Looking for something to do next week? Gràcia’s Street Festival is upon us!
During the Festa Major de Gràcia, the streets of the Gràcia district are adorned with elaborate and creative decorations. Each street competes to create the most visually stunning and imaginative decoration based on a specific theme. These decorations often include recycled materials, handmade crafts, and various artistic elements. The competition fosters a sense of community and friendly rivalry among the residents.
The festival also features a wide range of activities, including live music performances, traditional Catalan dances, cultural exhibitions, workshops, parades, and various contests. You can find a variety of food stalls offering local cuisine, and there’s often a festive and joyful atmosphere throughout the neighborhood.
One of the highlights of the festival is the Correfoc, a fire run where participants dress up as demons and creatures from Catalan folklore, carrying torches and fireworks, creating a spectacular display of light and sound. Another notable event is the Castells, where human towers are built in a competition of strength, teamwork, and balance.
The Gràcia festival takes place between August 15 and August 21. To get to Gràcia you can take the metro to Fontana. This metro stop will land you right at the heart of Gràcia and from there you can start exploring.
Not sure which day to turn up on?
Here are the main scheduled highlights::
Monday, August 14:
- 7pm Proclamation speech for the Festa Major de Gràcia, by Andrea Porta and Àlex Cano
Tuesday, August 15
- In the morning, the noisy Cercavila or procession makes a circuit of the district for Festa Major
- in the afternoon at 6.15pm: Another cercavila, the XXIII Cercavila de Cultura Popular, with gegants (“giants”) and traditional figures
Wednesday, August 16
- The official opening of two plaques in recoginition of those who decorated the streets Verdi 81 and Mozart 21.
Friday, August 18
- Parade of Giants
- 8pm: Pilar caminat – “Walking (human) pillar” which will proceed from Plaça del Sol to the Plaça de la Vila.
- 8:30pm: Diada castellera – human towers
Saturday, August 19
- “Special guest”: the Gegants of Gràcia and the Gegants of Sallent (in Bages county).
- 6pm: Diada castellera – the main human tower contest
Sunday, August 20
- 7:15pm: Correfoc – the fire run – for the Festes de Gràcia. If you want to get close to the action, wear cotton clothes that cover you well and protect from sparks. Also, sports shoes and a hood or cap.
Decorated streets
These are the streets that will be decorated:
- Carrer Berga – Harvest 2023: A recreation of a vineyard and wine cellar
- Placeta Sant Miquel i Rodalies – Shadow Theatre by La Placeta company: Representation of shadow theatre.
- Carrer Jesús – Selva’m: This street’s theme is a wake-up call about climate change. The name seems to be a play on words: Selva = jungle. Salve’m = save me.
- Carrer Mozart – Mozartland: Inspired by Alice in Wonderland.
- Plaça Vila de Gràcia – Qualsevol nit pot sortir el sol (“Any night the sun might come out”): Inspired by the fantastic characters in Jaume Sisa’s classic Catalan tune.
- Carrer Llibertat – Rapa Nui: A tribute to the Rapa Nui culture of Polynesia and, especially, Easter Island.
- Carrer Progrés – Formigues (“Ants”): A tribute to the film A Bug’s Life by Pixar and Disney.
- Carrer Tordera – Tordernisme: Tribute to Catalan Modernisme, the great early 20th century architectural style of Barcelona, epitomised by Gaudí
- Carrer Fraternitat de Baix – Christmas: Representative elements of Christmas festivities.
- Carrer Fraternitat de Dalt – Fratern d’Oz: Adapting the name of the street itself, the inspiration comes from the movie Wizard of Oz.
- Plaça Poble Gitano – The Paper Boat: Inspired by the poem Veles e vents (“Sails and winds”) from medieval Valencian poet Ausiàs March
- Carrer Lluís Vives – Minions: A tribute to these little yellow creatures from the animated Minions movies
- Carrer Perill – Insects in Danger: All kinds of insects will grace this street for Gràcia 2023.
- Carrer Puigmartí – Natura Viva: This street’s theme is the power of nature and how it prevails over humans.
- Carrer Joan Blanques, de Baix de tot – Tocats del bolet: “Bolets” are wild mushrooms, the gathering of which is a great Catalan pursuit.
- Carrer Ciudad Real – Oasis of Peace: A simulation of a Sahrawi camp
- Carrer Joan Blanques, de Baix – Abracadabra!: As you might guess from the name, the theme is the theatre of magic and illusions.
- Carrer La Perla – Perlagueram: “Claveguaram” means sewer. Bravely, the residents of this beautiful street are recreating it as a city sewer.
- Carrer Travessia Sant Antoni – Travessia de New Orleans: Street decoration inspired by New Orleans, the city at the mouth of the Mississippi.
- Carrer Verdi del Mig – The Pied Piper of Hamelin: Inspired by the famous Brothers Grimm tale.
- Carrer Providencia – Provi S.A.: A tribute to the film Monstres, S.A. (“Monsters, Inc.”) by Pixar and Disney.
- Plaça Rovira i Trias – Alis volat propriis (Latin for “She flies with her own wings”): This decorated square will be full of butterflies eager to get out of their cages and achieve freedom.
- Plaça del Nord – A l’estiu, tota cuca viu (“In summer, every bug is alive”): The theme is the vitality and joy of people, animals and nature during the summer.
After wondering through the streets, don’t forget to vote for your favourite! You can do so on the Gracie festival smart phone app. Just search for Festa de Gracia.