Girona Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Girona, Catalonia, Spain)

As well as celebrating Spain's national public holidays, Girona has its own calendar of fairs, fiestas and other events, which tend to be spread fairly evenly throughout the course of the year and are usually always well-attended.

These often include processions, parades and fireworks, with many of these festivities and festivals relating directly to the city's ancient past, its religious heritage, traditional Spanish music, and Catalan food and drink. Other events are an excuse to celebrate the city's love of sports, theatre and the cinema.

Each February, Girona's Mardi Gras marks the arrival of carnival time, with a number of popular masked balls being staged, along with colourful, costumed parades through the streets. When March comes along, so does Gastronomy Week (every other year) and the Easter-time celebrations that form Holy Week, while in April, the Spring Festival and St. George's Day are amongst the biggest events. These are followed in May by the flower extravaganza that is the Temps de Flors and a half-marathon race, and in June by the Eve of Sant Joan, where evening fireworks provide a splash of excitement.

Girona Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Revetlles de Cap d'Any - Girona's Cathedral bells ring out from midnight to celebrate the start of a New Year. A concert is also held at this time.
• Parade of the Three Kings - the Three Kings journey through the streets of Girona to Les Pedreres.

February

• Mardi Gras - carnival time comes to Girona for four days. Fancy dress parades and traditional carnival activities take to the streets.
• Gastronomy Forum - this biennial event is part of an international gastronomy conference, which also includes a large trade fair and cookery demonstrations.

March

• Gastronomy Week - restaurants from all over Girona and surrounding areas serve the best of traditional local Catalan cuisine.
• Holy Week - starts with Good Friday. The city's Easter events include the appearance of ancient Roman soldiers.

April

• Spring Festival - held the week before St. George's Day. A range of events are staged, including the hoisting of the Tarlà (a large stuffed doll), the colourful symbol of the city.
• St. George's Day - a traditional Catalan event in which flower sellers and book stalls fill the streets of Girona.

May

• Temps de Flors - gardens, courtyards and buildings in Girona are festooned with flowers for ten days. This spring festival of flowers also features art installations and cultural events.
• Half Marathon Road Race - a popular race through the streets of the city, which also includes a shorter 10-km / 6-mile route for runners.

June

• Eve of Sant Joan - also known as Firefox Night. Dancing, bonfires and fireworks are all part of the festivities. At sunrise, traditional 'coca' cake is eaten.

July

• Festival of World and Sacred Music - held over the first ten days of July.

August

• International Non-Professional Theatre Festival of Girona - amateur actors gather to showcase their performance skills in what has become an established event on the theatre group circuit.

September

• Napoleonic Sieges Festival - a host of activities take place related to past events from the Peninsular War.
• Cinema Festival - cinema-lovers get to enjoy screenings of new films.
• Destapat Girona - a tapas festival that brings together the city's restaurants.

October

• Temporada Alta - an arts festival is held in Girona and Salt over the course of three months.

November

• St. Narcissus's Fair and Festival - a trade fair, carnival, music concerts, fireworks and street markets all make up this much-loved celebration in the city.

December

• Girona Film Festival - this three-day event showcases the best in independent Spanish cinema. The judging panel is made up of key players from the European film industry.
• Christmas Race - a seasonal sailing regatta in waters off the Costa Brava, at Palamos, near to the city.
• Pista de Gel - ice skating is held every December at the Palau de Fires in Girona.