Sant Magi Summer Festival

For nine days each August, Tarragona's old town gives itself over to its co-patron Sant Magi, and most of it spills straight onto the streets. You'll see castellers building their swaying human towers, the towering gegants lurching past on their rounds, and after dark the correfoc, where sparks rain down from devils and dragons and everyone with any sense wears a hood and old clothes. The oddest and oldest tradition is the Water-Bearers, who haul spring water down into the city — a nod to the saint and his hilltop spring.

Steel-drum-loud it is not, but the brass bands and grallas keep the Part Alta humming late. Almost everything happens out in the squares and you can simply turn up; pace yourself, because the locals certainly will.