The end of summer coincides with one of the most anticipated dates in Barcelona. Not only because the temperatures start to be milder and nights a bit longer. The main reason is the starting of town’s annual celebration, known as “Festes de la Mercè”. The official celebration is on September 24th. But here, that we are very party-going, we tend to lenghthen the festivities for some days. This year’s “Festes de la Mercè” will be celebrating between September 21st and 24th.
That means 4 days of cultural and musical activities, and the best of all… free and suitable for all ages.
If this is the first time you visit Barcelona during its patron saint festivities, or simply want to be informed about all the activities that can enjoy along these days, in this week’s article we are going to explain what you can find.
A great variety of concerts
On the occasion of “Festes de la Mercè” is celebrating BAM (Barcelona Acció Musical) Festival. In different locations around the city (Parc del Fórum, Plaza Real, Plaza de Cataluña, Plaça dels Àngels, Antiga Fàbrica Damm, Moll de la Fusta, Plaza Corominas or Avenida Paral.lel) several musical stages are set to celebrate diverse concerts during the four days of festivities.
Furthermore, other concerts are scheduled into another event called Mercè Música. The good thing about all the concerts to be celebrated during “La Mercè” is that all are free.
Following will find the different concerts that can enjoy, listed by day, location and starting time:
| DAY | TIME | LOCATION | ARTIST |
| 21/09 | 22:00 | Rambla del Raval | Candeleros |
| 21/09 | 23:30 | Rambla del Raval | Erotic Market |
| 21/09 | 01:00 | Rambla del Raval | Batuk |
| 21/09 | 21:45 | Plaça dels Àngels | Maisha |
| 21/09 | 23:15 | Plaça dels Àngels | Kokoroko |
| 21/09 | 00:45 | Plaça dels Àngels | Meute |
| 21/09 | 21:00 | Plaça Joan Coromines | Balago |
| 21/09 | 22:30 | Plaça Joan Coromines | Nadah el Shazly |
| 21/09 | 00:00 | Plaça Joan Coromines | Tiger Menja Zebra |
| 21/09 | 22:00 | Moll de la Fusta | Nakani Kanté |
| 21/09 | 23:45 | Moll de la Fusta | Orquestra Baobab |
| 21/09 | 01:30 | Moll de la Fusta | Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 |
| 21/09 | 20:30 | Parc de la Ciutadella | Nil Moliner |
| 21/09 | 21:30 | Parc de la Ciutadella | Animal |
| 21/09 | 22:45 | Parc de la Ciutadella | Ramon Mirabet |
| 21/09 | 00:30 | Parc de la Ciutadella | Buhos |
| 21/09 | 21:00 | Avinguda Maria Cristina | Lakaste |
| 21/09 | 22:30 | Avinguda Maria Cristina | Amaia Montero |
| 21/09 | 01:00 | Avinguda Maria Cristina | Manu Guix |
| 22/09 | 22:00 | Rambla del Raval | Tomasa del Real |
| 22/09 | 23:30 | Rambla del Raval | Oshun |
| 22/09 | 01:00 | Rambla del Raval | Ammar 808 |
| 22/09 | 21:45 | Plaça dels Àngels | Akua Naru |
| 22/09 | 23:15 | Plaça dels Àngels | Masego |
| 22/09 | 00:45 | Plaça dels Àngels | Oddisee |
| 22/09 | 18:45 | Plaça Joan Coromines | Danae & Golo |
| 22/09 | 19:30 | Plaça Joan Coromines | Paula Peso |
| 22/09 | 21:00 | Plaça Joan Coromines | Surma |
| 22/09 | 22:30 | Plaça Joan Coromines | Bruno Pernadas |
| 22/09 | 00:00 | Plaça Joan Coromines | Capicua |
| 22/09 | 21:30 | Damm Platja del Bogatell | La Iaia |
| 22/09 | 23:30 | Damm Platja del Bogatell | Love of Lesbian |
| 22/09 | 01:30 | Damm Platja del Bogatell | Fundación Tony Manero |
| 23/09 | 22:00 | Rambla del Raval | Les Filles de Illighadad |
| 23/09 | 23:30 | Rambla del Raval | Lineker e os Caramelows |
| 23/09 | 01:00 | Rambla del Raval | Pongo |
| 23/09 | 21:45 | Plaça dels Àngels | Mercury Rev |
| 23/09 | 23:15 | Plaça dels Àngels | The Monochrome Set |
| 23/09 | 00:45 | Plaça dels Àngels | Findlay |
| 23/09 | 21:00 | Plaça Joan Coromines | Ferran Palau |
| 23/09 | 22:30 | Plaça Joan Coromines | Ider |
| 23/09 | 00:00 | Plaça Joan Coromines | Warmduscher |
| 23/09 | 17:30 | Fàbrica Estrella Damm | Marina Herlop |
| 23/09 | 18:45 | Fàbrica Estrella Damm | Marina Gallardo |
| 23/09 | 20:00 | Fàbrica Estrella Damm | Témé Tan |
| 23/09 | 21:15 | Fàbrica Estrella Damm | Cléa Vincent |
| 23/09 | 22:30 | Fàbrica Estrella Damm | Side Chick |
| 23/09 | 12:00 | Avinguda Paral.lel | Avinguda Paral.lel |
| 23/09 | 18:00 | Avinguda Paral.lel | Real Combo Lisboense |
