Cherry Festival and Bandas Festival

32nd Cherry Festival and Céret de Bandas — May 23rd and 24th, 2026

Céret celebrates its iconic fruit on Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 24th, 2026. For two days, the town center's boulevards and squares will be pedestrianized to host brass band parades, a local craft and produce market, and a full showcase of Vallespir's Catalan traditions. Access is free for everyone.

Seven brass bands in the streets

The musical program is organized by the Céret de Bandas association, featuring seven groups: Els Companys, Els Tirons, Le Réveil Laurentin, Band Tocats, Tocabémol, Rivererter Dixiland, and Sol de Banyuls. They will parade along the boulevards each morning from 10:30 am to 1 pm, with an additional parade on Saturday at 5 pm, followed by an aperitif-concert at 6:30 pm at Place de la Liberté and a lively dinner at 8 pm.

The market and pit-spitting contests

The craft and local produce market runs from 10 am to 6 pm both days, featuring cherry growers, cherry-based specialties, and local crafts. The famous cherry pit spitting contests take place at Place Picasso—Saturday at 4 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm for children and 4 pm for adults. Local restaurants will offer special cherry-themed menus all weekend, and Céret de Bandas will host a bar and grill starting at 11 am on Saturday.

Catalan traditions

Saturday afternoon features a demonstration by the Colla Cireres de Céret at 2:30 pm in front of the Boulevard Maréchal-Joffre porch, castells by the Castellers del Riberal de Baho from 3 pm to 4 pm on the boulevards, and a sevillanas performance from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm at Place de la Liberté. On Sunday, the Alegria folk group parades at 3 pm accompanied by the cobla Mil.lenaria, followed by a sardana dance at 5 pm at Place Picasso with the cobla Sol de Banyuls. The mascot and the "cerisettes" from Cor d'Artista will roam the streets starting at 10 am each day.

Family fun and cycling

A dedicated children's play area will be set up at Place de la République all weekend, from 10 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm, featuring a free fairground organized by the Vallespir childhood services and early childhood center, plus a bouncy castle (free) and temporary tattoos (paid). On Sunday, May 24th, a cycling treasure hunt on the greenway will connect Saint-Jean-Pla-de-Corts, Céret, and Reynès, organized by Pays Pyrénées Méditerranée as part of "Mai à Vélo" and the "Joli mois de l'Europe" (pre-registration required).

Getting here and parking

A free shuttle will run both days from 10 am to 12:30 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm between the Pont de Céret parking lot and the parking des Tin's, with three stops on Avenue de Vignes Planes.