Catalan Festivals!
Catalonia (Catalunya) is a country within a country (it is an autonomous community of Spain).
It has it’s own language (Catalan) and culture, with traditions and festivals (festas) going back a thousand years.
Nothing so clearly tells you about a country’s identity than its festivals...
and Catalonia has a lot of festivals.
The Spanish or Catalans in this case love any excuse to have a party.
There are loads of saints days, Easter parades, Spring fairs and flower displays.
Love is celebrated, saints are celebrated, the sea is celebrated (pirates and fishermen). Fireworks and bangers regularly fill the air and your ears through out the summer.
 |
 |
 |
In fact many festivals are associated with fire and often feature a correfoc (a parade of fire-spitting beasts that light fireworks, while dancing to the beat of drums).
Other particularly impressive festivals events are the human towers (castelleres) of up to 10 people high and the giants (gegants) with their massive papier-mache heads towering above the crowds. |
 |
 |
Even if there is nothing apparent to celebrate, local festivals take place in most towns and villages all through out the summer, which frequently include sardana dancing (Catalan folk dancing...all the oldies always get up for this one).
One of the most popular Catalan festivals and a massive tourist attraction are the Habaneras.
As well as traditional festivals, Catalonia also holds many music festivals of all types of music (classical, pop, rock, electronic, jazz, flamenco...). The music festivals are coloured in grey below.
 |
 |
 |
If a festival overlaps two months we mention it in both months.
 |
 |
 |
Catalonia Festivals...
Costa Brava Festivals - JANUARY
| When | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| 5 January - in the evening | All towns and villages | Parade of the 3 Kings - usually on horseback, pulling carts of presents. The kings arrive surrounded by bands of drummers and flute players and throw sweets to all the children in the crowd - kids absolutely love this festival as you can probably imagine! |
Costa Brava Kings Day Festival in Girona....
Costa Brava Festivals - FEBRUARY
| When | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
Costa Brava Festivals - MARCH
| When | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
Costa Brava Festivals - APRIL
| When | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| Easter (maundy Thursday evening) | Verges | Reenactment in the streets of the Passion of Christ, followed by the Dance of the Dead (Dansa de la Mort) - people dressed as skeletons run through the candle lit streets - it’s great fun but get here early! |
| Easter | Bellcaire | Roman pageant |
| 23 April | Most villages, towns and cities | The Feast of Sant Jordi (Catalonia’s patron saint) - on this day friends and lovers give each other gifts of books and roses, and so the streets are lined with book and flower stalls |
Costa Brava Festivals - MAY
Costa Brava Festivals - JUNE
| When | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| 1 June | L’Estartit (Port) | Medes Island Image and Environment (MIMA) Festival (underwater images) |
| 1 - 3 June | Barcelona | Primavera Sound - an internationally acclaimed electronic music, pop and rock festival (www.primaverasound.com) |
| 10 June (all day) | L’Estartit (Consell Municipal i carrers) | Corpus Christy Floral Carpet Festival |
| 14-16 June | Barcelona | Sonar - music and multimedia art festival (www.sonar.es) |
| 15-16 June (22.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Port) | Catalan music festival |
| 17 June (13.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Placa de L’Esglesia) | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) festival |
| 23 June (mid-summer night) | Most villages, towns and cities | The Feast of Sant Juan - to celebrate the summer solstice, bonfires are lit in the squares and streets of villages, towns and cities and fireworks and music can go on all night (word of warning - kids let bangers off for days in advance) |
| 23 June (19-23.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Placa Llevantina) | Music concert followed by fireworks on the beach |
| 23 June - 11 September | Sant Feliu de Guixols (Monastery Sant Feliu de Guixols) | International Music Festival de la Porta Ferrada (the oldest music festival in Catalonia created in 1958) - music, theatre and dance (www.portaferrada.guixols.cat/portaferrada/) |
| 24 June (19.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Pels Carrers) | Human Tower (teams of all ages build human towers (castells) - although this a particular tradition of the Camp de Tarragona and Penedes regions - it is now found in all other parts of Catalonia. The castells can be frighteningly high, especially because the person on the top is usually about 5 years old!) |
| 24 June (22.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Placa Llevantina) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum (delicious) |
| 28 June -10 July | Girona | Religious Music and Food of the World Festival - there are stalls serving food from all around the world and rows of tressel tables and chairs set up outside the cathedral - a fantastic setting for whiling away a warm evening eating delicious food (www.ajuntament.gi/musiquesreligioses) |
| 29 June | Tossa de Mare, Sant Pere Pescador, Begur, Calella de Palafrugell | Fesitval for Sant Pere - religious procession, Catalan folk dancing (sardanas), fire crackers and fireworks. |
A typical Costa Brava Spring festival. This one is in Palafrugell...
