Sant Bartomeu in Sóller: the August festival

Sant Bartomeu (the apostle Bartholomew) is the patron saint of Sóller, and the parish church that dominates the square bears his name. The patron saint festival arrives at the end of summer and is one of the island's major summer celebrations, with a long programme. We found no reliable source on when or how the local devotion began, so we give no founding date.

What we do know is the current structure: the acts are spread around the town centre over several days and the finale falls near the saint's feast day, 24 August. To place this festival among the others, see the cultural calendar and festivals of Sóller.

There is no fixed day-by-day order, but the programme of recent editions follows a recognisable pattern:

• First days: sport and games, such as the petanca tournament on Carrer Cetre, open-air cinema and storytelling for children.
• Middle days: concerts and dance nights in the square and the Alameda, DJ parties, the literary awards ceremony and a craft beer tasting. The Ajuntament also programmes a meeting of xeremiers (Mallorcan pipers).
• Saint's day: according to the municipal programme, a mass and procession at the Sant Bartomeu parish church.
• Finale: the Esclatabutzes fire night.

The Esclatabutzes are a group of dimonis from Sóller. They appear dressed as devils and stage a show that mixes pyrotechnics and fireworks with choreography and pagan-style dances to drums and a different piece of music each time. The organisers say it has passed two decades and is still run by its founding members. It ends with a water party in which firefighters and group members spray the crowd.

It is the busiest night of the festival. If you get close to the correfoc (fire run), wear clothes that cover your skin (cotton, not synthetic), a hat and glasses, and keep children at a distance. The same group appears at other valley festivals, such as Sant Antoni.

• Plaça de sa Constitució: concerts, dance nights and the fire finale.
• Carrer Cetre and Ses Escolapias: sports and family events.
• The Alameda: music parties.
• The Town Hall's Sala Magna and the Can Dulce cultural centre: cultural acts such as the literary awards.
• Market square: the closing water party.

For a bite or a drink, see the bars and cafés in Sóller and the market.

• Book early: rooms and tables fill up in August.
• The last weekend, with the fire, is the busiest; for a calmer visit, go to the concerts on a weekday.
• Noise: dance nights and drums can be heard in the centre until late; ask for an inner room if you want to sleep.
• Heat: August is hot; carry water and look for shade in the Alameda.
• With children: there are daytime acts made for them; for the fire, keep them away from the dimonis.

The centre of Sóller is best done on foot and the Port is a few kilometres away, linked by the tram.

• By train and tram: the Sóller train runs from Palma and the tram links the town with the Port. It is the easiest way to get around on festival days.
• By car: park on the outskirts and walk; the guide to parking in Sóller explains the options. On the big days streets in the centre are closed and car parks fill early.
• By taxi or bus: see taxi and transport. If you are coming from elsewhere on the island, check getting to Sóller before you set off.

To sleep near the event, see the best hotels in Sóller. On festival days rooms go early, so book ahead and confirm the conditions on each property's official website.

Exact dates and times change every year and are published by the Ajuntament de Sóller. Before you book travel or a hotel, confirm them on the Ajuntament de Sóller events calendar or its festes section (in Catalan). This guide gives only the stable pattern of each festival, not a specific programme.

Other festivals in the valley: Es Firó, Sant Antoni, Holy Week, Havaneres gathering, Classical Music Festival. You will find them all, month by month, in the cultural calendar and festivals of Sóller.