We are booked for a week in Barcelona the end of Sept and now have found out there is a big festival going on. Can anyone provide details about it? How long it goes on; is it in one area of the city; anything you can tell me about it? Many thanks.

I think you might be referring to Forum 2004, which is a cultural festival which began in May and ends towards the end of September (26th I think). It aims to explore the main cultural and social conflicts that face mankind at the outset of the 21st century. A new exhibition area has been created at the end of the Diagonal connecting it to the sea, with a new park, marina and exhibition space. Cultural events from Opera, art exhibitions, performance art, street theatre etc are also taking place throughout Barcelona during the Forum. I visited the main exhibition site just after it opened in May and whilst it was fascinating and quite impressive I?m not sure it?s a must see when competing with all the other things that Barcelona has to offer. There is a website which has a calendar of events that will show you whats on whilst you are there at: http://www.barcelona2004.org

If you're lucky you will encounter the feast of la Merce, which we came upon at the end of September last year. You'll find fireworks, dancing,and parades all week.(The famous gigantes are in full force.) The last day is a holiday and there are throngs of people milling about watching the festivities. It does make it hard to get into restaurants and bars. Stop at a tourist information desk to get a calendar of events.

Here is a site listing the festival's in Spain: http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/spani...ls/Default.htm

11 September is the National Feast Day of Catalonia, but like Marija indicates, the biggie is La Mercè.

24 September is La Mercè Day

La Mercè celebrates The Virgin of Mercy (la Verge de la Merc&egrave. I have searched around and found that Castellers will begin on Sept 24 in Plaça Sant Jaume at 12:30.

Most of the activities will take place in the Barri Gotic, which is the medieval heart of the city. There will also be a second hand book fair on Passeig de Gràcia and an exhibition of Barcelona's cuisine on Avinguda Gaudí. At night you will be able to witness the corrofoc, an amazing celebration of demons and light. You will be able to see dancing giants and watch the Sardana.

Lucky, lucky you if you are in Barcelona for La Mercè!

You might want to read the first part of my super-duper long trip report... which is still not finished, by the way. Ray and I were in Barcelona for the Festas de Santa Eulàlia and Carnival this past February. My trip report gives a good idea of what you would be able to see and experience during La Mercè. Many of the same sort of activities will take place during La Mercè. http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34483366

For another jumping off point you can check out http://www.bcn.es/festes/angles.htm. (This page is in English... then you will undoubtably trip across other pages in Catalan.) I found it very difficult to find solid information about Carnival and the feast of Santa Eulàlia before our trip. And the site I am sending you to will be only somewhat helpful.

A bit more info...http://www.virtourist.com/europe/barcelona/44.htm then click "Next" to view the next two pages about La Mercè.

Here's someone else's trip report http://www.grammarian.com/pyrotechnic/

What are your trip dates? and, please post back here if you find a truly useful site with an entire schedule in English or Spanish.

When you are in Barcelona, you can stop into the Cultural Center and pick up a guide. The Carnival guide was only available in Catalan. Someone at the desk will speak some English and can perhaps help you with the schedule of events.

In our case, we were very fortunate indeed to take in so many of the activities. It was special, indeed.

- Sharon

Just found another current thread on La Merce. Check out: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34489336

It's definitely la Merce, as earlier posters mentioned the party is for the patron saint of Barcelona. It's street theater, square concerts, fairs, fireworks, human towers, sardanas and a lot more. The Ramblas is as crowded at 4am as it normally is at 4pm I LOVE IT
Something I would definitely recommend is the big fireworks they hold at the Magical Fountains of Montjuic. Best fireworks I've ever seen! There's a co-ordination of the fountains playing with coloured light, music, big screens with images and of course... fireworks! Last year 35 full minutes! I'd definitely not book a hotel in the Barrio Gothic or on one of the major streets though... way too much noise!

We stayed right on the Ramblas at Le Meridien during La Merce. Our room had a great little balcony overlooking the Ramblas. We loved being able to view the parades and many activities from above. We could always shut the windows and doors for sleeping. Staying in the old city also made it very easy to get to events that weren't right on the Ramblas.

Uh, oh...we actually arrive in Barcelona at 6pm on September 24th! How in the world will we get to our hotel from the airport?! I guess taking the airport bus is now out. We will have been travelling by that time for over 18 hours and although normally this type of festival would be right up our alley, the thoughts of fighting our way to a bed isn't appealing to me right now! We are staying on Jonqueres ave. near Placa Urquinaona which is a couple of blocks from the Plaza de Catalunya. Is that near all the activity does anyone know? Any suggestions?

Jonqueres street is pretty quiet usually. There will probably be some parades passing Via Laetana, but usually Plaza Urquinoana and around are rather quiet themselves.

Stardust..can you tell me anything more about this area that we'll be staying in? We booked an apt. on line and are hoping it's a nice area and central as well. Can we walk to most tourist attractions? Thanks.

bashful, Plaza Urquinaona itself is pretty quiet, but it's on the edge of the Gothic Quarter and the Eixample, so pretty good for sightseeing. There are 2 metro lines and numberous busses stopping as well, so perfectly connected. The closest must-see would be Palau de la Musica, but I really think Barcelona center isn't very big so you can walk most things anyway. For sure the Gothic Quarter and the Paseo de Gracia modernist buildings are on walking distances. For the Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell you'll probably use public transport, but so do most people. I think it's a pretty good option. Close to everything, but a rather quiet place itself.

Bashful... if you read the "other trip report" I mentioned earlier, you will get a good description of the big fireworks display at Montjuic the evening of the 24th. Sleep on the plane. Then you can take the metro to Plaza de Espana and have an easy walk to the event.

Stardust, is the fireworks display is always held on the 24th as the finale to La Merce?

-Sharon

Well, I've been in Barcelona 2 times during the Merce (3 years ago and last year) and it was always on the night of the 24th, indeed as the Grand Finale. There are fireworks the days before on Barceloneta beach as well. It starts around 10pm and the place is packed!

Thank you, Stardust. We truly enjoyed the festivals in Barcelona last February and it's helpful to know the details. Maybe we'll be able to participate in La Merce on a future trip!
-Sharon