Barcelona neighbourhood of Gràcia prepares for return of its iconic Festa Major

The iconic Festa Major de Gràcia - the traditional local street festival of the Barcelona neighbourhood of Gràcia - returns on Sunday, August 15, for one of the most unique editions of its more than 200 years of history. 

Streets will be decorated, as they always are, but this time all ornaments and displays will be hanging in the air above the visitors walking through the streets, rather than on the ground as they customarily are. 

This is done for health reasons, to open more space for visitors to walk through, and it also prevents people from touching the ornaments. The new regulation also poses a unique challenge to the neighbours who spend their time creating the elaborate designs. 

However, this year they will not be competing with one another for the prize of the best-decorated street, as the competition was scrapped for 2021. 

 

In all, 21 different streets through the area will be aligned with decorations, allowing people to wonder and awe at the fantastic work that the locals have put in over recent weeks and months. 

As usual, there are also set entrance points on the streets and directions to follow. Additionally, capacities will be limited and face masks will be mandatory at all times, as the fifth wave of the pandemic goes on. 

Back this year are the concerts to be found on various stages scattered throughout Gràcia: the Pi i Maragall stage, the Bailèn stage, and the Joanic stage, with itineraries for all events linked.

Another safety feature for this year will be that entrance to the concerts and special events will be reserved for those who have acquired tickets beforehand.  

Recently pardoned independence activist Jordi Cuixart will be inaugurating the celebrations with a reading of the proclamation on Saturday evening in Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia. 

Excitement building for locals

Residents of Gràcia working on some of the decorations are excited for the return of the true "essence" of the festival this year. 

"It has been difficult to adapt it to the pandemic," admits the head of the Festa Major Foundation, Josep Maria Contel, speaking with the Catalan News Agency. 

They believe it will mostly be a celebration for the local neighbours, "very different" from years gone by where they streets would be brimming with thousands of people. 

“It won’t be the 2019 or 2022 festival, but it will have its values ​​and elements for people to enjoy,” Contel says.

“It will be very positive for the elderly who have been home for many months and have had little chance of doing things to distract them.”