Food festivals, human towers, rally driving and Halloween celebrations in the Costa Daurada

The summer might draw to a close but it doesn't mean the end of the sunshine and activities in the Costa Daurada, Spain. With an average temperature of 24°c in September and 20°c in October, it's the ideal time to travel to the region once the holiday crowds have subsided.

Whether you visit the famous PortAventura Halloween celebrations or the UNESCO-heritage Castells Competition, direct flights from the UK to Reus and nearby Barcelona make it the perfect time to head on a autumnal Spanish adventure.

The Castells Competition, Tarragona (1 & 2 October)

The 26th Tarragona Human Tower Competition will take place on 1 and 2 October in the Tarraco Arena Plaça of Tarragona, with 42 local groups (colles) participating. Over 6,000 spectators will enter the arena to enjoy this prestigious Catalan event. 

This unique tradition of building castells (human towers) originated in Valls in the Costa Daurada towards the end of the 18th century. Since then it has attracted visitors from around the world and in 2010, UNESCO declared the castells as a 'Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity'.

Castells are human towers built by local groups called colles castelleres and usually take place as part of annual festivities in Catalonian towns and cities. The human towers are formed by castellers who stand on the shoulders of one another in a succession of levels (between six and ten). Before, during and after the performance, musicians play songs on wind instruments known as gralla. For more information, please see here.

Food Festivals in Cambrils and Salou

As the seasons change, Costa Daurada's foodie scene blossoms and there are numerous festivals and events to entice foodies.

In early October, Cambrils hosts the Wine and Gastronomy Trade Fair (from 14 - 16 Oct) with local restaurants pairing dishes to chosen wines from several DO (Tarragona, Montsant, which are showcased at various events in the town.

Throughout October, Cambrils will celebrate the 2nd edition of Calamari Days, where all the restaurants in the town celebrate the delicious squid dish and serve up tasty variations for guests to try.

One of the highlights of this autumn will be the Rally de Tapas (22 October – 1 November), which follows the Costa Daurada Rally that takes place earlier in October. The Rally de Tapas takes visitors on a circuit through most of the city's restaurants and bars allowing them to taste a selection of their finest food and drink. Each stop on the 'rally' costs €2.50 and some of the tapas dishes on the menu include a Spanish omelette with black sausage and caramelized apple, Piquillo peppers stuffed with cod and Galician octopus on truffled mashed potatoes. Some of the restaurants will also be providing a taster menu for kid so families can travel the route together. More details on the participating restaurants and their dishes can be found here.

Taking place between the end of October and the beginning of November is the New Olive Oil Days in Cambrils, where locally produced olive oil is presented during special tasting events and a community breakfast. The oil is produced by the Agricultural Cooperative Cambrils, a group of 410 producers who cultivate more than 150,000 Arbequina olive trees. Cambrils' low position by the Mediterranean Sea, good soil and pleasant microclimate make it a perfect location for growing olive trees. For more information, please see here.

In November, Cambrils also hosts Jornadas del Romesco (Romesco Days), which is a fortnight celebrating Romesco sauce. Originating from Tarragona in Catalonia, the mouth-watering sauce is made from roasted red peppers and almonds, and can be served with many dishes. From 25 November to 11 December, restaurants in Cambrils will serve special dishes complimenting the sauce and provide cooking classes.

RallyRACC Catalonia – Costa Daurada (13 – 16 October)

The World Rally Championships take a hard right to the Costa Daurada in October, showcasing the region's stunning landscapes and wilderness trails. Races start daily from Salou or PortAventura World with large crowds gathering on the promenade where the trials start and finish. The Costa Daurada rally is unique because it offers the only mixed surface stage of the World Rally Championships. The region has hosted the event for 12 years and the media centre and race village at PortAventura has been praised for its modern facilities. Spectators can watch the action from various points along the routes and there's no charge for watching the races. For more information on the event and the itineraries, please see here.

Halloween at PortAventura

Between September and November, PortAventura World is filled with haunted souls and frightening festivities that will captivate the whole family. It's the Salou-based themepark's spookiest time of the year and families will be able to meet the master pumpkin sculpture, the Halloween family, the greedy Sheriff and a whole host of other humorous characters. One of the highlights of the celebrations is the amazing light show on the park's lake and the annual terrifying parade. Younger visitors will be enchanted by SésamoAventura, where Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie and other beloved Sesame Street characters sing songs in Halloween costumes. For more information and to book tickets, please see here.

How to get there

Ryanair flights from London Stansted to Barcelona (Reus) are available from £19.99 (one-way) (www.ryanair.com)

Jet2 flights from Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds-Bradford, Edinburgh, East Midlands or Glasgow to Reus are available from £35 (one-way) (www.jet2.com)

Contact

For more information or further enquiries, please contact tim@wearelotus.co.uk or rebecca@wearelotus.co.uk / 0207 953 7470.

About The Federation of Hostelry and Tourism in Tarragona (FEHT)

The FEHT is a federation that represents the whole tourism sector in the province of Tarragona. It is the umbrella organisation for: the Association of Campsites in Costa Daurada and Terres de l'Ebre, the Association of Tourist Apartments in Costa Daurada, the Hotel Business Association of Tarragona, the Association of Hotels in Tarragona, the Association of Hotels in Salou, Cambrils, La Pineda, the Association of Incoming Agencies of Costa Daurada, and PortAventura.

The FEHT, the Tourist Board of Tarragona, Costa Daurada, and Tourism Board of Salou, Cambrils and Vila-seca La Pineda work together to promote tourism in the region as well as its accommodation offers.