The violent storm that hit the Camp de Tarragona on Monday has once again caused leaks and water accumulation inside Tarragona's Casa de la Festa. This incident has endangered the integrity of the city's Popular Procession elements, such as the beasts and the Nanos. The festive entities of the Tarragona capital have called a meeting for this Friday afternoon to assess the situation and agree on a request for solutions from the municipal government.
According to sources close to ACN, images shared on social media show water entering the facility's central hall, where emblematic figures are stored. Pau Bellar, secretary of the Associació de Portants del Lleó de Tarragona, expressed his "powerlessness" upon learning of the situation, while Martí Caparrós, head of the Drac de Sant Roc group, recounted how they had to protect the element with plastic bags and how municipal technicians warned them to remove affected figures.
The entities have been able to access the space and have already relocated a significant portion of the festive elements. However, Caparrós admitted they are "fed up" with the lack of maintenance of the Casa de la Festa, pointing to a "lack of concern" from the municipal government and, specifically, from the Councillor for Culture and Festivals, Sandra Ramos. Friday's meeting aims to define the next steps, and the Drac group considers the relocation of the elements a potential solution, despite the difficulty of finding a new central location.
Pau Bellar emphasized that the problem must be resolved within the framework of relations between the entities and the City Council. If the council does not guarantee adequate conditions at the Casa de la Festa, the "relocation should be considered," demanding improvements not only for the festivals but also for the preservation of the elements throughout the year. The Casa de la Festa serves not only for the custody of the elements but also as a headquarters and rehearsal space for various entities and grallers groups lacking their own premises.
Opposition political parties, including Junts per Catalunya and En Comú Podem, have requested explanations from the municipal government regarding the damages and have called for an urgent meeting of the Advisory Commission and the relocation of the festive elements. The building, inaugurated in 2007 and open to the public since 2008, has suffered from humidity problems, cracked tiles, pest infestations, and poor maintenance over the years. The 1,400-square-meter space has undergone temporary closures in 2012, 2022, 2023, and 2024 due to budget cuts, works, and renovations. In 2022, a budget of 50,000 euros was allocated to repair humidity and ventilation issues, and a musealization project was planned for 2025 with a budget of 70,000 euros.