Costa Brava Festivals - JULY
| When | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| 23 June - 11 September | Sant Feliu de Guixols (Monastery Sant Feliu de Guixols) | International Music Festival de la Porta Ferrada (the oldest music festival in Catalonia created in 1958) - music, theatre and dance (www.portaferrada.guixols.cat/portaferrada/) |
| 28 June -10 July | Girona | Religious Music and Food of the World Festival - there are stalls serving food from all around the world and rows of tressel tables and chairs set up outside the cathedral - a fantastic setting for whiling away a warm evening eating delicious food (www.ajuntament.gi/musiquesreligioses) |
| July (every Wednesday 22.00 hours) | L’Escala | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) |
| 1 - 31 July | Barcelona (Montjuic) | Teatre Grec Festival d’Estiu de Barcelona This open air festival is the most popular Barcelona music, dance and theatre festival (www.grec.bcn.cat/en) |
| July - August | Sant Feliu de Guixols | Festival Internacional de la Porta Ferrada - festival of classical music, theatre, dance, jazz, pop and world music (www.portaferrada.com) |
| 2 July (22.00 hours) | Tossa de Mare (Socors Carrers) | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) festival |
| 3 July (10 - 19.00 hours) | Banyoles (Paratge dels Desmais | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) festival |
| 6 - 7 July | Barcelona | Festival Cruilla - a festival of different types of music (www.cruillabarcelona.com) |
| 7 July (22.30 hours) | Begur (Placa de la Vila) | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) |
| 7 July | Jaffre | Artisan Beer Festival (Festival de Cervesa Artisanal) - Jaffre is a lovely little town and its streets are lined with stalls selling beer from all over Catalonia...we really enjoyed sampling quite a few of them ;o) There are also stalls selling all sorts of things, from dried mushrooms to clothes |
| first Saturday in July (22.30 hours) | Calella de Palafrugell (Port Bo Beach) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum (this is the most famous Habanera festival on the Costa Brava and is extremely popular. Get here early and be prepared for big crowds) (www.havanerescalella.cat) |
| 7 July (22.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Placa Llevantina) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum |
| 8 July (22.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Placa de L’Esglesia) | Traditional popular dance festival |
| 9 July (22.30 hours) | Platja d’Aro (Cavell Bernat) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum |
| 10 July (22.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Placa de L’Esglesia) | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) |
| 13 - 15 July (19.00 hours onwards) | L’Estartit | Beatles Weekend (a series of concerts of Beatles music) |
| 14 July (22.30 hours) | Begur (Placa de la Vila) | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) |
| 14 July (18.30 hours) | L’Estartit (Pels Carrers) | Festival of giants - a parade of men and woman dressed at giants (I find this one a little scary actually - I guess it depends if you like giants) |
| 15 July - 21 August (22.00 hours) | Calella de Palafrugell (Botanical Gardens of Cap Roig) | Festival Jardins de Cap Roig - a festival of various genres of music and performing arts, held in the lovely botanical gardens of Cap Roig, over looking the sea Telephone (+34) 972 447 755 for tickets |
| 16 July (11.00 - 22.00 hours) | L’Estartit | Festival of Mare de Deu del Carme (the patron saint of fishermen) 11.00 - Church service 12.00 - Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) - at Pl. Esglesia 18.30 - The statue of Carme is taken from the church and placed in a small boat where she is hoisted onto the shoulders of some sailors (well, they’re dressed as sailors) and is marched towards the harbour, with the priest and a band leading the parade. Upon reaching the harbour she is placed on an actual boat along with the priest and the band and taken on a tour round the Medes Islands, lots of locals follow in their own boats making quite a spectacle heading out to sea 21.00 - Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) - at Pl. Esglesia |
| 16 July (10.30 hours) | L’Escala (Riells Beach) | Festival of Mare de Deu del Carme (the patron saint of fishermen) |
| 21 July (22.00 hours) | Sa Riera | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum |
| 20, 27 July and 3, 10, 17 August | Begur | Festival de Musica de Begur - classic music concert with some flamenco and jazz (www.begur.org) |
| 21 July - 23 August | Perelada | Festival Internacional Castell de Perelada - a festival of opera, zarzuela, ballet, chamber and symphonic music held in an open theatre and the Gothic church of Carme (www.festivalperalada.com) |
| 21 July - 23 August | Torroella de Montgri | Festival Internacional de Musica de Torroella de Montgri - classical music festival (www.festivaldetorroella.com) |
| 22 July (22.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Placa de L’Esglesia) | Traditional dances |
| 22,23,30 July | Blanes | Festival de Musica Classica El Convent - classical music festival held in Blanes convent (www.el-convent.com) |
| 24-27 July (22.30 hours) | Blanes | Costa Brava International Firework Competition - be prepared for a lot of noise! |
| 26 July (11.30-22.30 hours) | L’Estartit | Festival of Santa Ana (Saint Anne) 11.30 - Street parade 12.00 - Church service 13.00 - Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) - at Pl. Esglesia 20.30 - Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) - at Pl. Esglesia 22.30 - Festival dancing - at the beach |
| 27 July (22.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Placa Llevantina) | Traditional Catalan songs |
| 28 July (22.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Placa Llevantina) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum |
| 29 July (09.00 hours) | L’Estartit (main beach) | Swim from L’Estartit to Illes Medes - this is quite a feat, but loads of people do it. You are flanked by lifeguard boats along the route, incase you get into difficulty. |
| 29 July - 14 August (22.30 hours) | L’Escala | International Music Festival Portalblau - a festival of various genres of music www.portalblau.cat |
| 30 July - 6 August (22.00 hours) | Cadaques (Cala sa Conca) | Festival Internacional de Musica de Cadaques - this is a classical music festival and is one of the oldest music festivals in Catalonia (www.festivalcadaques.cat) |
The Cap Roig Music Festival, Calella de Palafrugell....
