The best street and neighbourhood Festivals in Barcelona
Barcelona is a city of celebration. It feels as if there is always a festival or holiday or parade to find, full of passion and joy and rich with cultural elements. From human towers to giants to traditional Catalan and Spanish music, the street and neighbourhood festivals in Barcelona are no exception. Most taking place in late summer and fall, a signature Festa Major in Barcelona is hosted by each neighbourhood for its residents. Each Festa Major in Barcelona is unique and definitely worth experiencing. Check out the comprehensive list below!
- Festa Major de Gracia
- Festa Major del Raval
Festa Major in Barcelona
January
Festa Major de Sant Antoni
Festa Major de Sant Antoni is the biggest festival meant to celebrate the Sant Antoni neighbourhood in Barcelona. The main party is meant to kick off the start of the all of the celebrations and festivals in Barcelona in the upcoming year. The festivities include a Giants parade and a Correfoc- a group of individuals that dress up as devils and go on “fire runs,” parading through the streets lighting fireworks after dark.
- Date: January 13th to 29th
- Location: Sant Antoni neighbourhood
- Website
Festa Major in Barcelona: Tres Tombs
Tres Tombs festival is one that is deeply rooted in Barcelona’s history. It was started to continue the celebration in the Sant Antoni neighbourhood and to celebrate Sant Antoni himself, or Saint Anthony, who is known as the patron saint of animals. So in his honour, a musical parade of horses and other animals takes place around the central roads of Barcelona. The celebration also has some religious aspects. During the parade, there is a stop at the church in Plaça d’ Orfila and the animals are blessed.
- Date: January 17th
- Location: Sant Antoni neighbourhood
- Website
June
Festa Major del Casc Antic
The Festa Major del Casc Antic, also known as the Festival of the Old Town, is hosted in the neighbourhoods of Sant Pere, Santa Caterina, and La Ribera to celebrate their Saint, Saint Pedro. Saint Pedro (or Peter) is known to guard the gates to heaven, and is portrayed holding the keys to heaven in his hand. One of the features of this street festival is a large communal meal, serving traditional Catalan food and drink. There are also all of the traditional Barcelona neighbourhood festival events- castellers (towers of people), giants, correfocs (fire parades), and more.
- Date: June 29th
- Location: Sant Pere, Santa Caterina, and La Ribera
- Website
July
Festa Major Poble Sec
The Poble Sec neighbourhood festival is held from the 14th to the 21st of July, and consists of similar festivities to the other street and neighbourhood festivals in Barcelona. It is coordinated by the Coordinadora d’Enitats del Poble-Sec, and the activities are divided among spaces such as Plaça del Sortidor, Plaça de les Tres Xemeneies, and the Molino Theater. There are plenty of shows, events, and activities for people of all ages. The festival has been celebrated since the 1990s, and it is known for its dancing and music, as well as Castellers (the human towers).
- Date: July 14th to 21st
- Location: Poble Sec Neighbourhood
- Website
Festa Major del Raval
If you’re looking for a way to immerse yourself in not only Catalan culture, but a larger variety, then visit Festa Major del Raval. The whole neighbourhood participates in a multitude of cultural activities that are meant for not only adults but also children. You can find shops, restaurants, communal meals, music, dancing, and art from a multitude of cultures and countries. While the festival is traditionally an homage to the patron saint of the neighborhood’s main parish, the Mare de Déu del Carme, it is the intercultural mix that has characterized the neighbourhood and the festival for decades.
- Date: the weekend before July 16th
- Location: Raval Neighbourhood
- Website
August
Festa Major de Gracia
Gràcia’s festa major is regarded as the ultimate representation of the neighbourhood’s identity, and one of the biggest street and neighbourhood festivals in Barcelona. The festival consists of a number of events that bring together traditional and popular culture. A portion of the celebration is organized by residents’ groups, each of which is in charge of a particular street or plaza. Due to the involvement of the people of Gràcia, there are now a week’s worth of events taking place in every nook and cranny of the ancient town.
The Fundació Festa Major de Gràcia brings together all of the associations throughout the neighbourhood that decorate the streets and squares, and is the best place to find any specific details about the festival. Each area has its own theme and decorations, and the residents are not afraid to go all out. This is definitely not a festival to miss!
- Date: Week of August 15th
- Location: Gràcia Neighbourhood
- Website
Festa Major de Sants
Festa Major de Sants takes place right after Festa Major de Gràcia. The celebration is similar to the one in Gràcia, with residents decorating the streets and organizing activities. Festa de Sants celebrates the feast of the patron of the district, San Bartolomé. Activities include bastoners (groups of dancers who perform balls de bastons, or stick dances), concerts, workshops, dances and games.
- Date: Week of August 24th
- Location: Sants Neighbourhood
- Website
September
Festa Major de Poblenou
Just like most other neighbourhoods in Barcelona, the people of Poblenou also organise different festivities for the whole neighbourhood. There are many different activities one can participate in, as well as cultural events and concerts to attend, all throughout the neighbourhood. Some notable events include community meals, sports competitions, and art shows.
- Date: September 8th to 17th
- Location: Rambla del Poblenou 49
- Website
Festa Major D’horta
‘Festa Major d’Horta’ is a party that takes place in honour of the patron saint, ‘Saint Gaudentius’, and dates back all the way to 1731. Each year, the people of Horta take part in a special ceremony in front of the Sant Joan D’Horta parish church. There are concerts taking place, a wide range of children’s activities, sports events, community meals, as well as many of the typical Barcelona street and neighbourhood festival events.
