Like Asian Floating Villages: River Festivals with Regattas, Greased Poles and Melon-Catching, 2 Hours from Barcelona

After the season's first dip, several towns in the region are preparing their most refreshing celebrations — days when popular tradition, living heritage and collective memory take to the river.

There are places where summer makes no sense without looking at the waterway that gives them their name and life. That's the case for the villages of Ribera d'Ebre, which during these August days celebrate their emblematic river festivals. Flix has just wrapped up its big days (12–16 August), passing the baton to the neighbouring towns of Ascó, Riba-roja d'Ebre and Móra d'Ebre, which are busily preparing their own river celebrations.

These festivities, designed to ease the hottest days of the year and strengthen residents' bond with their natural surroundings, bring whole generations together for a series of historic games and competitions. Móra d'Ebre stands out among them all — recently recognised by the Catalan government as a Traditional Festival of National Interest for being the oldest living river celebration in Catalonia.

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Flix kicks off the festive calendar

Flix opened the season with a programme packed with music, sport and culture. Among this edition's most unusual activities was a wine-and-food pairing during the solar eclipse at Castell Nou castle, plus the traditional opening speech by Rita Costa Puey and the proclamation of the 2026 heirs and heiresses. Locals also took to the streets for the traditional pot-smashing (trencada de tupins), a lively summer carnival parade and a performance by the Flix human-tower group Xiquets de Flix. The festivities wrapped up this Sunday with the Mirantfont orchestra and concerts by Los 80 Principales and Allioli.

Games, melons and tradition on the current

But the element that truly unites Flix with Ascó, Riba-roja d'Ebre and Móra d'Ebre is the day dedicated entirely to the river Ebro. All these riverside towns share a tradition of fun-filled water games. During these events, the youngest jump in to catch melons, try to climb the slippery greased pole (palo enjabonado) or bounce on inflatable structures. Competitive spirit also surfaces in regattas aboard kayaks, muletas and puntonas — boats that are an indisputable part of these villages' history.

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Móra d'Ebre and the weight of collective memory

Over the coming days, Móra d'Ebre's celebration shines especially bright. Its new distinction as a Traditional Festival of National Interest honours a model of celebration that has passed down technique, physical effort and love of the river from one generation to the next. And no wonder: the oldest documentary record of this event on the Ebro's waters dates back to 6 September 1899, as recorded in the pages of the old newspaper Los Debates.