Even though Barcelona is a very modern city, it still likes to cling on to its traditions and customs. There is one aspect of life in this city that really does illustrate this well, and it is the number of festivals that take place throughout the year.
However summer is when things really go up a notch as this is when every one of the city’s districts likes to celebrate their individuality by holding their own festivals. There are certain festivals throughout the year that I feel you really should consider visiting when you come to Barcelona.
January – King’s Day (Dia de los Reyes Magos)
This event is one of Spain’s major public holidays and is when the Spanish choose to really celebrate Christmas. This festival helps to celebrate the arrival of the 3 kings at the birth of Jesus. In Barcelona the 3 Kings arrive by special ship at the port before they then travel around the city handing out gifts. You can expect a lot of noise and colour.
March – Candy Festival (Festa de Sant Medir)
If you have a sweet tooth like me then you’ll going to love this particular festival. It takes places in the city’s Gracia District. A parade takes place between Carrer de San Salvador and Gran de Gràcia. As the parade move along these streets the participants throw out large amounts of sweets to those that line the route.
April – Saint Georges Day (Dia de Sant Jordi)
This is a festival that really you would think of the English celebrating as he is their patron saint. However he is just as important to the people of not only Barcelona but the whole of the Cataluyna region. Throughout the day various events take place, but the best places to visit during this time are Passeig de Gracia as well as Las Ramblas.
June – Fiesta de Barceloneta
This is the time to really enjoy the magic of festivals in Barcelona. As this is the one where various festivals are organised within the various districts that make up this amazing city. It doesn’t matter which part of the city you find yourself in during this time you are going to find the carnival atmosphere alive and well and so you’ll end up having a really amazing time. If you can enjoy the spectacle of the human castles (Castellers) or the parade of giants (Gigantes). Plus of course no festival in this city would be complete without some really amazing firework displays.
August – Festa Major de Sant Roque
This is one the city’s oldest festivals and has been around since the 1600’s. It takes place in the “Barri Gòtic (Old City)” and is used to celebrate Sant Roque who is said to have liberated this area of Barcelona from the plague in 1607. Throughout the festival a number of processions take place along with musical parades and traditional games are undertaken.
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