Salou gets ready to relive the year 1229 with the 31st Festa del Rei Jaume I

Every September, Salou sets aside its usual coastal rhythm for a few days to become a great medieval stage. From September 3 to 6, the Festa del Rei Jaume I (Feast of King Jaume I) returns, now in its 31st edition, commemorating the year 1229, when the king set sail from the town's natural harbour on his way to conquer Mallorca. This year, organisers have chosen to give greater weight to the event's educational and historical side, while still keeping the large street performances, the period-themed market and the activities designed for children.

Events will kick off on Thursday, September 3, at the Torre Vella, with a talk on the sea, the beaches and 13th-century seafaring, led by art historian Esther Lozano. The Torre Vella will also host, until September 26, a photographic exhibition putting faces to the figures who lived through that historical episode, likewise curated by Lozano.

The old town turned into a market from another era

From September 3 to 6, the streets of the old town and Plaça Bonet will take on a new look thanks to the Medieval Market, one of the festival's biggest draws. Craft stalls, period styling and street entertainment invite locals and visitors alike to step eight centuries back in time, making this area one of the busiest spots of the whole weekend.

On Friday, September 4, the Torre Vella will host "La taverna del port de Salou" ("The Salou Harbour Tavern"), a theatrical and musical show with two performances, at 8 pm and 10 pm. The show recreates the atmosphere of a 13th-century harbour tavern, with characters, music and stories that place the audience right before the great expedition. Entry will be by prior invitation, with limited capacity.

Saturday, the festival's big day

Saturday, September 5, is undoubtedly the busiest day. In the morning, Plaça del Carrilet will host workshops aimed at children, while an itinerary called "Jaume I, pirates i corsaris" ("Jaume I, Pirates and Corsairs") will set off from Els Pilons along the beach, tracing Salou's seafaring history. At midday, the Centre Cívic will host a talk on the complex political and cultural context the king lived in, and on how Salou became the starting point of the expedition, after Jaume I called together, in late 1228, the main forces of the Crown to prepare the campaign that would eventually lead him to Mallorca.

The most eagerly awaited moment comes at 8 pm, when King Jaume I and his retinue set out from the Torre Vella to parade through some of the city's main streets — Via Aurèlia, Via Roma, Carrer Barcelona and Passeig Jaume I — before reaching Plaça de les Comunitats Autònomes, where the closing show takes place. It is the festival's most crowded parade, filling Salou's streets with nobles, knights, soldiers and ordinary folk in full medieval spirit.

Sunday: literature, tradition and fireworks

The last day of the festival blends culture and religious tradition. At midday, the Centre Cívic will host the awards ceremony for the 3rd Jaume I Short Story Competition 2026. In the afternoon, the church of Santa Maria del Mar will hold a solemn mass, followed by a procession heading down to the Espigó del Moll to continue by sea and finish at Passeig Jaume I. The day — and the festival — will close with a fireworks display at Passeig Jaume I, expected around 10 pm.

Discovering history through your phone, too

Beyond these four days, Salou offers, all year round, the digital scavenger hunt "Conquesta la història!" ("Conquer History!"), a free activity that invites participants to walk along Passeig Jaume I solving small challenges and puzzles on their mobile phone. It's a simple, family-friendly way to get closer to the conquering king outside the dates of the main festival.

The celebration continues at sea

The tribute to Jaume I doesn't end on September 6. From September 10 to 12, the waters of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands will host the 40th edition of the Regata Rei en Jaume, organised by Club Nàutic Salou, which recalls by sea the same crossing the king undertook in 1229 and strengthens the historical bond between Salou and Mallorca.

With this edition, Salou once again opens the doors of its medieval past to everyone: five days to wander streets from another era, take part in workshops and guided routes, and remember the key role the town's harbour played in one of the great feats of the medieval Mediterranean.