EVENTS
Public Holidays
May 1 - Labour Day
Jan 1 - New Year's Day
Sep 11 - Catalan National Day
Aug 15 - Feast of the Assumption
Mar/Apr - Good Friday
Jan 6 - Reis (Epiphany or Three Kings Day)
Mar/Apr - Easter Monday
Jun 24 - Feast of St John the Baptist
May/Jun - Whit Monday
Oct 12 - Spanish National Day
Sep 24 - Festes de la Mercè
Dec 6 - Constitution Day
Dec 26 - Boxing Day or St Stephen's Day
Dec 25 - Christmas Day
Dec 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Annual Events
January
Dia de Reyes (Three Kings Day) – January 6th, gift giving festival
with firework displays
Festes dels Tres Tombs – January 17th, part of the district festival
of Sant Antoni Abat
February
Feast of Santa Eulàlia – parades of 'gigantes' (medieval
dances)
March
Carnival – this carnival is held at the beginning of Lenten season
and there are also a series of religious festivals
April
Feast of Sant Jordi (Diada de San Jordi)– April 23rd, book stalls
are set up and flowers are exchanged by couples
Feast of Virgin of Montserrat – choir singing and 'sardana' dancing
May
Corpus Christi – carpets of flowers, processions and a 'dancing
egg' is balanced on the cathedral's fountain
Dia de Sant Ponc – a herb fair in Carrer de l'Hospital, with fresh
herbs, flowers, cakes, sweets and aromatic oils
June
Feast of Sant Joan – June 23rd to 24th – with fireworks
and general feasting
Grec Festival – end of June / beginning of July, this is a festival
of theatre and music of all descriptions
Sonar – celebration of electronic music (claimed to be Europe's
biggest event of this kind)
Gay and Lesbian Festival – around June 28th, this festival features
a parade starting at the Placa de l'Universat on the Saturday evening
July
Gaude Home - popular men's fashion show
August
Assumption Festa Major – August 15th to 21st, celebrations and
local parties in the streets of Gracia during the week leading up to Assumption
September
La Diada – Catalan national day with many demonstrations and much
flag waving
Mare de Dèu de la Mercé (Our Lady of Mercy)– week
of celebrations to in honour of Barcelona's patron
BAM – around September 24th, free musical performances for the Feste
de Mercé, taking place in the squares, city centre and waterfront
October
Textile Exhibition – mid October
Festival de Tardor – October to November, classical and contemporary
theatre, music, dance, cabaret and exhibitions
November
Festival Internacional de Jazz de Barcelona – lasting for about
a week and many large venues in the city, this jazz festival features
many international jazz musicians
December
Christmas Fairs – many fairs and Christmas markets selling figurines
and festive goods outside the cathedral and at Sagrada Familia
Swimming cup - December 25th, annual Christmas swimming cup where people
dive into the icy waters of the port
New Year's Eve – general festivities and parties throughout Barcelona
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