Barcelona Festivals

Barcelona festivals are exciting and fun and almost always full of dancing and spectacular firework displays. The main Barcelona festival is La Mercè - la Mare de Deu de la Merce, patron saint of Barcelona. Festivals are an integral part of the culture of Catalunya and often have a religious significance to them.

JANUARY 5th - Eve of Dia de Reyes (Three Kings Day)

The eve of Kings Day is remembered with colorful parades and especially the magical three kings who brought gifts of Frankinsense, Gold and Myrrh to the baby Jesus.

JANUARY 6th - Dia de Reyes (Three Kings Day)

Epiphany (Twelfth Night) is a national holiday in Spain and it's also the day when Spanish children receive their Christmas presents.

FEBRUARY Carnivals

The pre-lent Carnestoltes (carnivals) are usually held in February and include parades of giants (gegantes) and the large heads (capgrossos).

Another popular custom throughout Catalunya is the building of human castles (castellers) which involve people standing on each others shoulders.

FEBRUARY 12 Santa (Saint) Eulàlia Feast Day

The feast day of Santa Eulalia is on the 12 February and the celebrations to mark the day of the co-patron saint of Barcelona las for one week. The Cathedral of Santa Eulàlia (La Seu) is the Barcelona Gothic cathedral which is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona and is dedicated to Eulàlia.

APRIL 23rd Día de Sant Jordi (St George's Day)

Today is a double celebration because as well as being the Día de Sant Jordi - St George's Day (patron saint of Catalunya), it's also the day when lovers exchange gifts (similar to St Valentine's Day). Women give men a book and men give women a rose.

Everyone comes out to enjoy this very special and beautiful day. Street corners are full of thousands of books and the florists are bursting with roses and spring flowers. Pastelerias are full of chocolate knights and dragons and panaderias (bakers) with delicious breads made of cheese and Majorcan soft pork sausage with the colors of the flag.

MAY 11

Fira de Sant Ponç is celebrated by the city's herbalists in Carrer de l'Hospital.

BARCELONA FESTIVALS in JUNE

Start of June - SONAR Music Festival which lasts for 4 days.

JUNE 21 ~ Festival of Music (Festa de la Música)
Musical fills the air of the streets of Barcelona on the 21st June. This is a celebration of music and the streets are full of the sounds of clarinets, electrical guitars, jazz and rock.

June 24th - Sant Joan
The summer solstice is celebrated in Catalunya on the Eve of Sant Joan (St John) on June 23rd. Each barri (neighborhood) has their own celebration which includes fireworks and bonfires in the main squares. On this the longest day of the year the streets overflow with people dancing and partying and much Cava and coca (Catalan cake) is enjoyed by all.

End of June
Festival of "el Grec" which includes a variety of cultural events and open air theatrical performances at the Greek Theatre on Montjuïc.

AUGUST 23 - 29 ~ SANTS FESTIVAL (Sants-Montjuïc)

This local festivity is a great event lasting for eight days from Sunday to Saturday. There are street parties and rock concerts, activities for children, dances, sardanas, the singing of habaneras, human towers, the dance of giants, meals, games, baths of foam and a long list of activities to entertain all.

SEPTEMBER

11th - Diada Nacional de Catalunya
Catalunya's nationa day is celebrated as a national holiday with various official and political ceremonies.

Barcelona Festivals ~ La Mercè

La Mercè (la Mare de Deu de la Merce - Our Lady of Mercy) is the patron saint of Barcelona). This is the most important festival of the year. Celebrations include sardanas (national dance of Catalunya) and the traditional human castles (castellers). There are parades through the streets and sailing, regattas and swimming events... Read More

4-12 OCTOBER ~ CAVA WEEK

Take the Cava Train from Barcelona to Sant Sadurní d'Anoia! Every year this grape growing town celebrates the harvest with a major festival of gastronomic and cultural events... Read More

5 or 7 OCTOBER ~ Rambla-Festes del Roser (Virgin of the Roser)

Organised by the Associació d'Amics, Veïns i Comerciants, friends, residents and shopkeepers, of the Rambla, with the support of the District of Ciutat Vella. Local festivity in honor of the Virgin of the Roser. For three days the feast of Roser is celebrated with exhibitions and fairs in the New Fair of Craftsmanship in the Avenue Santa Mònica, the Fair of the Catalan Informative Group of Popular Traditions in the Post Arc del Teatre, the Exhibition of Mushrooms and the Exhibition of Floral Art in the Palau of the Vicereine. The festival closes with a dinner at La Bouqueria.

BARCELONA FESTIVALS on 1 NOVEMBER ~ Tots Sants (All Saints Day)

Tots Sants (All Saints' Day) is celebrated all over Spain. Families remember their loved ones who have died by going to the cemetery and lighting candles. Special little marzipan cakes called Panellets are prepared and eaten on this day in Catalunya. Panellets (Catalan for little breads) are made of sugar, potatoes, almonds, eggs, pine nuts, candied cherries and many are often spiced with cinnamon.

BARCELONA FESTIVALS in DECEMBER

Navidad - Bon Nadal - NEW YEAR
A lovely time to visit Barcelona! See the amazing Christmas decorations and nativity scenes and sample the traditional Catalan seasonal goodies and indulge in Cava - the sparkling wine. Learn about the Catalan tradition of Caga Tió and the Cagnager!

On New Year's Eve the obligatory 12 white grapes are eaten on every stroke of the clock at midnight. Traditional dishes of seafood and other goodies are washed down with bottles of sparkling Barcelona Cava wine.

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