni de carros” (Valls, Capital of Carriage Heritage). The weekend continues with a vigil and 'Vespra' celebration on Saturday, 10 January, followed by the main Tres Tombs parade on Sunday, 11 January. This year's festival introduces the 'Vermut del Dimoni' (Devil's Vermouth) and a modified parade route due to ongoing wall construction in Sant Francesc, according to Valls officials.

New Additions and Route Changes

The animal blessing ceremony will exceptionally take place at the Roser Chapel this year. Two significant heritage additions will join the Sunday parade: the Vilaverd carriage and a restored stagecoach belonging to the Societat de Sant Antoni de Valls. The 'Vespra' on Saturday, 10 January, aims to become a key pre-festival event for Valls residents, with activities starting at 12pm with a festive pig parade from Sant Antoni church.

Later in the afternoon, the Flag parade will begin at Plaça del Carme, proceeding to Plaça del Blat. Here, permission will be sought from authorities to parade through the city streets, accompanied by a short concert from the Cobla Momentània. The procession will continue with the Mulassa, a traditional figure, to Sant Antoni church, where the Societat Coral Aroma Vallenca will sing traditional hymns. The parade will conclude at the Arcs del Celler del Paborde with the Mulassa dance and the traditional lighting of the Sant Antoni bonfire, followed by a dinner and dance, ending with a DJ session.

Tickets for the 'Vespra' official scarves, priced at €3, and dinner tickets, priced at €8, are available at the Tourist Office and various local establishments and organisations, including Llaminadures El Picarol, Bar El Safareig, Tangram Mobles, Campaners de Valls, Cau de Valls, and Òmnium Alt Camp.

The 'Vermut del Dimoni'

A new addition this year is the 'Vermut del Dimoni', a festive and participatory event on Saturday at 12pm in Plaça de les Garrofes. Organised by the Grup de Consum La Bajoca, this initiative aims to expand the weekend's activities and encourage community gathering as part of the Sant Antoni celebration.

Sunday's Main Parade

The Tres Tombs parade on Sunday, 11 January, starts at 11:30am. Historic carriages will parade through the city streets on a modified route. This route includes the animal blessing at the Roser Chapel and a pass through Carrer Major, known as the 'Tombs de l’Ajuntament'. For the fifth consecutive year, the animal welfare and quality protocol from the Coordinadora de Tres Tombs de Tarragona will be applied. All pet owners bringing their animals for blessing will receive a special 'aufarson' as a thank you for their participation.

The new parade route for the first 'tomb' includes Moll de l’Estació, Francesc Gumà i Ferran, Marc Fusté, Rafael de Casanova, Plaça Cementiri, Ctra Pla, Font Manxa, Anselm Clavé, Passeig Estació, Vallvera, Plaça de la Creu, and Ctra Pla. The second 'tomb' follows Font Manxa, Anselm Clavé, Rotonda Bus, Passeig Estació, Vallvera, Plaça de la Creu, and Ctra Pla. The third 'tomb' covers Font Manxa, Jaume Huguet Pati, C/La Cort, Plaça Blat, C/Major, C/Carnisseria, Tomàs Cayla, Muralla Sant Antoni, Muralla Castell, Jaume Huguet, Font Manxa, Ctra Pla, and finishes at the Molls Estació.

Restored Heritage Pieces

This year's Tres Tombs will see the return of the Vilaverd carriage, from the Espai del Carro d’Anglesola. This carriage has strong ties to Valls' historical transport memory. Historically, it travelled up Carrer Major every market Wednesday, pulled by four mules and managed by two carters. For five years, it closed the Valls Tres Tombs, travelling from Tàrrega on the Friday of the festival and returning on Monday. It last returned to Valls in 2011 for the National Gathering.

The second major addition is the restored stagecoach of the Societat de Sant Antoni de Valls. This was the first piece acquired by the organisation in 1983 from Alhama de Aragón. The stagecoach participated in the Tres Tombs for many years until its deterioration prevented its involvement in the late 1990s. After a year of intense restoration, the stagecoach will parade through the city streets on Sunday, 11 January, fully rejoining the celebration.

A Festival with Valls Identity

The annual festive calendar in Valls always begins with the Tres Tombs, held on the Sunday before 17 January, the day dedicated to Sant Antoni Abat. The Valls Tres Tombs are unique and distinct from others, notably for opening the Tres Tombs calendar. While the first documented record of this festival in Valls dates to 1879, it is believed to have been celebrated since at least the 18th century, a period when mules became prominent in agricultural and transport tasks during Catalonia's economic recovery.

With this year's programme, the Societat de Sant Antoni de Valls reaffirms its commitment to a quality Tres Tombs, open to public participation and faithful to tradition. The 'Vespra' and this year's new features help to strengthen the celebration as a deeply rooted city festival shared by all residents.