Vila-seca celebrates the Winter Festival around January 17th, in honor of Sant Antoni Abat, patron saint of Vila-seca.

The most prominent event of the festivities is the Body of Saint AnthonyGalloping horse races, declared a Traditional Festive Element of National Interest, are one of the most important professional events in Catalonia and the Spanish State.

Around 10.000 people come to the Equestrian Circuit in the Torre d'en Dolça Park every year to watch this competition. The current races have their origins in the games and races that were organised after the blessing of the cattle on the day of Sant Antoni Abat. A proclamation from 1876 is the first written record of its celebration.

During the Winter Festival, other events that are deeply rooted in the municipality also take place, such as the Three Tombs, the parade of the Traditional Procession and the Fire Festival, the Festa Majo danceslaugh at them live music concerts, as well as several family shows, which complete the program of events.

During the Festa Major, the cultural entities of Vila-seca actively participate: the Vila-seca Devils' Dance; the Vila-seca Children's Devils' Dance; the Vila-seca Winged Horse; the Cobla dels Ministrers del Comú, the Colla Gegantera, with the figures of Ton i la Pineda, Galceran de Pinós and la Donzella i el Tonet; the Esbart Dansaire Ramon d'Olzina, with the Ball de Bastons, Gitanes de Vila-seca, Cercolets de Vila-seca and Valencians de Vila-seca; the Grallers; the Trabucaires del Comú and the Xiquets de Vila-seca.

The Winged Horse was incorporated in 2019 during the Winter Festival as a new element of the popular procession. The element, weighing 40 kilos and 1,7 meters high, was designed and built by the sculptor and iron craftsman from Vila-Sec, Antoni Mas.

After the Christmas festivities, well into February, Vila-seca welcomes Carnestoltes, the king of Carnival.

Organized by the Vila-seca Carnival Committee, this is one of the most fun festivals of the year where it is not uncommon to see pirates, clowns, witches or unicorns in the streets. Young and old alike take to the streets dressed up as their favorite characters or objects.

Carnival events begin on Shrove Tuesday. The central axis of this celebration is the spectacular Carnival Parade and the presentation of the award for the best poster and the gold, silver and bronze prizes for the best costumes.

On the last day, after the funeral procession, Carnival bids farewell with a sardine feast and a popular chocolate party, during what is known as the Burial of the Sardine.

As April 23rd approaches, Vila-seca prepares to welcome St. George's Day with a full program of family activities. Highlights include stories, workshops, crafts and games about the legend of St. George.

During Saint George's Day, you can enjoy street exhibitions, competitions, storytelling, poetry readings and children's activities; not forgetting the traditional book and rose stalls in Plaça de l'Església and Plaça de Voltes.

For a few years now, the Vila-seca City Council, in collaboration with the Tarragona and Reus Schools of Art and Design, has promoted the urban project "Efímera. Art al carrer", which converts the streets of the Historic Center of Vila-seca into a cultural space where books and artistic creation go hand in hand.

Vila-seca, La Pineda Platja celebrates its Summer Festival around July 25th (Sant Jaume) and August 3rd (La Invenció del Cos de Sant Esteve). The streets and squares of the municipality are filled with music, joy and traditions in a festival designed to get out and enjoy with friends and family.

The festival of Sant Jaume in La Pineda hosts a wide variety of events aimed at all audiences, with special attention to the little ones in the house and where the large Fireworks Castle that can be seen along the beach of La Pineda also stands out. Then the festival moves to Vila-seca where several events are organized in honor of Sant Esteve, patron saint of Vila-seca and who is commemorated on August 3. Family shows are an important part of the festivities. So are the more traditional events, where culture, music and tradition are mixed.

During the Festa Major, the cultural entities of Vila-seca actively participate: the Vila-seca Devils' Dance; the Vila-seca Children's Devils' Dance; the Vila-seca Winged Horse; the Cobla dels Ministrers del Comú, the Colla Gegantera, with the figures of Ton i la Pineda, Galceran de Pinós and la Donzella i el Tonet; the Esbart Dansaire Ramon d'Olzina, with the Ball de Bastons, Gitanes de Vila-seca, Cercolets de Vila-seca and Valencians de Vila-seca; the Grallers; the Trabucaires del Comú and the Xiquets de Vila-seca.

In 2019, during the Winter Festival, the “Winged Horse”, a new element of the popular procession, was incorporated into the festival. The element, weighing 40 kilos and 1,7 meters high, was designed and built by the sculptor and iron craftsman from Vila-Sec, Antoni Mas.

With a clear commitment to culture and cinema, Vila-seca hosts the Vila-seca International Short Film Festival (FICVI).

This is a free film festival open to everyone that aims to disseminate and promote the art of cinema and bring it closer to all audiences. By organizing this exhibition, the Vila-seca Municipal Tourism Board wants to promote culture, cinema and new directors who work in the small format.

The FICVI started 2016 with a remarkable success of participation that has been growing edition after edition. Short films and directors from different countries around the world, of high quality and with a great international track record, participate. A jury of experts is in charge of awarding the festival prizes, which in total have a value of almost 10.000 euros.

The festival also includes a competition section called In Situ, through which Vila-seca becomes a large film set, as the objective is to create unpublished audiovisual pieces on the streets of the municipality.

 
The FICVI is also a tool to bring culture and cinema closer to the little ones. Students from Vila-seca schools and families enjoy different screenings of short films. In addition, during the FICVI, master classes related to the world of cinema are also scheduled by prominent professionals in the sector.

La Pineda beach, in Vila-seca, hosts the traditional Sand Nativity Scene every year between December and January. A spectacular set of sculptures made with sand allow the monumental nativity scene to be erected in the Parc del Pinar de Perruquet.

Several international artists shape the sand to obtain a unique and different sculptural group year after year, achieving a surprising result for visitors that is only revealed as the sculptures rise.

The imposing sculptures occupy a surface area of ​​about 200m2. Almost 300m3 of sand are used to erect them, which means working with 400 tons of sand to recreate these nativity scenes.

The Pessebre de Sorra has been organized since 2000. At the same time, various family activities with a Christmas theme are carried out so that young and old can enjoy this Vila-secana tradition.

During the second half of December and until January 6, Vila-seca hosts its Christmas festivities and does so with a very varied program that allows for the participation of all citizens.

There is room for both adults and children, whether attending the different concerts, Christmas markets or popular meals with the Traditional Brou, or enjoying the different attractions and workshops in the Christmas children's park.

During the morning of the last day of the year, the traditional Bany de Sant Silvestre takes place on the beach of La Pineda and, in the afternoon, Giants and Grallers They go to look for the Man of Noses at the Vila-seca train station, who, after the parade, gives a speech full of excitement and enthusiasm from the balcony of the Town Hall.

However, on January 5, the most awaited day for the children of the town, Their Majesties the Three Wise Men of the East are welcomed to the Castle of Vila-seca with a light and music show. There, after performing the Adoration of the Child Jesus, Their Majesties are received by the authorities, who are responsible for handing over the keys to the town.

Thus, Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar are the protagonists of the long-awaited Cavalcada dels Reys that runs through the streets of Vila-seca, La Pineda Platja and La Plana. They do it on horseback, delivering gifts to the little ones house by house, a tradition that would not be possible without the work of the Vila-seca Reyes Association.