Gràcia Festival 2019: programme and activities

This post is for Gràcia Festival 2018. The new article with the 2019 events will be published as soon as it is announced.

Barcelona loves Summer celebrations. The annual Gràcia Festival is, together with La Mercè Festival in September, one of the main ones of the city. Every August, the streets of this charming neighbourhood change colour and it welcomes visitors to its delightful squares. In 2018 it will take place from the 15th to the 21st of August. I have summarized the best of the Gràcia Festival 2018 so you can stop researching and enjoy the celebration.

Gràcia Festival 2018: top 5 things to do

There are way too many things to do in Gràcia during the festival: you can join a parade, watch modern dance, listen to some rock band or even participate in a treasure hunt. The best way to enjoy it is by strolling around and being surprised at every corner. However, there are some activities you definitely shouldn’t miss.

Walk through the decorated streets

The one thing that sets the Gràcia Festival apart from any other in Barcelona is its decorated streets. For months, the neighbours spend hours preparing these wonderful creations made with recycled elements. You can see a giant dinosaur, enter the world of Alice in Wonderland or just travel to an underwater paradise. Want to know what they have prepared for us in 2018? I have prepared a handy Google map to find where all the decorated streets will be. Remember that in the late afternoon it gets quite busy so the streets will be only one way. Prepare your own route and tell us which one is your favourite this year.

Don’t focus only on the streets. There is also a competition for the best decorated balcony! It is the turn for each neighbour to display their imagination.

OUR TIP: visit the streets at twilight (when the lights of the decorations are turned on) and early in the festival as, unfortunately, some of the creations will be damaged after the long rowdy nights.

When and where:

• The street decorations will be ready on the 15th of August but the neighbours will be working outdoors for a few days beforehand. Even if you are not here during the actual Gràcia Festival, it is always worth it to visit and see the work in progress

Enjoy the liveliness of the street parades

OUR TIP: the one parade  you shouldn’t miss is the “Cercavila de Cultura Popular”, on the first day. Here is where you will see all the different characters, from the giants to the noisy “trabucaires”.

When and where:

• Matí de Festa Major: Wednesday 15th at 1pm (Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia)
• Cercavila de Cultura Popular: Wednesday 15th at 6.45pm to 8pm (Pla d’en Salmeron to Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia)
• Cercavila de Sant Roc: Thursday 16th at 10.30am (Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia)
• Cercavila de la Convidada: Sunday 19th at 11am (Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia)
• Giants Parade through the decorated streets: Monday 20th from 11am to 2pm
  Route: Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, Mozart, Jesús, Gran de Gràcia, Luis Antúnez, Vic, Sant Cristòfol, Plaça de la Llibertat, Berga, Rambla del Prat, Gran de Gràcia, Astúries, Travessia de Sant Antoni, Sant Joa Quim, Maspons, Sant Joaquim, Travessera de Gràcia, Matilde and Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia.

Marvel at the human towers (“castells”)

This is one of the main events of the Gràcia Festival and a world-famous Catalan tradition. Groups of very dedicated people will climb on top of each other to form a human structure known here as “castell” or human tower. The brave participants are called “castellers”. Although the main day is on Saturday (including “castellers” from other areas), you can see training on the main square for some evenings beforehand.

There are many different types of human towers depending on the height, number of people on each floor or even the way that it is constructed. But I am sure you won’t expect them to also walk. This is exactly what will happen in the Gracia Festival on Friday. The “pilar caminat” (literally, walking column) is formed by 4 “castellers” on top of each other plus a supporting base of people. Together they form a column that walks from one square to the next.

OUR TIP: if you want a very close experience, arrive early and hang around the “castellers”. You might be asked to help pushing and help a bit on the building process.

When and where:

• Main human towers Day: Saturday 18th at 6pm to 9.30pm (Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia)
• Walking column (“pilar caminat”): Friday 17th at 8pm (Plaça del Sol to Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia)
• Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia tests and shows: Tuesday 14th, Thursday 16th and Friday 17th at 8pm (Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia)

Brave the Fire Run (“correfoc”)

This is one of the staples in any big Barcelona festival. Dozens of people dressed as devils will take their huge papier-mâché dragons out and parade them around the streets. What makes the event more spectacular is that sparkling fireworks are thrown on the air and towards the crowd by the devils. If you like noise and fire, this is one that you can’t miss.

Are you travelling with children? I am sure they will love the firerun but, for the younger ones, there is also a children’s “correfoc”, not so… challenging.

OUR TIP: if you are going to be close to the “correfoc”, wear cotton clothes and be sure you don’t mind being “sparkled” a bit.

Check out this video of a Fire Run in Gràcia to give you a sense of what it is like to be caught up in the middle of a correfoc. Don’t miss the last minute when they take out some of the beasts from hell! Not for the faint hearted 😉

When and where:

• Adult “correfoc”: Tuesday 21st at 10.30pm
  Route: Plaça Trilla, Gran de Gràcia, Maurici Serrahima, Torrent de l’Olla, Bellver, Plaça del Norte, Verntallat, Rubí, Torrent d’en Vidalet, Teruel, Torrent de l’Olla, Diluvi and Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia
• Children’s “correfoc”: Tuesday 21st at 10pm
  Route: Plaça del Diamant, Astúries, Plaça Virreina, Astúries, Torrent d’en Vidalet, Terol, Torrent de l’Olla, Diluvi and Plaça Vila de Gràcia

Dance the night away at the many live concerts

Most of the decorated streets and squares will have live music until late at night. There is music for every taste, from folk, rock or hip-hop to “habaneras”. This is a very Catalan tradition brought directly from Cuba  and always enjoyed with a glass of burnt rum.

OUR TIP: Walk from stage to stage to check what live music you like and don’t forget to have a mojito each time to refresh in the summer Barcelona heat.

When and where:

• Everywhere, mainly at night.

…and to not miss anything of the Gràcia Festival

For a day to day schedule of all the activities, you can also visit the official website of the “Festa Major de Gràcia 2018”. In Catalan only but a good online translator will do the trick.

If you want to be sure what is happening every minute, the Gràcia Festival 2018 also have a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

And to plan your visit on the go, you can download the app of the festival:

• Download the “Festa Major de Gràcia” app for ANDROID
• Download the “Festa Major de Gràcia” app for I-PHONE

I hope that, if you are lucky enough to visit Barcelona on these dates, you enjoy this very special free activity. Don’t forget that our scheduled walking tours are not affected by the festival and they will be running every day. Have a fantastic time!

Main photograph: decorated street at Gràcia Festival by dr_zoidberg