A month of trade fairs, traditional festivals, and numerous snow-related sporting events, in addition to Carnival-related events.
Photo courtesy of Fco. Javier Fdez. Bordonada-Chavinandez for Infopirineo
During the first weekend, numerous towns in the Lleida region, as well as ski resorts, celebrate Carnival with various events, including colorful and attractive streets.
In connection with Carnival, the traditional Rancho (Rancho) will take place in Ponts, Organyà, Coll de Nargó, Oliana, and Peramola. This free, communal feast is prepared through public funds and cooked in large cauldrons in full public view. In Isona, Guixa (Guixa), a type of stew made with bacon, noodles, rice, chickpeas, beans, squash, and more, will be held. And in Tremp, visitors can participate in the traditional stew. Continuing with gastronomy, we must mention the Pintxo Pote (Pintxo Pote) in Vielha and Bossòst, the "Black Truffle Cuisine" Gastronomic Exhibition, the Porcpassió Gastronomic Exhibition in Lleida, and the Pallars Wine and Cheese Exhibition in Sort.
Of the fairs held in March, the San José Fair is the most renowned, serving as a meeting point and reference point for the agricultural and livestock sectors. The Mollerussa event celebrates its 142nd edition with several new features. The Motor Show will have its own identity and will last five days (from March 19 to 23), one day longer than the fair itself. In addition, a precision agriculture demonstration day will be held, and, once again this year, the show will promote Lleida products with the Lleida Provincial Council's "Food, Territory, and You" space.
Lleida will host Fira Natura, dedicated to the environment and quality of life, and Lleida Expo Tren, a fair focused on leisure and model railways with the participation of national and international exhibitors. Balaguer will host the Cava Bottle Cap and Collecting Fair. Solsona will host the Potato and Truffle Fair, with a display, tasting, and sale of potatoes and truffles, as well as an exhibition of antique and modern tools and machinery. Those interested in learning more about the oil and stone production processes can visit Vinaixa to enjoy the Oil and Stone Fair, which also offers stands with machinery, vehicles, and artisanal products. Additionally, L'Albi hosts the Olive Oil Festival.
As for traditional festivals, the Water Festival in Almacelles stands out, commemorating the arrival of water from the Aragon and Catalonia Canal on March 2, 1910, with various activities and a spectacular parade of decorated floats. The Cazolada de San José (Saint Joseph's Cazolada) in Albesa is also a highlight. Also of interest are the season opener at the Universe Observation Center in Àger, Lake Day at the lake in Ivars and Vila-sana, the "Músicas dispersas" Festival in Lleida, the start of performances of La Pasión de Cervera, and the Tàrrega Sona 2014 series, which brings together some thirty groups and soloists performing in concert, spanning styles such as pop-rock, fusion, jazz, electronica, and classical, among others, until the summer.
In terms of sports, there are numerous snow-related competitions held in the Lleida Pyrenees, such as the Friends of Montgarri alpine skiing event in Beret, the Arp March in Tuixent-La Vansa, the Alt Pallars-Certascan ski mountaineering race and the 1st Tavascan Open ski mountaineering event in Tavascan, the Jesús Serra Foundation Trophy in Baqueira Beret, the Bassiero Ski Mountaineering Traverse in Baqueira, the Catalan Snowshoe Cup at Boí Taüll Resort, the Catalan Alpine Championships in Espot Esquí, the Spanish Dog Sledding Championship in Plan de Beret, the Espot Tamarro Race in Espot Esquí and the Naut Aran March in Plan de Beret.
Other interesting and crowded sporting activities include the Mollerussa City Cross Country, the Urgell Walk, the Segarra Castles March, the Almatret and Seròs mountain bike rides, the Flamicell Olympics in La Pobla de Segur, the Cervera Winter Mountain Bike Race, and the Firefighters Race in Lleida.
