14,500 peñistas go on a spree in the funniest weekend in Lleida, that of the Aplec del Caragol. In this edition, according to Ferran Perdrix, president of the Federació de Colles de l'Aplec del Caragol de Lleida (Fecoll), 60,000 liters of beer and fourteen tons of snails will be consumed. Jarana, feasts and live music in many of the 115 clubs can be enjoyed from this Friday until Sunday afternoon. There will be no shortage of snails a la llauna, a la gormanda or with their own recipes, as a main dish.
The expansion of the Camps Elisis venue, with 4,450 new square metres, has allowed eight peñas to join the party, with more than a thousand peñistas. Five remain on the waiting list. There will be nine more than last year. In the last edition, after the pandemic, one of them did not participate in a weekend that is marked on the calendar of the people of Lleida, wherever they live.
The festival, which is always held on the last weekend of May at Camps Elisis, has changed its calendar this year so as not to coincide with the municipal elections scheduled for the last weekend. In this way, it has ensured that it can count on a sufficient number of agents from the Urban Guard, Mossos d'Esquadra or health personnel and guarantee that no peñista will miss out on the noise for having to be at a polling station.
Los del Natació is one of the peñas nuevas. "We are 104 people linked to Vinc at Club Natació Lleida", says a swimmer Núria Amorós. Her colors are those of the club: blue scarf, turquoise T-shirt and matching glasses.
Those from Natació have a chef and have also opted for musical groups. This Friday the erbis Bros 2 party will entertain you and on Saturday Perukita Dj.
In another of the new supporters clubs, Els Llivianos, the majority of whom are residents of the Llivia district, the supporters of the club cook. "We have prioritized that the largest number of people can enter, we are 160 adults and 24 children. We do everything ourselves and we have no performance because we have had to prioritize that more people can come. Whether you want it or not, it is very expensive. We have prioritized putting a cheaper price so that everyone can come", explains Inés Subirà.
The prices depend on whether the peñistas do everything themselves or hire services -such as cooks-, or if they invest in a musical poster or activities. The average reaches 150 euros.
Those who are not part of the peñas -the organization speaks of 200,000 visitors- can participate in the party through Los Forasters, the tourist peña that offers variable packages. The complete one offers a menu in the Lo Tast restaurant, snail tasting, beer or soft drink in three peñas.
The footballer Bojan KrKic participates this Friday in Lo Cargolasso, the Lleida-style shot that opens the party. In this event, the Fecoll will present the Rumba de l'Aplec, with lyrics by Alex Valdivia and music by Arnau Fernández. Then three days of revelry.
