One of the most deeply rooted traditions for children during the Feast of Sant Roc at the turn of the nineteenth century to the twentieth century, alongside Japanese fires -inofensive rockets that throw toys for the children- was the launch of balloons, bombs or montgolfiers. In 1909 started the custom of launching a balloon of great proportions that was known as the Great Balloon of Captain Munyon, and this activity has become a unique tradition of the Feast of Sant Roc of today. This paper balloon, inflated by the heat from a flame produced by combustion of a cotton ball soaked in alcohol, lasted well into the eighties of the last century. The tradition was restored in 1997 with a helium gas balloon and with new singularities: now each year the balloon takes the form of a character chosen for its negative condition during the year, and it is designed and constructed by a member of the Feast Association.
The launch of the balloon represents getting rid of the bad omens and destructive events or characters of the year, while girls and boys shout: Out!, out!, out!, out with Captain Munyon! The takeoff of the Balloon of Captain Munyon is performed at halftime of the children's festival on the day of Sant Roc or on the last day of the festival.
