Barcelona September Merce fest query
 

Might anyone know when the 2024 schedule will appear online? We've been checking over and over these past weeks, yet still it seems not yet available.
We've been told that the organizers are notoriously tardy that way, but visitors need to know the when/where of the various events.
Makes it hard to plan other activities in that city, without knowing the fest sched.

I am done. the frustrated

It's easily available on the Barcelona tourist guide website www.barcelona.cat/lamerce/en

Si, gracies Christina. We've been tracking the above, but it only shows musical dates/places (BAM etc), not as we need, the actual dates/times of Fest events themselves.
I am done. the still waiting

Zebec, it’s par for the course that they do not come out with full schedules until just before the event - La Merce, Santa Tecla in Tarragona (which you should try to see some of, if you can, it’s the same time frame as La Merce) and Sant Narcis in Girona.. I’ve been in your shoes many times.

One thing that has helped me is to look at past years programs, then you can get a sense of when certain processions and events are. I’m going back to Sant Narcis this year, and I’m looking at last years program to help plan.

Make sure to see the castellers at some point!

Yo RG, gracies too. Starting months back, we did check past programs, past TRs and like that. As never before, I now feel obliged to be as sure a possible of when/where the castellers will occur, where this event and that event will happen, what route etc. because of our advancing age. Mrs Z and I no longer have the stamina and endurance that we once displayed during travel. And my 'raw animal fitness level thieves-better-not-mess-with-me' vibe seems to be fading year by year. Factor in pickpockets, my hearing loss, the competition for taxis and well, I am just trying to make things as easy as possible for my missus. Renting in Gracia (gracie Maribel) was a deliberate choice, designed to be a quieter home-base versus the 'downtown/old town' intensity.

Another factor here is that I have always tried to create two-fer situations during travel. In this case, knowing the timings of certain events, plus their likely procession routes, would allow us to also at that time, duck into say, 'that historic pastry shop' or 'that lovely placa' or 'that sole wine shop that sells that rare Rioja' or 'that infamous sex toys store.' Or whatever.
Again thank you both.

I am done. the little kid atop the human tower

If it is the castellers you want to see, you can get the info in the casteller calendar.

https://castellscat.cat/en/schedule?a=2024&m=09&p=189

i’ve narrowed it down you September in Barcelona, but you can use it to check all exhibitions and competitions for the whole year. Definitely try to go on the 24th, it will be amazing. It goes on for a long time. My advice would be, go early so you can see the warming up/socialization of the colles and the bands come in with their teams (the “little kids” on the shoulders) and see the first round or two of castells. But if you can make it through to the end, it is worth it.

RG, you are too kind. We'd received similar tips on another travel forum but those were not as detailed. I should've clarified above that the main reason for our tryna clarify fest activity dates is coz we want also to plug in a few other unrelated activities. For example (eixample?--editors), a sunrise visit to Casa Vicens before it opens for regular hours; a Palau de Musica tour; maybe some ayurvedic massage. To illustrate the necessity of knowing fest dates: during our week, the sole day available for that special Casa Vicens entry happens to be the very Sunday 24th you've highlighted.

I may bundle a bunch of additional questions about Spanish travel on a new thread. Hope that you all might weigh in on those too.
Incidentally, have any of you heard the trio of CDs by the great Madrid band 'Radio Tarifa'? My buddy and I once taped them live here in Toronto.
*Highly recommend their debut album 'Rumba Argelina', one of world music's finest moments.

I am done. the little kid atop the human tower smoking a cigar

Might anyone know the difference between the two different casteller groups/dates as shown in this chart (which is from RG's above link)?
We see that there is one set of casteller groups on the Sunday the 22nd then also a different bunch of such groups on the finale day, the Tuesday24th.
One assumes that the Sunday might be the less-crowded version, no?
I am done. the ongoing Merce questions

'La Mercè de Barcelona (colles convidades)
Diada de la Mercè (colles convidades) a Barcelona
22/09/2024
12:00
Plaça Sant Jaume
Barcelona

Amb l'actuació de les colles
- Castellers de Barcelona
- Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls
- Minyons de Terrassa

La Mercè de Barcelona (colles locals)
Diada de la Mercè a Barcelona
24/09/2024
11:30
Plaça Sant Jaume
Barcelona

Amb l'actuació de les colles
- Castellers de Barcelona
- Castellers de la Sagrada Família
- Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia
- Castellers de Sants
- Castellers de Sarrià
- Castellers del Poble Sec
- Colla Castellera de l'Esquerra de l'Eixample
- Colla Castellera Jove de Barcelona'

The difference is they are different teams. The 22nd has three teams that are all in the top 10 of all 75 teams, so I doubt Sunday will be less crowded. They will be building complicated castells that day for sure as the concurs (bi-annual competition) is happening right after La Merce.

The 24th is all teams from Barcelona, so it will be a very social gathering, and not as intensively competitive. People will come from their neighborhood to cheer their neighborhood team, and drink beer and vermouth.

Thank you very much RG!
I am done. the mouse atop the child

There are videos of last year (and previous years). It’s on TV (like Wimbledon.) if you haven’t seen them and want to get an idea, you can search or I’m happy to post the links.

Thx RG, I was just about to do so without prompt later today.
Google can be sooooo useful for travelers who know what to look for, yeah?

I am done. the wild and crazy fest

or for people so into the castellers that they watch from afar when they can’t be there!

People like me! :)

I am not done. She who never claims to be done.
But I do claim to love the castellers!

Was just informed by local Barna resident Enric (RS) that the schedule that we seek, typically does not come out til just before the opening of the fest: i.e. early September.
I am done. the fascinating fest

Hi Zebec,
Adding to your response: the reason is because this is a festival that includes +900 activities over a 4-day period. A festival of this magnitude, offering a wide range of activities—from concerts and heritage events to fairs, open-day visits, and more—requires complex organization. This is typical of all major city festivals, which is why the biggest ones (La Mercè in Barcelona, Sant Magí in Tarragona, Sant Narcís in Girona...) usually don't publish their program until shortly before the event, typically just a few weeks in advance.

Food writer Rosy Acosta has jumped the gun by posting an update of this year's La Merce schedule.
She is not the final word/official source, but still her info will help visitors plan.
I am done. The Fest
https://mana75.es/en/merce-festival-...ocal%20holiday).

Yeah, it's now officially published on the City Hall website as well: https://www.barcelona.cat/lamerce/en
But I can't yet find the programme for the heritage activities, the heart of the festival, but only music and cultural activities.

One of the funniest comments that I've ever come across in reading decades of travel reportage had to do with those Correfoc runs:
"I'm sure that this would be illegal in any other country."
LOL!
I am done. the fest

The full schedule including heritage activities just came out today. The eve of our departure.
I am done. the patience