Find out what is happening in Barcelona during your holiday

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List of Public holidays in Barcelona:

• 1st January – New Year’s Day
• 5th January – Epiphany
• 19th March -St. Joseph’s Day
• Late March or early April – Maundy Thursday
• Late March or early April – Good Friday
• 1st May – Labour Day
• 15th August – Feast of the Assumption
• 12th October – National Day
• 1st November – All Saints’ Day
• 6th December – Constitution Day
• 8th December – Feast of the Immaculate Conception
• 25th December – Christmas Day

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Calendar of Events – 2012

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 couples exchange flowers
• Feast of Virgin of Montserrat— choir singing and ‘sardana’ dancing

May

• Corpus Christi — carpets of flowers, processions and a ‘dancing egg’ which is balanced at 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 feasts
• Grec Festival — end of June / beginning of July, this is a festival of theatre and music of all varieties
• Sonar — celebration of electronic music (claimed to be Europe’s biggest event of its kind)
• Gay and Lesbian Festival — around June 28th, this festival features a parade starting at the Placa de l’Universat on 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, flags, and patriotic atmosphere
• Mare de Dèu de la Mercé (Our Lady of Mercy) — week of celebrations 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 – in 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 performed in many large venues around 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 the Sagrada Familia
• Swimming cup — December 25th, annual Christmas swimming cup where people dive into the icy waters at the port
• New Year’s Eve — general festivities and parties throughout Barcelona

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FEBRUARY — here is a more detailed account of what to expect this month:

Mid-February – In the month of February you can enjoy the Feast of Santa Eulàlia. This Feast is celebrated with parades of ‘gigantes’ with locals dressed in costumes, performing medieval dances and singing.

There is always something going on here – so have a great holiday and we hope to see you soon!

The BDT team