Leading festivals in Barcelona
Barcelona has year-round wild occasions filled with drinking, dancing and dressing to the nines, especially during the 15 official holidays of the year. Here are some of Barcelona’s leading festivals.
Fiesta de San Antonio Abad
Naturally, a year of fiestas begins with New Year's Day and is quickly followed by Fiesta de San Antonio Abad on January 17. This occasion is celebrated all over Spain with partying in front of bonfires, especially during the Saturday closest to the 17th.
Las Fallas
This major festival is celebrated from March 12 to 19. Families make paper mache dolls of Shrek, George W. Bush and other famous figures then parade them all over town and burn them in bonfires at the end of the day. All the while, music is playing and people are drinking and dancing. If you haven’t seen bonfires as big as buildings, just wait for the last day of Las Fallas. It looks like the whole city is on fire.
La Diada de Sant Jordi
On April 23, Barcelona celebrates this Valentine's Day of sorts and also commemorates the deaths of William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes, who passed away on the same day. It’s a special day for lovers and, naturally, party time for everyone else.
Festes de la Merce
This is one of Barcelona's biggest yearly festivals featuring fireworks, live music, processions with wooden giants and a popular contest on who can create the tallest human tower. It's also a day for drinking lots of Cava, Catalonia's national drink.
Festes de Gràcia
On August 15, Barcelona commemorates the Assumption with a week of fiestas and fireworks. It's an important Catholic occasion and the people of Barcelona celebrate it appropriately.
Fira de Santa Llúcia
This three-week celebration unfolds from December 2 to 23 and revolves around the feast day of Santa Llucia on December 13. Since Santa Llucia is the patron saint of fashion designers, the day features colorful costumes and floats. It's a favorite day of the gay community.
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