Fiesta del Agua - Romería de San Roque
San RoqueVilagarcía (Santa Baia)36600 Vilagarcía de ArousaPontevedra
This festival takes place on 16 August to celebrate the feast of San Roque (‘Saint Roch’). It has a secular tradition and a procession in which the saint is carried from the parish church to its chapel. At first it was merely religious, but when some percussion bands from Pamplona were participating in 1978, a heat wave made the neighbours throw water to the people who were taking part. Since then, devotion, prayer and respect share the event with fun and spontaneity. The number of visitors has grown over the years and it was declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in 2006.
Services
- Baños públicos: Sí
- Information point: Sí
- Puesto de la Cruz Roja: Sí
Activities
- Actividad: para familias, para niños
Customer service
- Idioma: Castellano, Gallego, Inglés, Francés
Features
Origin and history It originated as a result of a very hot day in which the people participating in the procession of San Roque asked the neighbours for water. This happened again in the following years, and an unofficial event began to take shape in the town. In the early nineties it reached such a large number of visitors that the Council decided to turn it into an official festival.Responsible body Council of Vilagarcía de Arousa
Itineraries and main events during its celebration At 11.45 on the morning of 16 August, San Roque is transported from the parish church of Santa Eulalia to its original chapel in a procession in which thousands of people march. After a speech is read there at about 12.00, the festival of water begins. Several wet areas are established in the centre of Vilagarcía, although the main event takes place in a square, Plaza de Galicia, and the surrounding area.
- Descripción del entorno: Urban
- Declaration of tourist interest: National
Access
- Accesos a pie: Sí
- ¿Existe transporte público para acceder al recurso?: Sí
- Accesos para vehículos privados: Sí