WHAT TO DO?

EVENTS

JANUARY

Procession of the Three Kings

As is traditional in Palamós, the Three Kings arrive by sea from the east. They land at the port’s old quay where they are officially welcomed and hot chocolate is available to the public. Shortly afterwards, the traditional procession of royal carriages follows an extensive route around the streets, ending in the centre of the town where children, with their paper lanterns and excitement, can meet the Three Kings more closely.

International OptimistTrophy

The Palamós Optimist Trophy has become a regatta of global importance. Some 600 boats from all over the world usually take part, making this the second largest competition in the world in its category by participation, exceeded only by the one held on Lake Garda in Italy.

FEBRER – MARÇ

Carnival

Carnival is one of the most important winter festivals in Palamós and was one of the first carnivals on the Costa Brava. The weekend of carnival comprises the Gran Rua on Saturday afternoon, the Ball de Disfresses costume dance on Saturday night and the exhibition of groups in costumes on Sunday. Carnival also takes over the streets in Palamós with decorations in the shops and parades such as the Vesprà on the first evening and the Despertà in the morning.

EASTER SUNDAY

The first swim of the year

This is the symbolic start of the swimming season in Palamós. This lively thronged activity is always celebrated on Easter Sunday on Palamós’s Platja Gran. The participants are the true stars of the day when the first dip of the summer takes place. Before entering the water there are a few minutes of exercise, and when the swimmers come out, they are welcomed with a comforting cup of hot broth.

APRIL AND MAY

Vermouth campaign

Palamós welcomes the spring with the campaign “This spring have a vermouth in Palamós! We are waiting for you!”

This plan is intended to encourage people to walk around the town and enjoy its streets in April and May, but as well as the shopping atmosphere, bars, taverns and restaurants also have offers for a vermouth at lunchtime at weekends. At the same time, on Sunday mornings live music livens up the town’s squares and shopping streets with fixed and itinerant two- and three-pieces providing musical accompaniment to the campaign. The council also organises other entertainment activities such as the first swim of the year, the Rally Costa Brava Històric and the Terra de Mar festival.

APRIL

Rally Costa Brava Historical

The Rally Costa Brava Històric was launched in Palamós in 2017.

The town council and the event’s organiser Rally Classics agreed that Palamós would be the administrative base for future editions of this highly prestigious motoring competition, which is at the forefront of the country’s regularity contests for classic cars.

The Rally Costa Brava Historical takes place in late April and counts towards the “FIA Trophy for Historic Regularity Rallies”, the European championship in this speciality, which attracts the world’s leading specialists.

Its base is at the Hotel Trias, and the technical checks take place at Palamós marina. The route is around 1,000 km in length and starts on the podium on the promenade of Palamós.

Sant Jordi

Palamós celebrates Saint George’s day with a variety of street events. The continuous readings in various spaces in the town are especially noteworthy. The Carrer Major is filled with stalls selling books and roses all through the day. In the afternoon there is sardana dancing.

MAY

Floral Sant Joan:

In early May in the neighbourhood of Sant Joan it is traditional to decorate the streets with a beautiful exhibition of brightly coloured flowers. These release an unmistakable scent of spring that fills the neighbourhood with joy and provides a wonderful backdrop for the entertainment that is organised and the artisanal fair which is also one of the activities arranged.

Palamós, Land of the Sea “Palamós, Terra de Mar”

Palamós, Land of the Sea is a sea-themed weekend held annually when vintage boats and traditional vessels are the main focus of a programme packed with activities not just relating to traditional sailing but also with the sea in general. The programme includes visits to boats, cookery workshops and children’s workshops among other events. An encounter with the sea in an unforgettable festive setting.

JUNE – JULY – AUGUST

Sardana Events

The Costa Brava de Palamós sardana group offers a full calendar of sardanes throughout the year. During the summer it intensifies its activity, organising a series of events that have established themselves as reference points in the summer in Palamós.

Groups competition (June)

Sardana gathering (July)

Costa Brava sardanes concert (August)

JUNE

Prawn Fair (Fira de la Gamba)

The prawn fair (Fira de la gamba) takes place in June, normally on the second Saturday. It started with the aim of publicising the Gamba de Palamós guarantee mark and encouraging the consumption of prawns by showing different ways to cook and eat them. The fair takes place in the fish market, and companies with the certified quality guarantee take part: The Palamós Fishermen’s Guild (Confraria de Pescadors de Palamós), Palamós Market (Llotja de Palamós), the Fish Space (Espai del Peix), Fish Market (Mercat del Peix de Palamós), and other companies and suppliers, including local restaurants.