Costa Brava Festivals - AUGUST
| When | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| 23 June - 11 September | Sant Feliu de Guixols (Monastery Sant Feliu de Guixols) | International Music Festival de la Porta Ferrada (the oldest music festival in Catalonia created in 1958) - music, theatre and dance (www.portaferrada.guixols.cat/portaferrada/) |
| 29 July - 14 August (22.30 hours) | L’Escala | International Music Festival Portalblau - a festival of various genres of music www.portalblau.cat |
| 20, 27 July and 3, 10, 17 August | Begur | Festival de Musica de Begur - classic music concert with some flamenco and jazz (www.begur.org) |
| 21 July - 23 August | Perelada | Festival Internacional Castell de Perelada - a festival of opera, zarzuela, ballet, chamber and symphonic music held in an open theatre and the Gothic church of Carme (www.festivalperalada.com) |
| 21 July - 23 August | Torroella de Montgri | Festival Internacional de Musica de Torroella de Montgri - classical music festival (www.festivaldetorroella.com) |
| July - August | Sant Feliu de Guixols | Festival Internacional de la Porta Ferrada - festival of classical music, theatre, dance, jazz, pop and world music (www.portaferrada.com) |
| 15 July - 21 August (22.00 hours) | Calella de Palafrugell (Botanical Gardens of Cap Roig) | Festival Jardins de Cap Roig - a festival of various genres of music and performing arts, held in the lovely botanical gardens of Cap Roig, over looking the sea Telephone (+34) 972 447 755 for tickets |
| August (every Wednesday 22.00 hours) | L’Escala | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) |
| August | Barcelona | Palounge - music concerts are held every evening of the month of August (www.palaumusica.cat) |
| 2 August | L’Escala (Platja de i la Riba) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of burnt rum |
| 2 August (22.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Placa Llevantina) | Traditional Catalan singing |
| 4 August (22.30 hours) | Begur (Placa de la Vila) | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) |
| 4 August (19.00 hours) | Torroella de Montgri (Mas Pinell) | Habanera singing festival |
| 5 August (all day) | Sa Riera | Festival of the Sea |
| 6 - 15 August | Roses | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas), music festival |
| 7 August (22.30 hours) | Llafranc (Llafranc Beach) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum |
| 7 August (22.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Placa de L’Esglesia) | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) festival |
| 8 August (22.30 hours) | Begur (Placa de la Vila) | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) |
| 9 August (22.00 hours) | Torroella de Montgri (Pati de Can Quintana) | Flamenco music concert |
| 10 August | Castello d’Empuries | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas), music festival |
| 11 August (19.30 hours) | Castello d’Empuries | Festival of giants - a parade of men and woman dressed at giants |
| 11 August | Ullastret | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas), music festival |
| 11 August (22.30 hours) | Begur (Pati de les Escoles Velles) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum |
| 14 August | L’Escala (Platja de Montgo) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum |
| 15 August (19.00 hours) | Roses | Festival of giants - a parade of men and woman dressed at giants |
| 15 August | Platja d’Aro | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas), music festival |
| 15 August | Banyoles | Festival of Mare de Deu del Carme (the patron saint of fishermen) Catalan folk dancing (sardanas), music festival, fishing contest, children’s activities |
| 15 August | La Bisbal d’Emporda, Tamariu | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) and music festival |
| 16 August - 8 September | Vilabertran | Schubertiada a Vilabertran - classical music concert of Schubert’s music, held at the Monastery of Santa Maria (www.schubertiadavilabertran.cat) |
| 21 August (22.30 hours) | Portbou (Platja Gran) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum, fireworks |
| 22 August (22.00 hours) | Sa Riera | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum |
| 23 August | Llafranc | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) and music festival |
| 25-28 August | Torroella de Montgri | Festival of Sant Genis (Saint Genesiu) For a schedule of events please visit the Torroella de Montgri tourist information office |
