The annual Catalan Festival is back this July. This popular celebration of Catalan culture in the heart of Barcelona brightens up locals and tourists evenings running throughout July, August and October.
Catalan Festival
The Catalan Festival takes place every Saturday with events taking place around the Avinguda de la Catedral and the emblematic Plaça Nova. The festival aims to promote Catalan traditions and showcase Catalan popular culture to the world and the millions of tourists who visit the city during the summer.
With events starting just before sunset, between 18.30 and 19.30, three separate groups from different cultural subsections perform each Saturday showcasing their own spectacular brand of Catalan flavour. The seasons festivities started on July 2 and continue until October 15. Spectators will enjoy the world famous Catalan “castellers” and “geganters” amongst the many other performances. “Castellers” are huge human towers and “geganters” are animated, Goliath like, papier-mâché giants that dazzle and amaze crowds of all ages.
The Catalan Festival sees a number of Barcelona’s most prominent and popular culture associations take part in the event including the Jove de Barcelona and Vila de Gràcia amongst others. Although most of the events usually include a combination of different elements of Catalan culture sometimes the events will focus on one theme. At the end of July on July 30 there is a special dance themed show where spectators will be entertained by the Esbart Sant Martí dance group. For fans of the “geganters” the Barceloneta neighbourhood group will be performing on August 20 and the Poble-Sec neighbourhood will be serving up a feast of popular culture on October 15.
During August on August 13 there is a special show held around the Cathedral for the Sant Roc de la Plaça Nova Festival. This is the oldest “Festa Major” in the city. With a ream of stunning performances this is not to be missed if you’re in Barcelona. There’s also plenty of local cuisine on offer including Volant de Sant Cristòfol and Rom Cremat throughout the festival to keep you going whilst you savour this incredible showcase of Catalan culture.
If you need accommodation near the Catalan Festival please check out our apartments in Ciutat Vella, El Born and Barrio Gotic.
How to get to the Catalan Festival
By Bus – with the lines 45, 120, N8, N70, V15, V17
By Metro – with the line L4 (yellow line) Station – Jaume I