Barcelona Seasonal Highlights

For all of Barcelona’s idiosyncrasies, the city does share at least one thing with the rest of the country—it knows how to have fun. Festivals abound in this happening city; so be sure to know what will be going on during your visit. For information on all festivals, or call the tourist office ☎ 933 689 700.

Día de Sant Jordi, celebrated on April 23, is a favorite day for the lovebirds out there and is similar to North America’s Valentine’s Day. A festival in honor of one of Barcelona’s favorite saints, Jordi, is a time to buy nice things for that special someone. Check out the flower district on Las Ramblas, as it will be selling both books and flowers for this special occasion. Setimana Santa (Catholic Holy week; the week leading up to Easter) is a huge festival complete with grand processions; Barcelona natives pour into the streets to celebrate. On May 10-11, Fira de Sant Ponç, a festival dedicated to the patron saint of beekeepers, is celebrated on C. Hospital near Las Ramblas. To satisfy your inner comics nerd, head over to Estació de França for the International Comics Fair, which is held each May.

Summer

Anything called “Festa Major” will be big, popular, and a lot of fun. Poble Nou, Sants, Gràcia, and Sitges all host these huge summer extravaganzas. Focs de Sant Joan is held in Girona on June 24. For those on the life-long quest to find a dancing egg, your journey stops in Barcelona. The Corpus Cristi festival occurs in June and includes parades, carnival figures, and of course, the traditional ou com balla —the dancing egg. Two music festivals keep the party alive: Sónar (mid-June) pumps electronic music and Festa de la Música (July 1st) invites anyone and everyone to perform. Theater, dance, music, and movies flood Barcelona’s top venues from late June to the end of July during the city-wide Grec Festival. For in-depth coverage of major music and theater festivals, including Sonar and El Grec, see Entertainment.

Autumn

Bring your Catalan flag and other paraphernalia to the Catalan National Day Festival, held September 11th. You’ll find people dressed in traditional costumes and homes decorated with the flag and shield pattern. Wine-makers and butifarra (sausage)-makers pile into Barcelona from the surrounding areas to present their goods during the Feria de Cuina i Vins de Catalunya; for one entire fall week, you can taste food and wine relatively cheaply. Late September brings fireworks and devils to town for the Festa de la Verge de la Mercè, when correfocs (devils) run through the streets, flashing their pitchforks at the residents. To retaliate, people throw buckets of water at the devils. Human towers in the streets are also a common spectacle around this time of year. Come October, Barceloneses trade their pitchforks and buckets for saxophones as the Festival Internacional de Jazz comes to town. Jazz is in the streets, in the clubs, and in the air as some of the world’s finest musicians come to town. One of the best city-wide parties, the Festival del Sant Çito, begins in November.

Winter

Christmastime is, of course, packed with festivities, although people tend to spend more time with their families than on the streets (except in early evening when the avenues pack shoppers in like sardines). Rather than a huge celebration on Christmas Day, the Spanish tend to have a family dinner on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), the most important holiday of the year. Spaniards hold off on exchanging presents until January 5, the Epiphany, the day the Three Kings ride their camels into Spain. The night of January 4th, children put their shoes outside to be filled with gifts and candy by the visiting Kings (a good night for those looking to steal children’s footwear). That night, people gather to devour roscón, an oval-shaped sweet bread with a small toy baked into it. Whoever finds the toy gets to keep it and is dubbed King or Queen for the year. Speaking of special prizes, caganer (“shitter”) statues become even more popular during this season; just be careful where you step. As residents prepare for the new year, the price of grapes suddenly skyrockets. Spaniards gather with friends on New Year’s Eve, and when the clock strikes midnight, people pop a grape into their mouth for each chime, 12 in all, for good luck during the coming year.

In February, join natives in celebrating Festes de Santa Eulàlia, a holiday dedicated to Barcelona’s first patron saint. The Mayor’s office organizes events for the city and arranges the special guest appearances by mulasses ( D dragons) in parades; concerts abound during this time. During Festa de San Medir, held in Tibidabo, Barcelona’s young and old race to the mountain to be showered with candy by men who ride galloping horses. At the end of the month, residents celebrate their last week of indulgence before Lent with Carnaval. The more daring head over to Sitges.