| 25 - 26 August (18.00 hours) | L’Escala | Festival of giants - a parade of men and woman dressed at giants |
| End of August | During many village festivals | Human towers and giants |
| 30 July - 6 August (22.00 hours) | Cadaques (Cala sa Conca) | Festival Internacional de Musica de Cadaques - this is a classical music festival and is one of the oldest music festivals in Catalonia (www.festivalcadaques.cat) |
Costa Brava Festivals - SEPTEMBER
| When | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| 23 June - 11 September | Sant Feliu de Guixols (Monastery Sant Feliu de Guixols) | International Music Festival de la Porta Ferrada (the oldest music festival in Catalonia created in 1958) - music, theatre and dance (www.portaferrada.guixols.cat/portaferrada/) |
| 16 August - 8 September | Vilabertran | Schubertiada a Vilabertran - classical music concert of Schubert’s music, held at the Monastery of Santa Maria (www.schubertiadavilabertran.cat) |
| 1 September (22.30 hours) | Begur (Placa de la Vila) | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) |
| 1 September (22.30 hours) | Tamariu (Tamariu Beach) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum |
| 7 - 9 September (22.30 hours) | Begur (Tot el Poble) | Indianos Colonial Fair (Begur - Cuba) A festival that celebrates Begur’s relationship with Cuba. In the 1800’s many people left Begur to seek their fortune in Cuba. Those that returned with their new found wealth built grand colonial mansions and became known as the indianos. www.firaindians.com |
| 8 September | Olot | El Tura Festival - the main theme of this festival is the giants (gegants) a parade of men and woman dressed at giants, dancing, concerts, children’s activities and fireworks |
| 8 September (and the following week) | Cadaques | Summer Festival - Catalan folk dancing (sardanas), concerts, children’s activities and fireworks |
| 8 September (22.00 hours) | L’Estartit (Placa Llevantina) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum |
| 10 - 11 September | Castello d’Empuries (old centre) | Land of the Troubadours Festival - music, dancing and theatre |
| 11 September | Most villages, towns and cities | The Catalan National Holiday - commemorating the date on which the siege of Barcelona by the Spanish ended (when Catalonia lost its national freedoms) |
| 15 September (22.30 hours) | Begur (Placa de la Vila) | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) |
| 15 - 16 September (all day) | Girona (various locations) | Napoleonic Festival - parades commemorating the historic events that took place in Girona during the Peninsular War in the Napoleonic Period. Festivities include - recreation of battle scenes in full costume, artisans markets, demonstrations of traditional crafts and children's activities |
| 16 September (all day) | Torroella de Montgri (John Lennon Gardens) | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) and cobla bands festival |
| 21 -23 September (all day) | L’Estartit | Festival of pirates (Pirates i Corsaris a les illes Medes) The harbour of Estartit is taken over by stalls selling food, jewellery, clothes, arts and crafts, local children’s theatre groups putting on dance displays. You can even take a boat to the Medes Islands and disembark (only time of the year this is allowed) - for the schedule of boat trips to the Medes Islands please visit the l’Estartit tourist information office |
| weekend nearest to 24 September | Besalu | Sant Primuns and Felician Festival - Catalan folk dancing (sardanas), concerts, children’s activities, fishing, clay-pidgeon shooting, regatta on river in home-made boats at 12 noon on the Sunday |
Costa Brava Festivals - OCTOBER
| When | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| 2 - 3 October (11 - 14 hours) | L’Escala | Anchovy Festival - tasting anchovies and history of this fishing tradition of L’Escala |
| 12 October | Flaca | Catalan folk dancing (sardanas) and music festival |
| 14 October (18.00 hours) | Palamos | Festival of giants - a parade of men and woman dressed at giants |
| 20 - 21 October | Sant Feliu de Llobregat | Festival of Giants World Fair! The biggest parade of (giants) gegants in Catalonia. It will be a big party |
| 29 October (20.00 hours) | Girona (Cathedral stairs) | Habanera festival - the singing of sea shanties and the drinking of cremat/burnt rum |
| Through out October | Palafrugell | Jazz festival (lots of separate concerts in different locations in the town) (www.jazzcostabrava.blogspot.com) |
A typical festival of giants on the Costa Brava....
