Encamp's Festa del Poble Thrives Amid Heat with Dances and Sold-Out Paella

Encamp's Festa del Poble drew strong crowds on its second day Saturday, with the "Encamp de Gresca" dance performance captivating participants despite high temperatures, as local authorities handed out fans to those attending.

At midday in Plaça dels Arínsols, Esbart Sant Romà opened with four dances this year, up from the usual three in prior editions. The youth section performed first, followed by the main group, then authorities led by Cònsol Major Laura Mas and Tourism and Commerce Minister Jordi Torres, and finally an open call for public involvement. Other officials, including Culture councillor Joan Sans—a dancer with the group—Nino Marot, Marta Pujol, and Cònsol Menor Xavi Fernández, joined in. Sans described the event's rising popularity for the pre-pandemic song by Lluís Cartes and Josep Dalleres. "Every year more people join, from all ages, and they're starting to know the choreography well, which makes us very happy," he said. He praised the youth section's second straight appearance and the group's robust young membership, noting their busy summer schedule including the Jambo event.

The dances led into a vermouth session and a popular paella lunch, where all 500 tickets at €2 sold out quickly. Evening entertainment featured Lenny Jay's "This is Michael" tribute concert at Prat Gran car park, anticipated to pull in visitors from across the parish.

Friday's launch proceeded smoothly, starting with a youth commission parade called "Mulla’t de Festa" through main streets from Plaça dels Arínsols, accompanied by Ho peta Street Band. It preceded a brotherhood dinner in the renovated congress hall at Complex Esportiu i Sociocultural. Catalan acts Suu and Triquell took the Prat Gran stage later, closing with DJ sets.

Heat measures included fan distribution during the dances. Protection Civil activated a pre-alert after Saturday's orange weather warning for high temperatures from Sunday to Tuesday. Sans said no programme changes were expected if conditions stayed similar to last year, with daytime events kept relaxed—especially for seniors—shifting to cooler nighttime concerts like havaneres, sardanes, and the Sunday 20th-anniversary Búhos tour at Prat de l'Areny, linking into Sant Joan eve. "Daytime activities in peak sun are low-key, particularly for older people, and night concerts benefit from more pleasant temperatures," Sans added. The festivities run through Monday.