- Every Saturday and Sunday: Guided visits to the monastery of Santa Maria de Gualter in La Baronia de Rialb (la Noguera). Tel. 973 46 02 34
- Every Saturday and Sunday: Guided tours of the new town of Tiurana (La Noguera). Tel. 973 05 60 46
- Every Saturday and Sunday: Guided tours of the Collegiate Church of Sant Pere de Ponts (La Noguera). Tel. 973 46 22 33
- Every Saturday and Sunday: Guided tour of Solsona's historic center (Solsonès). Tel. 973 48 23 10
- Every Tuesday of the year: Pintxo Pote Vielha (Val d'Aran). Tel. 973 64 00 18
- Every Thursday of the year: Pintxo Pote Bossòst (Val d'Aran). Tel. 973 64 81 57
- Until the 30th: Exhibition commemorating the 90th anniversary of the arrival of the La Pobla Train, in the Balaguer Town Hall exhibition hall (La Noguera). Tel. 973 44 52 00
- Until the 31st: 5th Gastronomic Exhibition "Black Truffle Cuisine" in La Baronia de Rialb, Ponts and Tiurana (Noguera) and in Bassella, Oliana and Peramola (Alt Urgell). Tel. 973 05 60 34
- Day 1: “Let's Release the Cattle” nature trail from Llessui (Pallars Sobirà). Tel. 973 62 18 03
- Day 1: Dry-stone route from the village of Les Ventoses (La Noguera). Tel. 650 06 83 08
- Day 1: Season opener at the Center for the Observation of the Universe (COU) in Àger (La Noguera). Tel. 973 45 58 46
- Day 1: Great Carnival Rúa in Bellver de Cerdanya (la Cerdanya). Tel. 973 51 00 16
- Day 1: Carnival in Bossòst (Val d'Aran). Tel. 973 64 51 97 / 973 64 01 10
- Day 1: Carnival in La Pobla de Segur (the Pallars Jussà). Tel. 973 68 00 38
- Day 1: Carnival in Tremp (the Pallars Jussà). Tel. 973 65 00 05
- Day 1: Carnival celebration, with costume skiing and photo ops in Baqueira Beret (Val d'Aran). Tel. 973 63 90 44
- Day 1: “Discover the Starlight of the Nerets.” Eno-astronomical tasting at the Celler Vila-Corona in Vilamitjana (the Pallars Jussà). Tel. 973 65 26 38
- Days 1 and 2: Carnival in Martinet (Cerdanya). Tel. 973 51 50 12
- Days 1 and 2: XVII Amics de Montgarri, alpine ski competition in Beret (Val d'Aran). Tel. 973 64 20 57
- Days 1 and 2: Carnival and Maximum FM Skiing at Boí Taüll Resort (Alta Ribagorça). Tel. 973 69 62 64
- Days 1 and 2: Carnival Party in Espot Esquí and Port Ainé (the Pallars Sobirà). Tel. 973 62 40 58 / 973 62 76 07
- From 1 to 4: Carnival and passa dance in Àreu, Espot, Esterri d'Àneu, Gerri de la Sal, Lladorre, Llavorsí, Rialp, Ribera de Cardós and Sort (the Pallars Sobirà). Tel. 973 62 10 02
- From 1 to 5: Solsona Carnival (the Solsonès). Tel. 973 48 23 10
- Day 2: XXIII Arp March in Tuixent-La Vansa (Alt Urgell). Tel. 973 35 31 12
- Day 2: XXV Alt Pallars-Certascan ski mountaineering race and I Open Tavascan ski mountaineering race in the Tavascan resort (the Pallars Sobirà). Tel. 973 62 30 79
- Day 2: Sant Jordi Hill Climb Race in Camarasa (La Noguera). Tel. 973 42 00 09
- Day 3: Carnival Ranch in Organyà (Alt Urgell). Tel. 973 38 30 07
- Day 4: La Guixa in Isona (the Pallars Jussà). Tel. 973 66 40 08
- Day 4: Ranch and Market for food and crafts in Ponts (La Noguera). Tel. 973 46 22 33 / 973 46 00 03
- Day 4: Ranch in Coll de Nargó, Oliana and Peramola (Alt Urgell). Tel. 973 35 31 12
