At the end of June, Reus hands its old town over to noise and smoke. The centrepiece is the tronada, a deafening run of gunpowder charges that rattles the Plaça del Mercadal and leaves the air thick with powder. Around it moves the seguici festiu: towering gegants swaying through the streets, drums, and the strange beasts and dancers that have marked the patron saint's day here for generations.
It's a street party rather than a ticketed event, so wander in. Mornings tend towards vermut concerts in the squares, a glass of something bitter and red in hand, while evenings build to fireworks. The 2026 edition carries extra weight, marking 400 years since Sant Pere's relic reached the city. Go early to claim a spot, and don't stand too close to the tronada unless you fancy ringing ears.
