Fiesta Major de Gràcia 2024 - Decorated streets with live music

About Fiesta Major de Gràcia 2024 - Decorated streets with live music

TheGràcia Festival, fiesta Major de Gràcia has become a popular tourist attraction and is the most famous fiesta major in Barcelona. In fact each Barcelona neighbourhood (and most towns and villages in Spain) have a fiesta Major del pueblo. This is a street party and celebration usually on or around the patron saints day of the village.

History of the Gràcia Neighbourhood and Fiesta Major

Gràcia was an independent town until the late 19th century when the Eixampla housing expansion swallowed Gràcia into the larger Barcelona metropolitan area. in 1897 Gràcia was oficially annexed by Barcelona City Council. Today Gràcia is a mixed neighbourhood with traditional Catalan families, elderly residents and younger people. The area is also popular with artists and has a bohemian vibe although this is disappearing because of gentrification.

The Fiesta Mayor de Gràcia remains very traditional with neighbourhood associations decorating the squares and streets. The decorations are thematical and also express traditional Catalan myths with giants, castellers, devils, etc. the Gràcia festival has many dances of swing and folk, large collective meals, concerts of habaneras, children's workshops, fairs, etc

The Fiestas de Gràcia dates from 200 years ago (earliest records from 1817) when it was organised to commemorate the patron saint of Gràcia town, Saint Isidro in mid-May (Saint Isidore is widely venerated as the patron saint of farmers, peasants, day laborers and agriculture in general, as well as brick layers) when Gràcia was surrounded by fields and was predominantly an agricultural village.

The Fiesta Major de Gràcia in modern times has been celebrated for one week starting on the 15th of August on the National holiday of Day of the Virgin Mary, La Asunción. This holy day marks the occasion of the Virgin Mary's bodily ascent to heaven at the end of her life.

The Fiesta Major de Gràcia has been designated a Traditional Festival of National Interest by the Generalitat (Catalan Government).

Fiesta Major de Gràcia 2023

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Visiting Fiesta Major de Gràcia 2024 - Decorated streets with live music

Celebrations during daylight hours are often children's workshops, puppet shows and stand up comedy with some quieter live music. Street lunches for the residents are served on long communal tables that seat 100+ people. The lunches are normally paella (made in enormous gas heated frying pans of 1m diameter) and grilled meats and vegetables from a barbecues, Cava and red wine is also served.

In the evening the neighbourhood transforms into a street party with open air bars and live music or DJs till 2 or 3 in the morning.

Opening Times Festa de Gràcia Festival

Tuesday 15th August: 09:00 - 02:00h
Wednesday 16th August: 09:00 - 02:00h
Thursday 17th August: 09:00 - 02:00h
Friday 18th August: 09:00 - 03:30h
Saturday 19th August: 09:00 - 03:30h
Sunday 20th August: 09:00 - 02:00h
Monday 21st August: 09:00 - 02:00h
Plaça Sol, Plaça Diamant and Plaça Revolució: weekdays till 01:00h, Friday & Saturday till 02:30h

Fiesta de Gràcia Opening Parade

The opening Parade of the Fiesta Major de Gràcia starts at Gran de Gràcia & Plaça de Trilla and follows Gran de Gràcia until tuning into Sant Domènec to arrive at Plaça de la vila de Gràcia.

The parade contains gegants (giant statues worn on the shoulders and paraded through the street), Dragons, Castellars (human towers), bastoners (batton dancers) & grallers (traditional Catalan reeded pipe instrument, similar in sound to a clarinet).

Thursday 15th August 2024, 18:00h.

Tori Sparks Concert

Plaça del Nord, Tuesday, August 15, 2023 22:00h & Wednesday, August 16, 2023 23:30h (Dates and times for 2024 to be published in July 2024)

Fiesta de Gràcia Casteller

Castellers is the Catalan tradition of building human towers. It is basically people standing on he shoulders of other people up to a height of 7 people and is a spectacle to watch. Human towers can be formed by groups of 50 plus people and it is a very competative 'sport' in Catalunya. Gràcia has two teams.

Friday 16th August 2024 at 20:30h in Plaça de la vila de Gràcia with the Diada Castellera de Vigílies team.

Saturday 17th August 2024 at 17:00h in Plaça de la vila de Gràcia with the Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia team.

Fiesta de Gràcia Corefoc

Wednesday 21st August 2024, from 23:00h to 00:30h. The route starts in Plaça de la vila de Gràcia and goes through Sant Domènec, St Pere Màrtir, Pere Serafí, Ros de Olano, Torrent de l'Olla, Or, Torrijos, Travessera de Gràcia, Torrent de l'Olla and finishes back in Plaça de la vila de Gràcia.

How to describe a Corefoc? well it is a bunch of 'actors' dressed up as devils, imps and dragons chasing people round the streets with firecrackers to the sound of beating tribal drums! Check out the video bellow for more context.

The Corefoc is the closing event for the fiesta de Gràcia.

Corefoc Safety tips:

Wear old cotton clothes, long sleeves, trousers. the sparks will leave tiny little burn holes in your clothes.

Cover your neck from flying sparks with a scarf or bandana and protect your hair with a hat or bandana

Protect your eyes. Shield them if the 'diables' get too close, or better buy some goggles in Decathlon.

Wear covered footwear like trainers, not sandals or flip flops

Use earplugs or cover your ears if you dont like load bangs.

Follow the instructions of Corefoc marshals and devil dancers.

What to take with you for Fiesta Major de Gràcia 2024 - Decorated streets with live music

Diagonal, Fontana, Lesseps and Gràcia stations are step free with elevators from platform to concourse and street level.