The Re-enactment
Programme
The Re-enactment programme and how to get around Bailo during the festival.
What it is
Bailo is transformed
The Historical Re-enactment of the Holy Grail's Stay brings the chalice's arrival at the Royal Seat of Bailo back to life, with local actors and a mounted procession: a medieval market, encampment, jousting, period music and the theatrical handover of the Grail in the Plaza Mayor.
The programme is updated on this page for each biennial edition. For now, we show the programme from the most recent edition; the programme for the 9th Re-enactment in 2027 will be published here as soon as it is known, approximately one month before the event.
Free entry
The Re-enactment is completely free. The only paid part is Saturday dinner, and its price covers only the cost of the food: no one makes money from it.
The staging
How the day unfolds
In the central event, the royal procession arrives on horseback with medieval caparisons, carrying the Grail in a small casket. In the Plaza Mayor, decorated with period banners and flags, the king reads a proclamation recounting the episode. From there the procession makes its way to the church, where the chalice is handed to the ecclesiastical authorities for safekeeping. A Mass then takes place, underlining the commitment made by the people of Bailo when they accepted responsibility for protecting it.
Much of the village takes part in period dress, men, women and children alike, so local residents are the true protagonists rather than mere spectators. After the handover, the festival moves to the medieval marquee in Plaza de la Cruz for the communal meal, while tents around the village serve as information points and stalls for crafts and local produce.
The afternoon is filled with traditional games for children, archery, tug-of-war, musical street parades, horseshoeing demonstrations, medieval dancing in the Plaza Mayor and falconry. None of the activities is martial in nature: the aim is for all of them to be educational and bring visitors closer to the history and heritage of the area.
Beyond the weekend
ACURBA hopes that the route of the Hiking March will become established as a pilgrimage route to San Juan de la Peña that can be walked freely throughout the year.
The Re-enactment and this route aim to complement the monastery and the Camino de Santiago, and to make better known a corner of La Jacetania away from the usual tourist routes, with its own food traditions: bread, honey and cured meats.
Most recent edition
8th Re-enactment - 13, 20 and 21 September 2025
The 2025 edition expanded the format to two weekends. This was the full programme.
Official poster for the 8th Re-enactment 2025 · Click to enlarge
Saturday 13 September
Medieval music workshop
Led by La Chaminera.
Talk: “El Batallador and Granada”
Led by Alberto Cebrián.
Saturday 20 September
Medieval market opens
Along with the children’s games area.
Royal herald
Led by Bengala.
Arrival of the Holy Grail
Via the Camino de Arbúés.
Departure of the procession of King Sancho III “El Mayor”
Holy Mass
Sung by the duo Vox Organalis.
Musical entertainment
Performed by Músicos de la Solana.
Medieval meal
With entertainment, music and a prize draw. See the menu below.
Afternoon activities
Archery and a games area for children and adults.
Medieval jousting
Performed by Club Hípico Río Aragón.
Falconry
Performed by Rosa de los Vientos.
Medieval street parade “Nomaduk”
Performed by Chéchare.
Market closes and farewell to the King and Queen
“Fire in the Stars” fire show (Bengala), medieval dances and a hamburger-and-sausage dinner for the children’s medieval day.
Sunday 21 September - children’s day
Children’s day begins
The games area opens, with rotating workshops and the puppet play “El entuerto del Grial”.
Appointment of Ladies and Knights
Medieval dances for everyone
End of the events.
Getting around
Map and locations
During the festival, activity in Bailo is concentrated at a few points, numbered on the map:
- 1. Plaza Mayor - theatrical handover of the Grail and main events.
- 2. Church / Royal Chapel - sung Mass and religious events.
- 3. Medieval encampment and market - craftspeople, workshops and jousting area.
- 4. Camino de Arbúés - arrival of the procession.
- 5. Park-and-ride car park - signposted at the entrance to the village.