November in Barcelona

What to do in November in Barcelona?

Finally, cooler weather is arriving to Barcelona. But as with every other month, there is still plenty to do and see around the city! It is a time for warmer drinks, sweaters and a wide range of festivities. With the amazing celebrations of Castanyada and Halloween, we move into November. This means that it is time for Cursa Jean Bouin, Black Friday, and various local festivities.

Our tips for activities and events in November in Barcelona

Holidays in November in Barcelona

Dia de Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day)

The first day of November is famously known as All Saints’ Day, or Dia de Todos Los Santos. As a national public holiday, All Saints’ Day has its roots in Christian tradition and is known as the official day to honour the dead, and is closely tied to La Castanyada. In Spain, people put flowers on the graves of the loved ones that have passed and attend a church service in their honour. As a national public holiday, most shops will be closed. For those that are interested in knowing more about this day, one can visit the cemetery museum at Montjuïc to see the collection of funeral carriages. 

Castanyada - Halloween - October and November in Barcelona
Castaween in Barcelona

Manifesta 15 Barcelona Metropolitana

From the 8th of September to the 24th of November 2024, Manifesta, the European Nomadic Biennial, will come to Barcelona and the wider metropolitan region for its 15th edition.

 

Manifesta 15 Barcelona Metropolitana aims to bring new perspectives to Barcelona and its surrounding regions. Through artistic interventions in prominent historical venues and industrial sites never before opened to the public, the biennial is dedicated to fostering positive social change through art, urbanism, design, architecture and the involvement of local communities.

 

Check out the 12-week programme featuring projects, interventions, events, and talks across 12 cities, with over 90 local and international participants.

Music & culture

Music

One of the biggest parts of Spanish and Catalonian culture is the importance of music! From traditional folk and jazz and classical music to more current genres like EDM, reggaeton and mainstream pop, music festivals in Barcelona host a plethora of options for music-lovers of all tastes and preferences. 

Neighbourhood Festivities in November 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. 

Festa Major de Sant Andreu de Palomar

Sant Andreu de Palomar, now part of Barcelona’s Sant Andreu district, retained its unique identity as a former municipality until 1897. Known for its strong traditions and rich associations, including century-old organisations such as the ‘Centre Cultural els Catalanistes’ and ‘Casal Catòlic de Sant Andreu’. The majority of these associations are very involved in the process of planning the cultural, recreational and sporting events of the Festa Major. The festival begins with Esclat Andreuenc, a cultural “explosion” featuring giants, trabucaires, and Esbart Maragall dancers. The Sant Andreu devils’ groups also host the traditional correfocs. Named after Saint Andrew, the area dates back to the 11th century, with “Palomar” referring to its historic dovecotes.

World Press Photo Exhibition

The World Press Photo Exhibition is on its 2024 worldwide tour, showcasing this year’s most impressionable and telling photographs. These photographs are selected by an independent jury that has reviewed over 60,448 photographs from 3,752 photographers. This unique exhibition showcases the world we live in today through the most impressive photographs. This year, the exhibition is taking place from 8th November through to 15th December, giving visitors plenty of time to attend.

Christmas lights

The Christmas lights in Barcelona, also known as “Llums de Nadal”, are truly a spectacular sight with over 110km of colourful and festive lights throughout the city. Barcelona’s incredible Christmas lights will be unveiled on 28th of November on Passeig de Gràcia, and will remain up until the 6th January. 

 

Lights may be on from 5:30pm until 1am from Sundays to Thursdays, and from 5:30pm to 2am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and the eve of public holidays. 

 

The designs are varied, encompassing both traditional lights and also highly innovative luminations. The overall budget from the City Council for all seasonal lighting this year is 3.3 million euros, around 13% more than last year, which highlights the scale of the Christmas light show.

Other Events in November in Barcelona

25N

November 25th, international day for the elimination of violence against women, houses more of a demonstration than a festival. This past November, a recorded 40,000 people were in attendance for a rally, with the main goal of protesting against gender-based violence. But despite its heavy topic, the day is filled with hope and community, and an empowerment unlike anything else. 

 

In addition to the manifestations held in the city, Barcelona also hosts an annual 25N Award. Run by the Barcelona City Council, the prize is awarded to one of the many nominated projects dedicated to eliminating gender violence in the city. The award is 15,000 euros, and the awards ceremony held every year involves musical performances and speeches from important people in the city.

Go Shopping On Black Friday

As in many other cities and countries nowadays, many Barcelona stores also participate in the traditionally American concept of ‘Black Friday’, the day after Thanksgiving in the USA marked by heavily discounted shopping. This year, that day falls on 29th November. The retail sector uses the term to indicate that prices of products will be reduced and that there will be good deals. For many people, ‘Black Friday’ is the day to go shopping for presents for all the upcoming festivities, including Christmas.

Explore famous 'tourism spots'

With November being a low season for tourism, now is one of the best times to visit some of Barcelona’s famous sites if you haven’t already – and without the burden of tourism crowds! While there are a million cool things to see and do in Barcelona, some of the city’s famous highlights include: popular museums, like the Picasso Museum, Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Batlló, Casa Mila (La Pedrera), Casa Vicens, Park Güell, and of course La Sagrada Familia.

Calendar

Things to do in November in Barcelona

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