Sea and mountain march

The “Marxa Popular Mar i Muntanya Vila de Palamós” walk takes place in mid-June every year in Palamós, and has always been marked by routes of great scenic beauty. La Fosca, Castell and the narrow trails, woodland and coastline of this setting, make this walk a real treat for the senses.

Giants’ gathering:

On the middle Sunday in June, a gathering of giants featuring groups from other municipalities with a display of giants and a parade has been traditional since 1994.

The first night of summer with the Fishing Museum (21 June)

Every year on 21 June the Fishing Museum, in collaboration of the Front al Mar association, celebrates the first night of summer in Palamós with the traditional singing of habaneras by the Port Bo group, launching the summer programme of the Fishing Museum and the Fish Space.

THE SANT JOAN TOWN FESTIVAL AND DANCE (23 to 26 June)

Palamós’s festa major celebrating its patron saint is held on Saint John’s day, coinciding with the magical moment of the start of the summer. On these dates, the town is filled with life, music and tradition.

Palamós provides a wide variety of planned events and invites everyone to enjoy the fair, the celebrations of the previous evening and other established events such as the display of giants, concerts in the young people’s area with its marquees, sardana dancing, the celebration of the first night of summer with habaneras and ending with fireworks at Platja Gran in Palamós, among many other events.

JULY

FESTIVAL OF THE VIRGIN CARMEN (15 and 16 July)

The celebration of the festival of the Our Lady Carmen Festival, the patron saint of seafarers, takes place over two days. The night before the festivities, there is a great dance on the Llotja esplanade. The next day, a solemn mass is held in honour of this venerated patron. Then the procession takes place, accompanied by the giant puppets and the Grallers de Palamós musicians to carry the Virgin to the boat. To finish and as the central event, there is a maritime procession with the whole Palamós fishing fleet led by the boat carrying the image of the Virgin and followed by all types of vessels to escort her on her journey around the bay.

AUGUST

The festival of the neighbourhood of Sant Joan

The festival of the neighbourhood of Sant Joan in Palamós traditionally takes place on the first weekend in August every year, organised by the Association of Residents of Sant Joan, with the collaboration of the Agrupació Sardanista Costa Brava, the Colla Gegantera giants’ group and the Grallers de Palamós musical ensemble.

All through the weekend of the Festa Major, there are a variety of activities such as a popular dinner, concert and dance in the square, a classic car rally, children’s shows, foam party and sardana dancing, providing fun and entertainment for the people of Palamós and visitors alike.

Catalan Habanera Concert

Since 1980, Palamós has hosted the traditional and popular Catalan habanera concert in the municipal Arbreda in mid-August every year. It is a genuine habanera concert of exclusive character, in which the most outstanding characteristic is that the songs are sung solely in the Catalan tongue. The acoustic properties of the Arbreda where the concert is always held and the silence during the performances by the groups that take part make the habanera concert a unique event in the field of this musical style. Due to this silence, over the years, the participating groups themselves have called the Arbreda the “Habanera Palace”.

SETEMBRE

Diada Nacional de Catalunya

Palamós organitza els actes festius i institucionals per celebrar la Diada Nacional de Catalunya. El programa d’actes oficials de la Diada Nacional consisteix normalment en concerts, cercavila i ball de gegants, hissada de la senyera, ofrena floral, cantada de corals, ballada de sardanes, lectura del manifest institucional que finalitza amb el cant l’Himne Nacional de Catalunya ‘Els Segadors’, que tanca l’acte institucional.

FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER

ONADAnce, Autumn Dance Festival

The ONADAnce Festival is the continuation of Palamós Summer Dance which was launched in 2003. In 2019 it was moved and reinvented as the new Autumn Dance Festival, running from late September to late December.

Its aim is to promote contemporary dance and local heritage, based on three different but complementary aspects of this discipline: publicising, training and creation. It does this through professional shows and performances in unique and charming spaces in Palamós that are of historic value.

ONADAnce is organised by the Culture Area of Palamós Council with the artistic direction of CobosMika Company.

OCTOBER

Palamós Gastronòmic

A month of gastronomy and culture under the name of Palamós Gastronòmic. This includes various days celebrating the gastronomy of the town of Palamós from all of its areas for families to discover its full offer, enjoy local products and experience cooking with the best chefs. During Palamós Gastronòmic, restaurants and taverns invite you to follow the tapas or small dishes route, where customers can choose the best tapa or small dish with their votes and comments. This variety of gastronomic activities is also combined with entertainment and cultural activities.

