This year's edition marks half a century since 1976, when floats and the King Carnival character returned to the streets after the dictatorship. High winds forced the cancellation of commemorative acts in Vilanova and delayed the Arribo in Sitges until 9:00 PM.
“"There was a great desire to go out into the streets after so many years without being able to enjoy the Vilanova carnival."
During the Franco regime, the festival was hidden under the name Winter Festivities. Historian Xavier López notes that while some private events continued, the public essence of Carnival was only fully recovered five decades ago as an explosion of freedom.
