If you are looking for somewhere to enjoy a traditional Costa Blanca fiesta this August, Polop de la Marina has four busy days ahead.
The town will celebrate its Festes del Porrat from Thursday, August 13 to Sunday, August 16, with live music, children’s activities, parades, food and traditional events.
The Plaza de la Ermita will become the main meeting point. However, events will also take place around Plaza de los Chorros, Avenida Ponoig, Plaza de la Purísima and other parts of the town.
At the heart of the celebrations are Polop’s local peñas, or fiesta groups, along with bands and residents who take part throughout the four days.
So, what exactly is a ‘porrat’?
The name of the fiesta comes from an old local tradition.
A porrat was a popular street market traditionally held near the San Roque chapel. People from Polop would visit to buy products and supplies for their homes and farmland.
Over the years, the market developed into the celebrations that Polop holds today in honour of San Roque.
There will actually be an early start to this year’s festivities. On Wednesday, August 12, the Asociación de Peñas El Porrat and Peña Porrat-Motoret will hold a pre-fiesta celebration.
The official programme then gets underway the following day.
Thursday, August 13: let the fiestas begin
At 12:00, the ringing of the church bells will officially announce the start of the Festes del Porrat.
Then, at 12:30, the traditional Arrancà de Peñas will take place at Polop Town Hall.
The Arrancà marks the start of the celebrations for the town’s peñas. Participants will receive their fiesta scarves and all the bands will perform the pasodoble ‘Polop de la Marina’ together.
An aperitif for residents and visitors will follow in the municipal marquee in Plaza de la Ermita.
At 20:00, attention turns to the traditional Desfile del Humor, or Comedy Parade.
The peñas will dress up and parade from Avenida Ponoig to Plaza de la Purísima. The Fiesta Queen and King, Ladies and other fiesta representatives will also take part.
Later that evening, Suite Rumba will provide the music for the verbena, or open-air evening dance, in Plaza de la Ermita.
The celebrations will continue with a peñas party organised with Peña Espantall.
Friday, August 14: bands, foam and plenty of music
Friday starts with a despertà through the streets.
If you haven’t experienced one before, a despertà is a traditional early-morning wake-up call. Participants make their way through the town with music and noise to announce the start of another day of festivities.
At 11:30, fiesta representatives, councillors, local authorities and bands will make their way to the parish church.
A solemn Mass will then take place in memory of people from Polop who have died.
Following the lunchtime aperitif, the celebrations resume at 16:30.
Plaza de la Ermita will host the Café Festero and a Battle of the Bands, with prizes for the winners.
Meanwhile, children can head to Plaza de los Chorros for inflatables and a foam party.
At 19:00, there will be a tardeo organised by Asociación de Peñas El Porrat and Peña La Torxa. A tardeo is simply an afternoon social gathering, usually involving drinks, music and plenty of people enjoying the fiesta together.
Musical Freya will provide the evening entertainment before another peñas party later in the night, this time with Peña Mullats.
Saturday, August 15: the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Saturday centres on the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Following another morning despertà, the floral offering will begin at 11:00.
A solemn Mass in honour of the Virgin Mary will follow at 12:00.
After the traditional aperitif in Plaza de la Ermita, younger residents and visitors get their turn.
Between 17:00 and 19:30, Asociación de Peñas El Porrat will organise games and karaoke.
The music returns at 23:00 when Enjoy takes to the stage in Plaza de la Ermita.
Anyone with enough energy left can carry on until the early hours. The peñas party with Peña Maduixes starts at 02:00.
Sunday, August 16: San Roque brings the fiestas to a close
The final day belongs to San Roque, one of the central figures in Polop’s traditional celebrations.
The morning programme includes a Mass in his honour, followed by an aperitif.
Children’s activities will take place in Plaza de los Chorros between 16:30 and 18:30.
Later in the day comes one of Sunday’s main traditional events, the romería in honour of San Roque.
A romería is a religious procession or pilgrimage. In Polop, participants will accompany San Roque from Plaza de la Ermita to the parish church.
One last night of celebrations
Sunday evening brings one final round of music and celebrations.
Rock and Rollers will provide the verbena, while the bands will take part in a final parade through the town.
At 23:30, Polop will officially say goodbye to the bands. Organisers will also present prizes and name the Mayorales for 2027.
The Mayorales are the people who take on an important role in organising and supporting the following year’s festivities.
There is still one final party after that.
At 01:00, Peña Destrellatats will help organise the last peñas dance of this year’s Festes del Porrat.
It brings four days of celebrations to an end and starts the countdown towards next year’s fiestas.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Polop’s Festes del Porrat run from August 13 to 16.
- A pre-fiesta celebration will also take place on August 12.
- Most events centre around Plaza de la Ermita.
- The celebrations developed from an old local market known as a porrat.
- Thursday includes the Arrancà de Peñas and Comedy Parade.
- Friday brings the despertà, Battle of the Bands, inflatables and a foam party.
- Saturday celebrates the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
- Sunday is dedicated to San Roque and includes a traditional romería.
- There will be live bands and evening entertainment throughout the fiestas.
- Most Spanish and Valencian fiesta terms describe traditional events, so we have explained them above rather than simply translating the names.