La Castanyada

On the eve of All Saints’ Day, it is traditional to celebrate the Castanyada. This is a popular autumn festival with workshops, singing, dancing and, above all, roasted chestnuts. The tradition of the Castanyada comes from the old practice of tolling funeral bells on the eve of All Saints’ Day. Friends and relatives would have to help the bell-ringers with their task and all of them ate chestnuts, traditional panellet cakes and sweet potatoes to keep their strength up. The festival has now become a celebration announcing the coming of autumn and cold weather. Together with the Fefe i Companyia group, Palamós brought back the celebration of the traditional Castanyada festival for children a few years ago. Some organisations in the town have started arranging a variety of events surrounding the festival.

NOVEMBER

Turning on the Christmas Lights:

Every year before the public holiday weekend for the Immaculate Conception, Palamós switches on its Christmas lights. A festive event with children’s entertainment is organised, where the children present are responsible for turning on the lights decorating the town’s streets. This event marks the start of the Christmas campaign in Palamós.

DESEMBRE

Christmas Race

Every year during December Palamós hosts the traditional Christmas Race regatta of Olympic classes organised by Club de Vela Palamós. This sailing competition is part of the Eurolymp Sailing Circuit (for Olympic class regattas). Palamós’s bay dresses up to host this event with recognised international sailors.

FESTIVALS

Concerts are held every Friday in July at 22:30 in different locations in Palamós. There is a children’s rumba one Saturday at 18:30.

Festival Rumb(A)Palamós is the Costa Brava’s first Catalan rumba festival. It was launched in 2014 by the Heritage and Tourism Area of Palamós Council, to celebrate popular and traditional music in the Catalan rumba genre.

It features a programme of four to six free concerts by renowned, quality figures from the world of Catalan rumba in different locations in Palamós. There is also a Catalan rumba workshop dedicated to the most important secrets of the genre and a family concert.

Many groups have appeared on the stages of Rumb(A)Palamós in previous editions, including Tony Cayena, Banana Beach, La Troba Kung-Fú, 9son, Gertrudis, Sabor de Gràcia, Arrels de Gràcia, Los Manolos, Dijous paella, Maruja Limón, Bemba Saoco and Landry i la fm.

https://www.rumbapalamos.com

AMB SO DE COBLA

Early August

Amb So de Cobla, the only cobla festival in Catalonia, was launched in 2017 with the objective of expressing the genuine sound of cobla music beyond the conventional forms we knew until then.

It is based on three main focusses: publicising cobla through its programme of concerts, which are not just in Palamós; producing a new show and various pieces created to be premièred at the festival; and professional training from a variety of leading cobla performers who provide a master class. The aim of appealing to new audiences was achieved by celebrating popular music and its fusion with a new range of instruments that result in new harmonies and a reinterpretation of cobla that mixes tradition and innovation.

Numerous groups have appeared on the stages of Amb So de Cobla in previous editions, including Cris Juanico Rock i Cobla, Los Gazpacho with the Cobla Bisbal jove, Jordi Molina, Kepa Junkera, The Cobla Sound Fanfare, Obeses with the Cobla Berga Jove and the Cor d’Obeses, Llibert Fortuny Electro Cobla Sound and Big Cat de Música Llatina.

The festival is promoted by the Agrupació Sardanista Costa Brava from Palamós and the General Directorate for Popular Culture and Cultural Associations of the Generalitat of Catalonia. It is managed by Palamós Council with the support of the Provincial Council of Girona and the collaboration of the Confederació Sardanista de Catalunya.

http://ambsodecobla.cat

ONADAnce, Autumn Dance Festival

De setembre a desembre

From September to December

ONADAnce is organised by the Culture Area of Palamós Council with the artistic direction of CobosMika Company.

https://www.instagram.com/onadance/

https://lagorga.cat

HIKING – CYCLE TOURISM – MOUNTAIN BIKING

With almost 7.5km of coast, Palamós is a great place to enjoy the unbeatable coastal scenery that the authentic Costa Brava has to offer. Whether in winter or summer, the best option is to discover the secrets of Palamós’ coastal region on foot. Our walk starts at the splendid promenade and takes us along a path that skirts the coast to the Cala Estreta cove. The path runs past coves, beaches, remnants of Palamós’ past (the Iberian village of Castell) and the Castell-Cap Roig Area of Natural Interest – a veritable natural fortress, the like of which it is hard to find anywhere else along the Catalan coast. This relatively easy route along coastal paths and signposted footpaths is suitable for walkers and cyclists. The path connects with the Baix Empordà’s network of walks (370 km) and cycle paths (250 km), linking the coastal and inland areas of this spectacular region.

http://ca.wikiloc.com/geotourism/baix-emporda/palamos

SHOPPING

Palamós’s shopping offers local products and the welcoming character of the people of Palamós.

