May City Festival
7 to 11 May 2020
The city holds its festival in honour of its patron saint, Sant Anastasi, on 11 May. He was a Roman soldier born in Lleida who was martyred in Badalona on the orders of Diocletian in 303 AD.
The extensive programme of traditional events includes in particular the floral offering to the patron saint and the battle of flowers, both held on 11 May itself, in the morning and afternoon respectively. The Rambla de Ferran provides the route for a parade featuring numerous floats with those on board doing battle with the onlookers with confetti and streamers.
The constant presence of the city's emblematic Dragon, Lo Marraco, and the oldest pair of giants in Catalonia, Mark Antony and Cleopatra (made in 1840) is another of the attractions.
The city festival ends as it begins: with a magnificent firework display on the left bank of the River Segre.