From February 12 to February 18 takes place this amazing celebration with loads of traditional activities and events, celebrations in theatres, markets, parties and fancy dress. Be part of Barcelona Carnival!
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12
Fat Thursday marks the beginning of the festival. Traditional local fat-inducing foods include ‘botifarra d’ou’ (‘botifarra’ sausage made with egg), ‘tortillas’ (omelettes) and ‘cocas de chicharrones’ (a type of sweet bread made with pork rinds).
At 6pm it’s the Carnival Arrival. The parade, with troupes of ambassadors, musicians, jugglers and acrobats, starts in the Plaça de Sant Cugat and ends at the Born Centre Cultural and following the Fuegos de Carnaval fireworks show.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13
Friday brings el Baile del Rodokí At 7pm, in the Born Centre Cultural, it’s time for a Masquerade dance, where those who want to participate will leave the choice of their dancing partner to chance via a pre-dance game.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14
Carnaval reaches all the city’s neighbourhoods on Saturday, thanks to the numerous pareades on in every district. Large floats, players, extravagant costumes, choreographed and starring people of the barrio, organisations and associations of Barcelona turn the city streets into a veritable party.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15
On Sunday takes place La Taronjada one of the big events in Barcelona’s Carnival festival.
At 4.30pm, head to Plaza Comercial the Popular Culture and Traditional Catalan Carnival Dances, where the music and dances bring out the most traditional and popular side of Carnival thanks to all the dances that are typical to various areas of Catalonia.
At 5.15pm don’t miss the Parade of the King of the Carnival. It starts off at the Mercat de Santa Caterina, and ends up in Plaza Comercial. Aside from His Majesty of Carnival, the parade will also feature the seven ambassadors from all the former independent towns now incorporated as part of Barcelona, horse-drawn carriages and a huge group of musicians, revellers in fancy dress carrying flags and all kinds of characters.
At 6.15pm the Battle of La Taronjada in Plaza Comercial, it will be the field of this battle of orange balloons and confetti. Just afterwards you can participate in the collective flash mob in the same spot.
To round out the day, at 6.30pm it’s time for the traditional Masquerade Dance.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18
For ending a very traditional event, the Burial of the Sardine. In the Parc of the Ciutadella there will be a big party with music, concerts and cartoons for the little ones. It starts at 11am. It’s just a symbolic burial at the end of Carnival that represents the end of the past and the rebirth of society with new energy and life.
Make your stay in Barcelona diferent. Be part of our traditional celebrations.