The range of shopping in Palamós is varied and is concentrated in the old town and the municipality’s various main arteries. Hundreds of shops with a marked Mediterranean character, both in their products and the friendly and welcoming shopkeepers, make Palamós a characterful, modern place to shop, with a wide range of products and services of the highest quality. Any visit to Palamós should include a walk around the old town and also the various markets (Municipal Market, Fish Market, Weekly Market), which are full of fresh produce brought straight from the fishing boats or harvested by expert hands in the area’s fields and market gardens.

Just stroll around the old town, dotted with shops, terraces and taverns where you can enjoy discovering the genuine and welcoming character of the people of Palamós.

FECOTUR (Association for Trade and Tourism Business Development in Palamós) www.fecotur.cat

FECOTUR

WINE TOURISM

Empordà, an area with an internationally renowned gastronomic culture, is a peaceful and unique region, in the perfect location to produce high-quality wines.

There are three wineries in Palamós that offer the quality standard of Empordà Designation of Origin (Denominación de Origen Empordà), as well as the opportunity to look around their facilities and taste some of the best wines in the region.

CELLER BRUGAROL

Camí de Bell-lloc s/n, 17230 Palamós, Girona.

www.brugarol.com

celler@brugarol.com

Tel.: +34 97 231 62 03 / +34 628 50 73 67

Activities:

Winery visits
Oil and wine tasting

This magnificent winery is located in valued native vineyards. It is built hidden underground beneath the vines. The underground chambers delve into the enigmas of the cellar, revealing the production of the wine and at the same time the play of lights and shadows created by the architecture of RCR. Brugarol sparkling wines, under the direction of the winemaker Roger Rius, have won various prizes and awards for their quality, craft and lack of additives. Wine tastings, business meetings and food and wine events are held in the cellar, where you can enjoy everything that Brugarol offers.

The cellar is worth visiting just for its impressive architecture. But it also offers the appeal of a tasting run by its guides who help visitors fully appreciate the characteristics virtues of its wines. Every day of the week, prior booking required.

Celler d’en Marc

Camí de Bell-lloc s/n, 17230 Palamós, Girona.

www.brugarol.com

celler@brugarol.com

Tel. +34 97 231 62 03 / +34 628 50 73 67

Activities:

Winery visits
Wine tasting

This estate has olive groves and 3.2 acres of vineyards, and is located next to the Gavarres nature reserve, 2 km from the fantastic beaches of the Costa Brava. The spectacular natural landscape of Baix Empordà is an area where many high-quality wines are produced. The climate and soil are ideal. The estate is located on an ancient riverbed, where a layer of soil one meter thick covers nothing more than stones. These conditions are ideal for growing grapes and draining excess water. The property has 3.2 acres of new vineyards on 4 different plots. In February 2013, 8,200 vines were planted. It is very important for the vines to develop well during their first year, when they only grow around 70 cm. The aim is to bring in the first grape harvest in 2015, and then to make wine from their own grapes. To produce the wine, they have built a top of the range winery and wine cellar, which will become operational in summer 2015. Aside from the vineyard, the estate also has 100 olive trees.

CELLER CAN SAIS

Paraje Raval de Dalt, 10,17253 Vall-llobrega, Girona

www.cellercansais.com

correu@cellercansais.com

Tel. +34 972 318 033

Activities:

Winery visits
Wine tasting

In Vall-llobrega just alongside Palamós there is another D.O Empordà winery which is also part of the wine route.

Celler Can Sais is a small family winery with a long winemaking tradition, and its origin dates back to the 17th century. It is now the oldest and the only one that remains in Vall-llobrega. It is located in the high part of the town, in the buildings of the old Masia de Can Sais farm in modest simple facilities where all of the wines are made.

In the last decade, the new generation of winemakers has followed a path towards making quality wines.

TOURIST ACTIVITIES COMPANIES

(Català)

A Palamós podreu trobar diverses empreses que us oferiran un ventall d’experiències d’oci, culturals, singulars, per descobrir el municipi, gaudir en família, en parella o en grups durant tot l’any.

Esports i aventures

Karting Palamós

Ctra. C31 de Girona a Palamos km 326,5

Palamós

659 45 57 14