Barcelona’s Festivals
On the Mediterranean coast of Spain is beautiful Barcelona. Spain’s second largest city and a major tourist destination, Barcelona offers stunning architecture, important museums, delectable food, and an exciting, vibrant culture. Whether staying in one of the 5 star Barcelona hotels or any of the myriad of lodgings available, visitors to this city will have a memorable trip to treasure for years to come.
Many visitors will find that planning their holiday to coincide with one of Barcelona’s many festivals will add that extra something special to their trip. The city hosts many religious and cultural events throughout the year and the celebrations offer a glimpse into the varied traditions of Spain and Catalonia.
Perhaps the most well-known festival is Sónar. Officially, a festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia Art, this three-day festival is known for its music. Usually held the third week of June, it attracts around 80,000 attendees every year. During the day, the festival consists of live concerts, technology demos, multimedia art, DJs, cinema, and record & clothing fairs. At night, separate venues offer concerts, DJs, & VDJs featuring cutting edge dance music.
The city’s main festival is Festes de la Mercè. Beginning on September 22nd, there are a variety of events leading up to the actual public holiday, which is the 24th. Parades, musical performances, sports events, and fireworks are important elements of the festival. The parade of giants features gegants (giant wooden figures). Another popular event is the contest for the highest human tower, with contestent often creating towers eight levels high.
Other festivals include Festes de Gràcia, which is a Catalonian celebration lasting a week in mid-August, Festes de Sants (which is similar to Festes de Gràcia, but held in late August on a smaller scale), Casa de l’Ardiaca in late May, and Revetlla de Sant Joan, which is the summer solstice celebration. The city also host 80 exhibitions each year, under the Fira de Barcelona.
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