Barcelona's Festes de Gràcia: more than 200 years of decorated streets

From August 15 to 21, Barcelona's neighborhood of Gràcia'sstreets will be filled with decorations and celebrations for its 'Festa Major' local festivities. 

What are the Festes de Gràcia?

The Festes de Gràcia, or Festa Major de Gràcia, are the traditional celebrations that take place every August in Barcelona's Gràcia neighborhood. Characterized by elaborately decorated and incredibly crowded streets, this year they will take place from August 15 to 21. 

The Festes de Gràcia date back to 1817, when on August 15, the day of the Assumption, a procession was held in honor of the Virgin Mary. Locals decorated streets and balconies to look like ballrooms, and in time, the celebrations became more festive than religious. 

A so-called 'Party Committee' was founded in 1956 to coordinate all the celebrations and events taking place on each street. 

And as citizens did 200 years ago, the concerts, 'correfocs', or 'castellers' are put on thanks to locals' efforts. 

Handmade street decorations

One of the highlights of the celebrations that take place each year in Gràcia is the themed decorations that fill streets with color. 

This year, 23 streets will have handmade decorations, or 'guarnicions', that their residents have been working on all year. 

Nature inspired decorations to raise awarness about climate change and the protection of wildlife in the jungle will feature heavily on Carrer Jesús street, while Pixar's "A Bug's Life" inspired decorations will set the scene on Carrer Progrés.

Other movies that have inspired decorations this year are Alice in Wonderland, Minions, and Monsters, Inc. 

100 years participating in Festes de Gràcia

This year, two streets will be recognized to thank the generations of residents who have helped make decorations or participated in other events for more than 100 years. 

Commemorative plaques will be placed on Carrer Verdi, which has particpated in the Festa Major since at least 1862, and Carrer Mozart, which has done so since 1907. 

Solidarity and inclusivity 

The residents organizing the celebrations are committed to ensuring the festivity is inclusive and inviting for all members of the community. 

Concerts will be headed by both men and women, and many performers will be from the LGBTIQ+ community. 

There will also be a stand known as 'Punt Lila' for people to report sexist or homophobic aggressions at Plaça de la Revolució square.

It will be partially staffed by members ofthe Observatory Against Homophobia who will be able to give legal advice to victims following the uptick in physical aggression towards LGBTIQ+ individuals.

Two guided tours will be organized for people with special needs: one on Wednesday, August 16 at 10 a.m. for people with autism and one on Thursday 17 at 10:30 a.m. for the visually impaired. Attendees must sign up by sending an email to subtil@subtil.cat as spaces are limited. 

Parades, 'castells' human-towers, and fire!

More than 900 activities will take place in the streets and squares of Gràcia.

This includes the 'Cercavila', a parade with traditional Catalan big-headed 'capgros' figures and music, on August 15 to celebrate the beginning of the Festa Major.

On Thursday 17 at 6 pm, the award ceremony for the best decorated streets will take place at Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia square. 

On Saturday 19 at 6 pm, a Diada Castellera in Plaça de la Vila square will begin with different groups, known as 'colles' showing off their human-tower-building skills. 

On Monday 21, 'correfoc', performances in which people dressed as demons run through the streets setting off fireworks and firecrackers, will take place at 10 p.m. through different streets of the neighborhood starting and ending in Plaça de la Vila square to end the celebrations of Festa Major. 

Most evenings there will be folk music concerts by local groups and DJs take place in Gràcia's Plaça del Sol square, which will be dubbed Plaça del Folk during the celebrations. 

Festigàbal, organized by local concert hall Heliogabal, is a series of free concerts showcasing cultural and artistic events not included in the official Festes de Gràcia program. 

Artists like Renaldo & Clara, Neisha, and Pantocrator will perform on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 at Jardins de la Sedeta, along with various DJs.

How to get there

There are three different metro lines that go to Gràcia: L3's Diagonal, Fontana, and Lesseps stops, L4's Verdaguer and Joanic stops, and L5's Diagonal and Verdaguer stops. 

Keep in mind that the L4 is undergoing renovation works and is not running between Verdaguer and Barceloneta stations. 

The Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Gràcia train stop will also be available, as well will all the buses that pass through the neighborhood: 22, 24, 27, 39, 45, 47, 55, 87, 92, H6, H8, V17, D40,  and the N0, N4, and N6 at night.