The Sant Bartomeu Annual Festival is just around the corner, and as tradition dictates, the first major event of the intense days ahead will be the Opening Speech, set for Monday, August 19th, at 10:00 PM in the Town Hall Square. Alba Gràcia Pañella will have the honor of delivering a speech that signals the start of the most intense and solemn days of Sant Bartomeu.

Before that, though, the weekend will be filled with music to set the tone for the days ahead. The free "Barraques" concerts, once again at La Fragata, start today at 8:30 PM, featuring Lágrimas de Sangre, El Pony Pisador, Masta Quba, Sr. Fong, and PD Marla. Also tonight, at 10:00 PM at El Retiro, the Maricel and Jovenívola de Sabadell coblas will perform as part of the 40th "Nit de la Sardana."

"Barraques" continues its program on Saturday at 7:00 PM at La Fragata with performances by Auxili, O-Erra, Esther, Greska, Els Atrapasomnis, and Mon DJ. The 2024 edition of "Barraques" will conclude on Sunday with performances by Josetxu Piperrak, Ebri Knight, Miquel del Roig, Alidé Sans, and DJ Ceba, starting at 8:30 PM at La Fragata.

However, Sunday also features one of its highlights: the concert "La processó: ¡el so de la festa!" This project will bring together the Camerata Eduard Toldrà, the Cobla Maricel, and the Grallers Marcets on the stage of the Casino Prado. These three groups will be conducted by Xavier Pagès-Corella, who has created a show inspired by the most recognizable sounds of the Sant Bartomeu Annual Festival. Director and composer Xavier Pagès-Corella first premiered the piece "La processó" in 2012, but it has never been performed in Sitges until now, where it will be accompanied by other well-known compositions. Some tickets are still available at www.culturasitges.cat.

Monday's Opening Speech marks the beginning of the official events of the 2024 Sant Bartomeu Annual Festival, with Alba Gràcia Pañella taking center stage at 10:00 PM in the Town Hall Square. Alba Gràcia is a person deeply connected to the Sant Bartomeu Annual Festival and many cultural activities in Sitges, which promises an extraordinary Opening Speech, to be broadcast live on Canal Blau – Maricel TV and Radio Maricel.

You can find all the information about the Sant Bartomeu Annual Festival at www.sitgesfestamajor.cat.