Barcelona Events and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain)

As the capital of Catalonia and Spain's number two city, it will come as no great surprise that Barcelona comes with an extensive selection of festivals and similar things to do, with all kinds of themed events taking place here during the course of the year.

There are numerous concert venues within the city, such as the Gran Teatre del Liceu on La Rambla, which functions as the city's opera house and opened as long ago as 1847. Slightly more youthful is the Palau de la Música Catalana, which has its origins in the first decade of the 20th century and serves as both a major concert hall and a Unesco World Heritage Site.

For specific festivals and festivities in Barcelona, consider arriving in March to witness the spring carnival parade, or perhaps the Easter Holy Week celebrations may appeal. In the month of June, a lengthy Gay Pride procession takes place in the city, followed by street parties in August, when the Assumption Festa Major (Assumption Day) arrives.

Public Holidays

There are approximately fourteen accepted public holidays in Spain, which can be acknowledged on either a local or national basis. Listed below are those dates observed in Barcelona.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - Ano Nuevo / New Year's Day
• 5th January - Epifanía / Epiphany
• 19th March - Dia de San José / St. Joseph's Day
• Late March or early April - Jueves Santo / Maundy Thursday
• Late March or early April - Viernes Santo / Good Friday
• 1st May - Fiesta del Trabajo / Labour Day
• 15th August - La Asunción / Feast of the Assumption
• 12th October - Nacional de España / National Day
• 1st November - Todos los Santos / All Saints' Day
• 6th December - Dia de la Constitución / Constitution Day
• 8th December - La Inmaculada Concepción / Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• 25th December - Navidad / Christmas Day

Special Events 2014 / 2015

A variety of occasions are detailed for a taste of what Barcelona has to offer. However, the already busy social calendar of the city is continually being added to.

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 - 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