Cultural Environment
San Antonio Abad
The festivities in honor of San Antonio Abad de Olocau, declared a Festival of Local Tourist Interest of the Valencian Community in 2019, is the most important of the winter and a great reference of the region of Camp de Túria.
The monumentality of the bonfire, the “arròs amb fessols i naps”, “els rollets” and the blessing of the animals make it a great tourist attraction celebrated the weekend closest to January 17.
The festival begins with the assembly of the Foguera by the residents of Olocau in the Plaza Mayor, in front of the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary culminating on Friday night and 50 tons of firewood are used.
Saturday is the big meeting day, there is a brotherhood meal of “arròs amb fesols i naps“, a children’s bonfire and chocolate. The afternoon ends with the procession in honor of San Antoni Abad and the blessing of the bonfire. At night comes the expected “encesa” and the fire illuminates the square, while the sound of the ringing of the bells does not cease and Ricardo Caballer’s fireworks come on stage, which make magical and special this beautiful moment for all the senses.
The festival continues on Sunday morning, with the “baixà dels rotllets” from the Casa de la Senyoria to the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary accompanied by the musical band La Melodía. At the end of the mass there is the blessing of animals and distribution of San Antonio rolls.
The embers of the bonfire are kept for five days so that neighbors and visitors can enjoy meats and sausages.
