The Sant Roc de la Plaça Nova festival dates back to 1589, the year in which it was first organised, as a celebration to honour the saint that had protected the town from the plague.

Organised by the Plaça Nova Festival Association, for this edition of the Sant Roc festival – one of the oldest festivals in the city – a whole host of popular and traditional culture activities have been organised.

Friday, 13 August

10.00 am Craft Fair, on Avinguda de la Catedral. (Until 9.00 pm)

6.30 pm “En Cu-cut dalt del ruc”, with the Big head Cu-cut riding on a donkey, the big heads of Plaça Nova and La Pessigolla gralla players.

7.00 pm Hissada de la Bandera Heràldica de Sant Roc, with the local neighbourhood pharmacists.

7.10 pm Sardanas, featuring the Cobla Ciutat de Granollers.

7.15 pm Cucanya de la Plaça Nova.

9.30 pm Concert: Karaoke’s Band.

Saturday 14 August.

10:00 am:

• 1st adapted children’s race in the Barri Gòtic. Prior registration required, via the website: www.plnova.cat
• Craft Fair, on Avinguda de la Catedral (until 9.00 pm).

6.00 pm:

• Children’s drawing competition (Boys and girls aged 2 to 14).
• Traditional and popular games.
• Traditional greeting of the dog of Sant Roc, featuring any of the neighbourhood dogs who wish to take part.

9.30 pm Concert of the orchestra Aquarium.

Sunday 15 August

10.00 am Craft Fair, on Avinguda de la Catedral (until 9.00 pm).

5.00 pm 40th Giants gathering and dance. Demonstration and Dances with the giants of el Pi, Raval, Barceloneta, Casc Antic, Sant Pere de les Puel·les, Sant Jaume, Carrer de la Princesa, and the hosts of Plaça Nova: the new giants Roc and Laia, the dwarf Cu-cut, the child giants Pippo and Gal·la, the Àliga Petita and the Gralla players La Pessigolla.

7.00 pm Performance by the Esbart Català de Dansaires, dean of the Esbarts of Catalonia, with musical accompaniment from the Cobla Ciutat de Cornellà.

9.30 pm Cantada d’havaneres: Cavall Bernat.

Monday, 16 August, FEAST DAY OF SANT ROC

9.30 AM Traditional Parade of Sant Roc, The Devil of Sant Roc, the stick dancers from the Esbart Català de Dansaires, the Eagle of the City, the Lion of Barcelona, the dwarf Cu-cut, the Plaça Nova children’s giants and the Àliga Petita, The Centenary Giants of Sant Roc de la Plaça Nova, the Green Flag of the Sant Roc Festival Committee and the Cobla Ciutat de Cornellà.

10:00 am:

• Gran Traca Despertada [Fire Crackers]
• Craft Fair, on Avinguda de la Catedral (until 3.00 pm).
• Bell Ringing.

10.30 am Renovació del vot a Sant Roc, in the Basilica de Santa Maria del Pi.

11.30 am Bell ringing, festival bells, by the Bell ringers of the Basilica de Santa Maria del Pi and endegament de morters from the bell tower.

11.45 am Dance of the Àliga de la Ciutat, at Barcelona Cathedral.

12.00 noon Reception and dances of the Seguici de Sant Roc, at the Palau Episcopal.

12.30 pm:

• Laying of the Green Flag of the Committee on the balcony of the Palau Episcopal.
• Wreath-laying ceremony Sant Roc de la Plaça Nova..
• Dance of the Gaints of Sant Roc de la Plaça Nova, with the Cobla Ciutat de Cornellà.
• Demonstration of “Porró Llarg”.
• Demonstration of the elements of the Seguici de Sant Roc.
• Three sardanas, featuring the Cobla Ciutat de Granollers.
• Cucanya de la Plaça Nova.

6.00 pm Traditional Catalan Puppets.

7.00 pm Launch of the Globus del Capità Munyon.

7.15 pm Cucanya de la Plaça Nova.

10.00 pm “Va tocada” with Percúdium, on Avinguda de la Catedral.

10.15 pm 37th fire run, with the She-dragon of Barcelona, the Harrier of the Barri Gòtic and the devils of the Barri Gòtic.

10.45 pm Castle of fire, with Pirotècnia Estadella on Avinguda de la Catedral.

Other activities:

From 10 to 14 August, La Ruta del panellet, a proposal to go on a tour of the neighbourhood’s various shops and businesses and find some of Roc and Laia’s accessories. You can pick up a map to help you find these accessories at La Casa dels Entremesos (plaça de les Beates, 2).

From 13 to 17 August, Photography competition #432fmsantroc on Instagram, with images of this year’s festivities. Read the terms and conditions on the website: www.plnova.cat

The Sant Roc Festival will be following all the Covid-19 prevention measures, which means all activities will be taking place in enclosed spaces, with tickets required to enter the sites, social distancing and sign-posted routes. Face masks are mandatory and all attendees will have their temperature taken. The equipment for all activities will be disinfected on a regular basis, along with the public toilet facilities.