The Backpackers Hostel Blog

Gràcia’s Festa Major (its big summer festival) seeks to change its image this year. The aim is to make it a more family-friendly, amiable and neighbourly celebration.

For the annual fiesta, a total of fifteen associated squares and streets will be adorned and twelve thematic areas will be distributed over different points of the town of Gràcia. Areas like Les Nits del Claustre (Nights in the Monastery), l’Espai de la Dansa (The Dance Space) and the Tardes Clàssiques (Classic Afternoons) return, and new activities appear.

This is the case of l’Espai Líric (The Lyric Space) at Salle Gràcia School, dedicated to lyrical song and sarsuela, the classic concerts of Vetllades Màgiques (Magic Evenings) at Casa dels Músics, and the gastronomic experience of Tasta Gràcia at Plaça de Manuel Torrent, who will put on tastings, lunches and suppers for the crowds.

Various commemorative activities will mark the Mercè Rodoreda Year. One will be on Carrer d’Igualada, which will celebrate the famous writer both through its decorations and the programmed activities. There will also be a screening of the television series on the Plaça del Diamant and fragments of the works of Mercè Rodoreda will be read.

During the festival, the metro will run all night on 14 and 16 August. For the remaining days there will be a special bus service to and from Plaça de Catalunya. On Friday the 15th, the metro runs till 2 a.m., but the bus service will be reinforced. (Taken from http://w3.bcn.es) More info