- Day 4: Popular stew in Tremp (the Pallars Jussà). Tel. 973 65 00 05
- Day 4: III Sample of Wines and Cheeses from Pallars in Sort (the Pallars Sobirà). Tel. 973 62 00 10
- Day 4: Pig slaughter at Artesa de Segre (La Noguera). Tel. 973 40 00 13
- Day 4: “Retroesquiada” Carnival in Baqueira Beret (Val d'Aran). Tel. 973 63 90 44
- Day 8: Snowshoe excursions "Let's Walk in the Snow" from Espot (Pallars Sobirà) and Boí (Alta Ribagorça). Tel. 973 62 40 36 / 973 69 61 89
- Day 8: Walking through the region. “Sant Gervàs Castle” from Tremp (the Pallars Jussà). Tel. 973 65 00 05
- Day 8: Carnival parade and dance in Balaguer (La Noguera). Tel. 973 44 52 00
- Days 8 and 9: 6th Jesús Serra Foundation Trophy in Baqueira Beret (Val d'Aran). Tel. 973 63 90 25
- Day 9: Guided tours. Departure on Sangonelles snowshoes from the Tuixent-La Vansa ski resort (Alt Urgell). Tel. 973 35 31 12 / 973 35 15 11
- Day 9: 9th Cava Bottle Cap and Collecting Meeting in Balaguer (La Noguera). Tel. 973 44 66 06
- Day 15: “Let's Release the Cattle” nature trail from Llessui (Pallars Sobirà). Tel. 973 62 18 03
- Day 15: Snowboard festival in Port Ainé (the Pallars Sobirà). Tel. 973 62 76 07
- Day 15: XXXII Flamicell Olympiad in La Pobla de Segur (the Pallars Jussà). Tel. 973 68 00 38
- Day 15: San José Cazolada (Saint Joseph's Cazolada) in Albesa (La Noguera). Tel. 973 18 60 07
- 15th and 16th: 10th Potato and Truffle Fair in Solsona (Solsonès). Tel. 973 48 20 03 / 973 48 23 10
- Days 15 and 16: Yoga and mountaineering at Boí Taüll Resort (Alta Ribagorça). Tel. 973 69 62 64
- Day 16: Guided tours. “Adraén-Montan de Tost” hiking tour from Adraén (Alt Urgell). Tel. 973 35 31 12 / 973 35 15 11
- Day 16: 50th Bassiero Ski Tour in Baqueira (Val d'Aran). Tel. 973 63 90 25
- Day 16: II Ferris Wheel Race in Torrelameu (la Noguera). Tel. 973 19 02 67
- From the 21st to the 23rd: Base Jumping Evolution Meeting and Catalan Snowshoe Cup at Boí Taüll Resort (Alta Ribagorça). Tel. 973 69 62 64
- From the 21st to the 23rd: Catalonia Alpine Absolute Championship in Espot Esquí (the Pallars Sobirà). Tel. 973 62 40 58
- Day 22: Snowshoe excursions "Let's Walk in the Snow" from Espot (Pallars Sobirà) and Boí (Alta Ribagorça). Tel. 973 62 40 36 / 973 69 61 89
- Day 22: Hiking through the region. "Mont-rebei and the new footbridge" from Tremp (Pallars Jussà). Tel. 973 65 00 05
- 22nd and 23rd: Spanish Dog Sledding Championships in Plan de Beret (Val d'Aran). Tel. 973 63 90 25
- Day 23: Pig slaughter in Montgai (La Noguera). Tel. 973 43 00 05
- Day 29: “Let's Release the Cattle” nature trail from Llessui (Pallars Sobirà). Tel. 973 62 18 03
- Day 29: VI Espot Tamarro Race in Espot Esquí (the Pallars Sobirà). Tel. 973 62 40 58
- Days 29 and 30: Freeski experience at Boí Taüll Resort (Alta Ribagorça). Tel. 973 69 62 64
- Day 30: Naut Aran hike in the Plan de Beret (Val d'Aran). Tel. 973 64 20 57
- Day 30: Nordic walking tour in Tiurana (La Noguera). Tel. 973 05 60 46
Fountain::
Ara Lleida Bulletin for Chus Castillo
Property Images:
Photo courtesy of Fco. Javier Fdez. Bordonada-Chavinandez for Infopirineo