|
The English-language website www.spain.info has a section dedicated to Spanish festivals.
|
|
|
Tickets for Festival del Grec
& Festival Internacional de Jazz are available from the Caixa de
Catalunya ticket line 902 10 12 12.
|
|
Festes de la Mercè Barcelona’s main festival is a riotous week-long celebration in honour of La Mercè . The night sky lights up with fireworks, outdoor concerts are held, and there’s barely a bottle of cava left in the city by the festival’s end. Processions and parades feature gegants (giant wooden figures operated by people). El Dia de Sant Jordi On
this spring day, Barcelona is transformed into a vibrant, open-air book
and flower market. Men and women exchange presents of roses, to
celebrate Sant Jordi and books, in tribute to Cervantes and Shakespeare, who both died on 23 April 1616. Verbena de Sant Joan In
celebration of Saint John, and the start of summer, this is
Catalonian’s night to play with fire and play they do, with gusto.
Fireworks streak through the night sky and bonfires are set ablaze on
beaches and in towns throughout the region. Festa Major de Gràcia During this week-long festa,
(the largest party of the summer), revellers congregate in Gràcia’s
decorated streets. Parades, open-air concerts, fireworks and plenty of
beer and cava fuel the infectious merriment. Carnaval in Sitges The buzzing beach town of Sitges
explodes during Carnaval, celebrated in flamboyant fashion.
Over-the-top floats parade among drag queens, lip-synching contests and a
fresh-off-the-beach crowd warmed by sun and plenty of beer. Festa de la Patum The village of Berga (90 km/ 60 miles north of Barcelona) hosts one of Catalonia’s liveliest festivals. The event gets its name from the folks who used to chant patum
(the sound of a drum). Streets spill over with merrymakers as fireworks
crackle and dwarfs, devils and dragons dance atop parade floats. Festa del Aquelarre The small town of Cervera (100 km/62 miles west of Barcelona)
erupts with parties, parades and concerts for this festival. The
epicentre is C/de les Bruixes, a medieval alley that cuts through the
old town. Castells
Castells is one of Catalonia’s most spectacular folk traditions. Trained castellers
stand on each other’s shoulders to create a human castle – the highest
tower takes the prize. The crowning moment is when a child scales the
human mass to make the sign of the cross. Castells are often performed in Plaça Sant Jaume. Sardanes “The magnificent, moving ring” is how Catalan poet Joan Maragall described the sardana, Catalonia’s regional dance. Subdued yet intricate, it is performed to the tunes of the cobla, a traditional brass and woodwind band. Sardanes can be seen in Plaça de la Seu and Plaça Sant Jaume year round . Catalan Christmas & Cavalcada del Reis The Nadal
(Christmas) season begins on 1 December with the arrival of the festive
artisan fairs. On 5 January is the Cavalcada dels Reis, the spectacular
Three Kings Parade. In Barcelona, the kings arrive by sea and are
welcomed by city officials in front of transfixed children.
Top 10 Music, Theatre & Art Festivals
Festival del Grec Barcelona’s largest music, theatre and dance festival. Festival del Sónar This electronic music and multimedia festival has technology fairs and musical events. Festival Internacional de Jazz Big-name and experimental live jazz. Sitges International Film Festival The foremost fantasy film festival in the world. Festival de Música Antiga Concerts of early music in the Barri Gòtic and at L’Auditori. Clàssica als Parcs Classical music concerts are held in the city’s parks. Festival de Guitarra International guitar festival. Festival de Músiques del Món Ethnic and world music acts at L’Auditori. Festival de Flamenco A week of outstanding flamenco music at the CCCB in the Raval. Festival de Música The Spanish village of Llívia, just over the French border, presents choral groups and orchestras from around the world. Llívia Aug & Dec 972 89 60 11
|
