Barcelona's biggest annual festival celebrates Mare de Deu de la Merce, the Patron Saint of Barcelona, who according to legend did a good job in removing a tiresome plague of locusts that once visited the city. They never came back so she is still protecting us! To honour her La Mercè festival has over 500 big and small activities, parades, concerts, firework displays, air shows, a 10km run and lots more events happening through out the city of Barcelona from the 21st of September until 24th September.A festival not only dedicated to the cultural aspect of Barcelona, but the fun aspect, this festival has been running since 1902 and is definitely worth a visit.
The activities are fall into 4 main areas:
The Festival of Music
Concerts in the streets and parks all over Barcelona, including the BAM music festival
The Festival of Tradition
Castellers competitions (human towers), capgrossos and gegant parades (dwarves with big heads and giants) and an entire menagerie of festive animals, accompanied by guests from Mediterranean countries.
The Festival in the Sky - Festa al Cel
The biggest event of the the Air festival is the acrobatic airshow featuring jets, balloons and gliders and more. This event is actually at the weekend after the Merce and takes place on Sunday 30th September at the Parc del Forum at 09.00 to 14.00
The Festival of Fire
All types of sparks, from the pyrotechnical fireworks and music show to the correfoc (literally a fire-run).
Food and wine tasting festivals
There are several smaller festivals that are part of the Merce festival. A popular one is the "25a Mostra de Vins i Caves de Catalunya" - which is wine tasting from the Catalan vineyards. That is on September 21, 22 and 23rd on the Moll de la Fusta, which is the waterfront quay that runs parallel to the Passeig de Colon.
Among other popular festivals during the Merce is the street book fair, Fira del Llibre, which starts during the Merce on 21st September and stays open until 7th October. It can be found on the streets of Passeig de Gracia from Plaza Catalunya to Arago. Lots of bargains to be found!
And last but definately not least we must mention the Festival Solar which takes place in the Parc de la Ciutadella. The purpose is to raise awareness of environmental issues and renewable energy.
The activities are fall into 4 main areas:
The Festival of Music
Concerts in the streets and parks all over Barcelona, including the BAM music festival
The Festival of Tradition
Castellers competitions (human towers), capgrossos and gegant parades (dwarves with big heads and giants) and an entire menagerie of festive animals, accompanied by guests from Mediterranean countries.
The Festival in the Sky - Festa al Cel
The biggest event of the the Air festival is the acrobatic airshow featuring jets, balloons and gliders and more. This event is actually at the weekend after the Merce and takes place on Sunday 30th September at the Parc del Forum at 09.00 to 14.00
The Festival of Fire
All types of sparks, from the pyrotechnical fireworks and music show to the correfoc (literally a fire-run).
Food and wine tasting festivals
There are several smaller festivals that are part of the Merce festival. A popular one is the "25a Mostra de Vins i Caves de Catalunya" - which is wine tasting from the Catalan vineyards. That is on September 21, 22 and 23rd on the Moll de la Fusta, which is the waterfront quay that runs parallel to the Passeig de Colon.
Among other popular festivals during the Merce is the street book fair, Fira del Llibre, which starts during the Merce on 21st September and stays open until 7th October. It can be found on the streets of Passeig de Gracia from Plaza Catalunya to Arago. Lots of bargains to be found!
And last but definately not least we must mention the Festival Solar which takes place in the Parc de la Ciutadella. The purpose is to raise awareness of environmental issues and renewable energy.
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