Alforja approves the rules for the Sant Miquel andromine descent

The Plenary of the Alforja City Council, in an ordinary session on July 15, 2026, approved the regulatory bases for the “baixada d’andròmines” (junk vehicle race) of the Sant Miquel 2026 Main Festival. The call for entries was published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Tarragona on August 25, 2026 (official reference CVE 2026-08000, pp. 1-4), and the bases will be considered definitively approved if no claims or allegations are presented during the public information period.

The junk vehicle race is one of the most participatory activities of the municipality’s Main Festivals, designed especially for young people. The document, signed by Mayor Joan Josep Garcia Rodríguez, sets the route, registration conditions, technical requirements for the vehicles, and the prize system, and establishes a security framework with an ambulance, straw bales, and volunteers.

Registration and participation

Registrations will be made electronically through the eAgora platform, where the link will be published and spots will be confirmed days before the race. People over 14 years of age may participate, with specific conditions for minors:

• Minors under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Participants between 15 and 17 years old must bring an authorization signed by their legal guardian, which will be provided by the Department of Youth.

Route and organization

The race will take place along Carrer de les Creus up to Carrer de La Font, and will consist of a trial run, two races to determine the best time, and, if the organization deems it appropriate, a final victory lap. Gifts and prizes will be awarded at the Plaça de les Monges.

The organization, formed by the Department of Youth and its collaborators, will ensure the safety of the participants and reserves the right to modify the route or the order of the parade for technical reasons. Failure to follow the guidelines will result in the disqualification of the group, and the activity will be recorded on video to promote it via eAgora, Facebook, and the City Council website.

Technical requirements for the junk vehicles

All junk vehicles must be of own construction and comply with a series of safety conditions:

• At least one person must pilot the device, with no maximum limit of pilots, and each vehicle must have a team leader.
• Supermarket carts and individual bicycles are not permitted; however, “drift trikes,” well-“tuned” scooters, and bicycles with trailers or group bicycles are accepted.
• The vehicle may not carry sharp or piercing elements, nor be powered by any mechanical device: it must descend by the force of gravity.
• The use of combustion engines and pyrotechnic material is prohibited.
• The use of a certified helmet, preferably full-face, is mandatory.

Prizes and jury

Six prizes will be awarded, one for each category, with the following amounts:

• Fastest contraption: 1st prize €250, 2nd €150 and 3rd €100.
• Fastest local contraption: €100.
• Noisiest contraption: €50.
• Most original contraption: €50.

There will be no more than one prize per contestant, and payment will be made by transfer. The selection of winners will be the responsibility of a jury appointed by the Department of Youth, which will be neutral and without direct links to the participants, and its decisions will be final.

The publication of these rules consolidates one of the most anticipated events of the Festa Major de Sant Miquel d’Alforja, which combines fun, creativity, and youth participation with clear safety rules. For the residents and families of the municipality, the contraption race is established as a festive leisure space that rewards the ingenuity and collective effort of the participants.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Tarragona, no. 25-8-2026, section I (content), pp. 1-4 (official reference: CVE 2026-08000).