Fiestas in Barcelona

January

The Cavalcada de Reis , o the afternoon of January 5, is when the Three Kings (who distribute Christmas gifts to Spanish children) ride into town. The parade begins at the port at about 5pm; the next day is a public holiday.

February/March

Festes de Santa Eulàlia (Feb 12; www.bcn.es/santa-eulalia ) sees a week's worth of music, dances, children's processions, castellars and fireworks in honour of one of Barcelona's Festes de Carnaval (Feb-March) are not as famous as those in Sitges, but there are colourful parades and nearly everyone dresses up in costume.

Easter Religious celebrations and services at churches throughout the city. Special services are on Thursday and Friday in Holy Week at 7-8pm, Saturday at 10pm; there's a procession from the church of San Agustí on c/ de l'Hospital (El Raval) to La Seu , starting at 4pm on Good Friday. Publics holidays on Good Fridays and Easter Monday.

April

On Dia de Sant Jordi (April 23), celebrated as a nacionalist holiday in Catalunya, the city fills with roses and books and sweethearts exchange them as gifts. The stalls set up on Plaça de Sant Jaume and the Ramblas to sell them are mobbed all day with customers.

May

Dia del Treball (May Day/ Labour Day; May 1) is a public holiday, with union parades, The Festival de Música Antiga attracts medieval and Baroque groups from around the world. Paying concerts are held in larger venues, but free shows can be seen outdoors in old town squares. Dia de Sant Ponç (May 11) is celebrated by a market running along c/de l'Hospital (El Raval) with fresh herbs, flowers, cakes, aromatic oils and sweets.

June

The Grec season ( www.bcn.es/grec ) starts in the last week (and runs throughout July and into August), a performing arts festival incorporating theatre, music and dance. There's also Sónar ( www.sonar.es ), a three-day cutting-edge electronic music and multimedia art festival; Marató de l'Espectacle (Entertaiment Marathon; www.marato.com ), two days' worth of local theatre, dance, cabaret, music and children's shows which takes place at the Mercat de les Flors theatre; and the Festa de la Musica ( www.fusic.org/fm ), when June 21 sees scores of concerts taking place in squares, parks, civic centres and museums all over the city. The city's wildest annual celebration is the Verbena/Dia de Sant Joan (June 23/24), the eve and day of Saint John , with bonfires and fireworks (particularly on Montjuïc), drinking and dancing, and watching the sun come up on the beach. The day (24) itself is a public holiday.

August

The Festa Major de Gràcia ( www.festamajordegracia.org ) sees music, dancing, fireworks, human castles and other events in the neighbourhood's street and squares.

September

Festa de la Mercè ( www.bcn.es/merce ) is the city's biggest festival. The parades, free concerts of international stature, fireworks and general mayhem last from the 22 nd to the 25 th . The 24 th is a public holiday.

November/December

The Festival de Jazz highlights visiting big-name solo artist and bands in the clubs, and hosts street concerts. The Fira de Santa Llúcia (Dec 1-22) is a special Christmas market and crafts fair outside the cathedral. Christmas Day (Nadal) and St Stephen's Day (Sant Esteve; 26) are both public holiday.

Cap d'Any (New Year's Eve9 sees street and club parties, and mass gatherings in Pl. de Catalunya and other main squares. You're supposed to eat 12 grapes in the last 12 seconds of the year for 12 months of good luck.