Encamp's Festapa Returns Bigger with 15 Restaurants During June 19-23 Festa del Poble

Encamp's third Festapa gastronomic event will draw a record 15 local restaurants in a revamped format during the parish's Festa del Poble celebrations, now set for June 19 to 23.

Councillor for Finance, Sports and Economic Reactivation Nino Marot noted the event's growing popularity after early successes, with this edition shifting to Monday, June 22, from 6pm to 11pm at Plaça dels Arínsols. The change accommodates the packed schedule around Festa del Poble and Sant Joan eve while handling the larger number of participants. Attendees receive a gastronomic passport, earning a stamp per €2 tapa bought. Filling it from 10 venues qualifies entrants for a draw to win a menu at any participating restaurant. Restaurant awards have increased: €120 for the best-selling tapa, €200 for the jury's choice as most creative, and €300 for the public favourite.

The Festapa highlights a five-day Festa del Poble programme mixing music, traditions, sports, family events and culture across parish venues. It opens June 19 with a Brazilian-themed Mulla’t de Festa street parade at 7.30pm, leading to a popular dinner, concerts by SUU and Triquell, and sets by DJs Joan Casu, K-ZU, Tunyiix & Cassany. Saturday features water games, a padel tournament, Esbart Sant Romà's Encamp de Gresca, a vermouth gathering, rice meal at Plaça dels Arínsols, youth inter-parish competition, La Gran Bandida, Lenny Jay's 'This is Michael' tribute—praised by Michael Jackson's family as the top current show—at Prat Gran de l'Areny, and DJ Toni Peret. Sunday includes Buhos on their 20th anniversary tour, sports events, Crash Car display, sardana dancing, and Coral Sant Miquel's Spring Concert. Monday adds a botifarra contest and singles-versus-marrieds volleyball before Festapa. Councillor Joan Sans described the line-up as "very strong," designed to energise key spaces with intergenerational activities; illustrator Jordi Planellas's poster captures summer vibrancy.

Sant Joan eve on June 23 continues fire traditions, with Diables de les Corts performing before local fallaires light the bonfire at 10.45pm using the Canigó flame from Plaça del Consell General. Families enjoy lit falles, coca distribution and Band the Cool to close. The combined budget for Festa del Poble and Sant Joan remains around €250,000.

The parish council launches a responsible consumption campaign, "Fem que la festa sigui un espai segur per a tothom," across June events, placing awareness messages in activity zones to promote respect, coexistence and accountability.