In 1781 a tremendous hailstorm devastated the area around Vilanova and destroyed the many vineyards which at the time the main economic activity for the region. The vines of Vilanova were untouched and in thanks the people of Vilanova voted that the Festa Major should be dedicated to La Mare de les Neus (The Mother of God of the Snows).
Each year on August 5th the last act of the Festa Major, the “vot del poble” renews this vow.

The general rehearsal

Every year as the date of the Festa Major approaches the Agrupació de Balls Populars organises a general rehearsal with all the dancers and “entremesos”. During the rehearsal lots are drawn to determinate the order that the dancers will perform in “cercaviles”, or parades during the Festa Major.

The Cercaviles (or Parades)

Vilanova’s Festa Major has four parades, in which all of the dances are featured.

4th of August at 12 noon, all the dancers get together in Plaça de la Vila and after the opening speech and 12 mortars they dance in the square and then separate and dance off various places in the city. This is called “anar a les cases” (going to the houses) where the dancers dance outside, and sometimes inside the houses or bars of friends, who provide a drink and “tapas” or two. There is no route or definitive timetable for this “cercavila”, it is left to choise of each group.

4 th of August at 7 p.m., an official “Cercavila” called “la vigilia” (the vigil) which begins in the Plaça de les Casernes and finishes in the Plaça de la Vila, lasting approximately two hours.

5 th of August at 9 am, an official “Cercavila” called “anada a ofici” (going to mass). The dancers followed by the Mayor, City Councillors and Festa Organisers, dance from the Plaça de la Vila to Les Neus Church, in which a Mass is held in honour of “La Mare de Deu de les Neus”. After the service at 12 noon the “sortida d’ofici” (leaving mass) begins and dancers dance back to the Placa de la Vila.

5 th of August at 9 p.m., the “cercavila del vot del poble” the most spectacular of all of the parades during the Festa Major starting at the Plaça de la Vila and finishing at the top of the Rambla in front of the Parochial Church. When everyone has arrived the Mayor of the City and the Rector of the Churh give short speeches and renew the vote. Immediately afterwards fireworks light up the church and everyone – the dancers, dragons, castellers ... and falcons) – perform simultaneously on the small terrace of the church. It is extremely spectacular.

Concert of gralles
Every year the Agrupació organises a concert of Gralles by some groups that have played during the Festa Major. The concert is held outside the Agrupació premises on Carrer Major. At 5 p.m. on the 4th August it is possible to take a coffee and listen to some of great “gralla” players of the area.

Breakfast of the Festa Major
On the 5th August between 11 am and noon the dancers who are not attending the mass take the opportunity to get together outside the Agrupació in Carrer Major for a communal breakfast to raise the energy for the day's dancing.

Exhibition of Balls Populars
On the 5th August at 6.30 in the evening, on stage, in the Plaça de la Vila each of the Dance groups and “entremesos” show their complete repertoire, with verses of the Diables and the other spoken dances like the Gitanes, Joan d’en Serrallonga, Pastorets, etc. It is a great opportunity to see the richness, depth and variety of the traditional musical and dance heritage of the city.