The 2024 edition
- Date: 28 Jan 2024
- Location: Valls (Tarragona)
- Edition: 42nd Gran Festa de la Calçotada
Antonio Hernández: a victory in his eighth participation
Antonio Hernández, from Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, won the contest with 240 calçots and 3,060 grams in 45 minutes. El Diari de Tarragona reported that it was his eighth participation and his personal best. Ramon Caballero and Ramon Forès completed the podium. The chronicle allows us to add the outcome to the call that we had published on January 15.
Valls band Figa Flawas acted as ambassadors for Autèntica Calçotada and sat on the growers' jury. Reports estimated attendance at close to 40,000 people: a published estimate of crowds in the streets, not a count of individual admissions.
Documentation: Diari de Tarragona: chronicle of the festival of 28 January 2024
The festival was also in the fire, the field and the sauce
Europa Press reported that activities began at around ten in the morning. Alongside cooking and the grower and sauce competitions, it documented sauce demonstrations for people with coeliac disease and people unable to tolerate nuts. Sales and tasting areas completed the day.
This variety helps to read the programme as a celebration of the product: the calçot that is grown, the way it is roasted, the sauce that accompanies it, and the gathering to eat it. The Pati contest is one of its best-known images, within a festival spread across different spaces in Valls.
Documentation: Europa Press: the 42nd Gran Festa de la Calçotada of 2024
The programme and our January publication
The linked PDF document comes from the Calsotada.com archive. Along with it we preserve in full the article published by Lisard Bellod on 15 January 2024, when the day was still being prepared. Reading the call and the subsequent chronicle allows us to distinguish what was announced from what happened.
The original text appears below with its date. It is part of the memory of this website, along with the stories and photographs of the previous calçotadas; Its practical indications correspond to that moment.
Programme documentation
This page brings together the report and the details we have been able to verify. It does not reproduce a complete programme or suggest times for the next festival.
2024 edition programme (PDF) ↗
The original publication of Calsotada.com
Text by Lisard Bellod, published on 15 January 2024. We preserve its writing as an archival document. Its practical references correspond to that date.
English translation of the original Spanish article. Read the original
Programme The Gran Festa de la Calçotada de Valls, an essential event
On 28 January, Valls, the capital of Alt Camp, will celebrate the 42nd edition of the Gran Festa de la Calçotada, one of the most popular gastronomic festivals in Catalonia. The event will take place on Sunday, 28 January 2024 and will bring together thousands of people from all over the world to enjoy this traditional Catalan food.
Calçotada is a meal based on calçots, a variety of white onion that is grilled. It is usually accompanied with romesco sauce, a sauce made with tomato, pepper, garlic, almonds and hazelnuts. Calçotada is usually served with other typical Catalan products, such as black sausage or bacon.
The programme of the Gran Festa de la Calçotada de Valls includes a wide variety of activities for all audiences. In the morning, there will be a market for Catalan products, cooking workshops and calçot tastings. In the afternoon, the traditional popular calçotada will take place, in which more than 10,000 calçots will be distributed. In addition, there will be musical performances and entertainment shows for the whole family.
The Gran Festa de la Calçotada de Valls is a unique opportunity to enjoy one of the most deeply rooted gastronomic traditions in Catalonia. It is a fun and lively festival that attracts people of all ages.
DOWNLOAD THE Programme – HERE
How to get to Valls
Valls is located about 20 kilometres from Tarragona, the capital of the province. The city can be reached by car, bus or train.
By car, you must take the AP-2 or the N-240. The journey from Tarragona takes about 25 minutes.
By bus, there are several lines that connect Valls with Tarragona, Reus and other cities in the region. The journey from Tarragona takes about 30 minutes.
By train, there is a line that connects Valls with Tarragona. The journey takes about 35 minutes.
Where to eat in Valls
Valls has a wide variety of restaurants where you can taste traditional Catalan cuisine.
Some of the most recommended restaurants are:
I invite you to visit Pepitu's article where he tells us the best places to make a Calçotada
Practical tips
- To fully enjoy calçotada, it is important to wear comfortable and warm clothing.
- It is recommended to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated.
- If you are not used to eating calçots, it is advisable to start with a small amount.
The Gran Festa de la Calçotada de Valls is a unique experience that should not be missed. It is an opportunity to enjoy delicious food, learn about Catalan culture and spend an unforgettable day.
Explore more of the festival
Learn about the calçots eating contest and check its record →
Check the next edition of 2027 and discover the calçotada restaurants from Valls and Alt Camp.
Sources and documentation
- Diari de Tarragona: chronicle of the festival of 28 January 2024 ↗
- Europa Press: the 42nd Gran Festa de la Calçotada of 2024 ↗
Information reviewed on 22 October 2026.