La Rambla: annual Festival

The Rambla is dolling itself up for its annual festival from 1 to 10 October. Coinciding with the Mare de Déu del Roser festivities there will be all kinds of events taking place on this iconic avenue.

La Rambla - city festival

Since 1962, the Friends of the Rambla Association has been awarding honours to people and associations that have shown their love for the Rambla and paid special attention to the avenue in their personal, professional or association-based lives. Hotel 1898, located in La Rambla 109, is an active member of this association.

This year’s winners include Federico Mayor Zaragoza, one of the leading supporters of the Rambla’s bid to become a World Heritage Site, the Jamboree, for its contribution towards raising the level of the city’s jazz scene and boosting the cultural activities going on around the avenue, and Maria Dolors Álvarez, for the 26 years she has given to the Friends of the Rambla Association.

Next Sunday 10 of October, on the final day of the festival, any women among you named Roser are in luck because there will be a special performance of the “Mètode Grönholm” at the Poliorama theatre, where they and their companions will enjoy a 20% discount.

La Laia Festival, another festivity of Barcelona

Saint Eulalia Festival

The legend of Eulàlia tells how a thirteen year old girl who lived in a farmhouse in Sarrià rebelled against the Roman Emperor Diocles’ persecution of Christians. Eulàlia, or Laia for short, was sentenced to death but she never gave up fighting for her beliefs.

Today, this girl – Saint Eulalia – is the joint patron saint of Barcelona and star personality of the city’s winter festival. A festival aimed at every child in Barcelona who bears that extremely courageous girl’s spirit of solidarity.

On Friday, 12 February there will be the night parade and the city’s Eagle Dance, inside the Santa Maria del Mar basilica. Remember that giant figures, with Laia herself at the head, will be the special guests of this festival, which will also feature parades and dancing throughout its days.

Plaça Reial will be bursting with frenetic energy from 11am, when the city’s giants and historic mythical beasts take part in one of the most eye-catching and traditional street parades of this festival.

Barcelona's Eagle Dance

Another must-see event of this festival is the “correfoc” or running firework display. On Sunday, 14 February Plaça de Sant Jaume will fill up with little devils at 6.30pm and, afterwards at 8pm, Avinguda de la Catedral will be the setting for fire and colourful flames at the traditional Santa Eulalia “correfoc”.

The Teatre Poliorama, the Macba and the Museu Marítim are staging music, dance and theatre shows for all the family. You’ll be able to enjoy performances such as “En Joan sense poro Nautilus“, discover the world of dance, take part in workshops, experience the best of hip-hop and relax to music played by ensembles and chamber groups.

Santa Eulàlia Festivity website