Each August, Barcelona’s Gràcia district hosts one of the country’s most popular neighborhood festivals, the Festa Major de Gràcia. The week-long celebration turns the neighborhood into a wonderland of things to see, eat and hear.
This year’s festival will run from August 15 to 21 with parades, a human tower competition and the correfoc, or fire run. The correfoc is based on the idea that the colles de diables, or groups of devils, dance, drum and chase away spectators with spark-spewing pitchforks.
Each year, officials award a prize for the best decorated street, square and balcony, so make sure to wander about. Neighbors come together and work for months in an effort to take home the honor, decorating in a specific theme.
Although it’s a community festival, visitors are extremely welcome. Last year, thousands visited the neighborhood to watch the wide variety of more than 600 activities and more than 150 concerts.
For more information, visit
www.festamajordegracia.cat