There are a whole series of events to mark this important festival. The main highlights for the visitor are the two runs.
The first traditionally takes place on 6 September in Baza, where some villagers go into the nearby hill to cover themselves with dirty black (olive?) oil. When the Cascamorras makes his run through the streets of Baza, they are well prepared to 'dirty' the Cascamorras (by simply rubbing against him) and the first to do so is honoured. The Cascamorras has a porra (rubber ball tied to a wooden stick by a leather chord) to defend himself. His team of cohorts try in vain protect him through the Baza streets.
The second is in Guadix, traditionally on 9 September, when thousands of villagers first head up to the field near the railway station armed with coloured paint in plastic bottles. They proceed to cover themselves in paint, and each other, and any onlooker is likely to be covered as well.
A rocket marks the start of the Cascomorras run. Traditionally he was being punished and so needs to carry his porra to defend himself, although nowadays he is the hero. The local fire brigade helps cool the supporters with a water hose, and the run begins at 18.30. Along the route the villagers hurl buckets of water from balconies and when they pass through the town hall square they are sprayed with foam. They then move on to the church and the run finishes at about 21.00.