- Date: September 10th
- Location: D'Horta Neighbourhood
- Website
Festa Major de la Barceloneta
Barceloneta is a neighbourhood that has played a very important role in the history of Barcelona. Back in the day, it was a seafarers’ and fishermen’s neighbourhood, but also has an important past of workers and craftsmen. The land where Barceloneta is now located was reclaimed from the sea. The ‘Festa’ is held in honour of Sant Miquel del Port, who was chosen as the neighbourhood’s saint by St Michael; the captain-general of Catalonia.
- Date: September 29th
- Location: Barceloneta neighbourhood
- Website
October
Festa Major de Sarrià
In the first week of October the neighboirhood of Sarrià comes together to organize the festival of Sarrià. Everyone takes part by decorating their balconies and building façades. There are community dinners around the streets of the historical center and of course there is a parade with giants and other special figures.
This celebration is a way for the people of Sarrià to affirm their identity, seeing as it was not officially seen as a part of Barcelona for a long time. The Festa Major is held in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary. It is a festivity worth attending. From musical parades to competitions and fire spectacles, there is plenty to see and do for people of all ages.
- Date: First week of October
- Location: Sarrià Neighbourhood
- Website
Festes del Roser (La Rambla en Flor)
On the day of the Mare de Deu del Roser (Our Lady of the Rosary) Festes del Roser, also known as Festa Major de la Rambla is celebrated. This celebration dates back to 1962 and is known to many as the flower festival, since you will see flowers everywhere around the city. In honor of this celebration free access to places such as Palau Guell, Paula Moja and Gran Teatre del Liceu is given to everyone. Some of the buildings that will look especially beautiful and that you can not miss are: Museu Marítim, Arts Santa Mònica, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Palau de la Virreina and the Columbus monument.
- Date: October 7th to 9th
- Location: La Rambla
- Website
Festa Major de les Corts
This festivity has already been around for 216 years. Culture, music, poetry and an array of wonderful activities make this festivity an amazing celebration.It celebrates ‘Our Lady of Remedies’. One peculiar tradition that you might spot is pregnant women with a silk ribbon. It is believed that this could be helpful with regard to giving birth.
Tradition is very valuable to the Catalan people, however, this festivity has a modern touch, which is representative of the neighborhood’s cultural diversity. If you do not want to miss out on any of the celebrations, then make sure to visit the three squares: Can Roses, Comas and Concòrdia. Like with many of the Catalan celebrations, a parade and the giants will be a crucial part of the festivity. The festivity starts off with a big bonfire, after which a parade and a wide range of activities follow.
- Date: Second weekend of October
- Location: Les Corts neighbourhood
- Website
November
Festa Major del Clot - Camp D L’arpa
This festivity organized by the neighbourhood ‘Clot’ and Camp de l’Arpa is celebrated in honour of Sant Martí. Sant Martí was one of the most loved saints during the Middle Ages. Numerous villages have been named after this Saint, which goes to show the level of popularity of this Saint in Catalonia. As with many other neighbourhood festivities around Barcelona, there will be human towers (castellers), a parade of giants (cercaviles) and a traditional fire run (correfoc).
- Date: November 11th
- Location: Sant Martí district
- Website
Festa Major de la Verneda I Sant Martí
Taking place over the span of two weekends, the neighbourhood of La Verneda celebrates Festa Major de la Verneda I Sant Martí. Celebrations include the giants’ procession (cercavila gegantera), the human tower shows of the Castellers de Barcelona, the music procession and the final singing of Havaneres (cantada d’havaneres). The La Verneda neighbourhood is part of a village that dates back all the way to the 11th century. Up until the 1950’s, this was a rural neighbourhood. It transformed to the neighbourhood we know today through various town planning initiatives.
- Date: Two weekends near November 11th
- Location: La Verduna neighbourhood
- Website
Festa Major de la Sagrea
The reason for the celebration is the Christ the King festival (Festa del Crist Rei) which marks the end of the liturgical calendar and the beginning of the most important celebration in the Catholic Church; Advent. The celebration is therefore dedicated to Christ the King. Similar to other the festivities in the other neighbourhoods, the parish of Sagrera includes the procession of the giants (cercavila gegantera), a dance festival, the fire run (correfoc) by the local devils’ group known as the ‘Colla del Drac I Diables de la Sagrera’.
- Date: November 16th to 26th
- Location: Sagrea neighbourhood
- Website
Festa Major De Sant Andreu De Palomar
The Festa Major de Sant Andrei de Palomar start off with a festive ‘’explosion’’ that showcases the neighbourhood’s rich culture. Included in this festive ‘’explosion’’ are the parade of the giants (cercavila gegantera), the group of trabucaireswith their blunderbusses, the demons (diables), the dancers of the Esbart Maragall and the fire run (correfoc). On the first day, there is a procession around the neighbourhood (cercavila), which is followed by a parade with lights (passada lluïment) and traditional dances. This festivity, similar to those in other neighbourhoods is one that represents the rich culture of Catalonia.
- Date: November 30th
- Location: Sant Andreu de Palomar
- Website
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