| 23/09 | 22:00 | Avinguda Paral.lel | The Mani-Las |
| 23/09 | 23:30 | Avinguda Paral.lel | Throe + The Shines |
| 23/09 | 01:00 | Avinguda Paral.lel | Nathy Peluso |
| 23/09 | 20:30 | Avinguda Maria Cristina | Filippo Landini |
| 23/09 | 21:15 | Avinguda Maria Cristina | Sidecars |
| 23/09 | 22:35 | Avinguda Maria Cristina | Celtas Cortos |
| 23/09 | 23:55 | Avinguda Maria Cristina | Projecte Mut |
| 23/09 | 00:50 | Avinguda Maria Cristina | La Pegatina |
| 23/09 | 02:00 | Avinguda Maria Cristina | LOS40 LIVE SESSIONS |
| 23/09 | 21:00 | Damm Platja del Bogatell | Dr. Prats |
| 23/09 | 23:00 | Damm Platja del Bogatell | Els Catarres |
| 23/09 | 01:00 | Damm Platja del Bogatell | Gertrudis |
As you can see, there is a huge variety of artists and groups too choose. There are no excuses to be bored!
The MAC, art in the street
While “les Festes de la Mercè” take place music is not the only protagonist and also is taking place the MAC (Mercè Arts de Carrer), an artistic proposal that moves to Barcelona’ streets the best urban art, open air performances, circus and diverse leisure activities focused on children.
The different shows take place in diverse locations around the city, mainly spread out at Parc de la Ciutadella and Parc de Montjuïc. We can find genres and themes for all tastes and ages. In this link will see the hundreds of shows (all free) that will take place during these days.
The most amazing shows
“Les Festes de la Mercè” are also a unique chance to see some of the most impressive shows. One of them is “La Festa del Cel”(Sky Party). It is something incredible seeing the pirouettes and maneuvers that the airplanes do. Despite this is an event closely bound to “Les Festes de la Mercè”, this year’ show will take place at Lleida-Alguaire airport. Check it out here.
Fire works that will take place at Barceloneta’s quarter on 21st and 22nd at 22:00h are also absolutely impressive. Enjoy them at Sant Miquel and Somorrostro beaches, they are worth to see.
But, it is even more spectacular the “Piromusical” the festivitie’s closing ceremony that takes place at Montjuic’s Magic Fountain on 24th at 22:00h. It is a great event that mix fire works and music with the magic of lights from the fountain.
Festivities with popular tradition
And, of course, “Les Festes de la Mercè” also include popular tradition celebrations. If you have the chance to visit Barcelona during these days you can’t miss “Sardanas” dancing, the typical catalonian dance, that opens the festivity on Friday 21st at 19:00h at Plaça Nova.
It also remarkable the inaugural parade that, between 18:45 and 21:00h on 21st will go across Las Ramblas, Ferran street and Plaça Sant Miquel with the walk of the traditional gegants and capgroços (giants and cabezudos), dragons and other mythical figures from catalonian traditions. All of them are followed by a procession of drums and percussion instruments.
If you have never seen it, you can’t deffinitively miss the correfoc (run after the fire). This event starts at 22:00h on 21st with a route from Plaça de Sant Jaume, Ferran street, las Ramblas, Plaça del Pi and back to Plaça Sant Jaume with a parade of fire beasts, devils and dragons that go across the streets sptitting out fire from their mouths. After that, on saturday 22nd at 20:30h it takes place the main correfoc, at Via Laietana. Is one of the high points of this festivity, where the streets get crazy taken by the devils dancing under fire works.
The castellers (human towers), characteristic from catalonian culture are also very spectacular. A big demonstration will take place at Plaça Sant Jaume on 24th at 12:30h.
Visiting “les Festes de la Mercè”? Stop by Corbeto’s Boots!
If you are an enthusiast for country line dance, biker clothing, camperos boots and genuine cowboy hats and are going to visit Barcelona during “les Festes de la Mercè”, take the chance and come in our store to say hello. You have it easy. Will find us at La Rambla, right where correfoc walk across, gegants parade and very close to many other activities and shows that will be taking place during these days.
If you are going to fully live all these events, don’t worry. You can always visit us at our online shop.
