The biggest festival of the year in Barcelona happened on our last full week there. We’d been to a La Mercé before, back in 2014, and thought it would be fun to see the 2025 edition.

And we continued to do normal living stuff in that last week in our comfortable apartment.

A meal cooked on the charcoal grill on the terrace

Taking advantage of the grill!

A cut of beef called ternasco.

Our excellent meal!

La Mercè Opening Night Festivities

In front of cathedral, traditional band…

Late afternoon sun, before festivities

Plaça San Jaume, the city hall with dignitaries

The newest Gegants!

A bee creature, from Manchester, UK…

Bees are the symbol of Manchester

Traditional Barcelona Gegants

Always impressive, fireworks right off the top of building!

Link to Video of Opening Night Events Link to Fireworks clip

Parc de Ciutadella Events

We went to several events here, both Friday and Saturday. Local food and beverage festival, and music.

On the way to Terra i Gust, this street performer was great!

A very local winery, we'd been to before. Up in the hills of Barcelona.

Excellent band from Veracruz, Mexico: Son de Madera

In Parc de la Ciutadella

also in Ciutadella parc

Local craft beers at Terra i Gust food fest

Two of many restaurants serving up tasty plates

Parrots are keen for apples!

Tasty apple, and pigeons don't seem to think so!

Arc de Triomf

Link to video of frog marionette Link to video of Son de Madera playing

A Few Sights of Activities at the Parc del Estació del Nord

Awesome public art in this park!

Parts of an inflated person welcome visitors

Cool inflated hand

The feet and legs!

A funny costumed performance for kids—of all ages!

Festival of Asian street food

A bee welcoming people to the Bee installation

An art group from Manchester conceived of this whimsical installation

Seen over by the "beekeepers" while folks peer in

Funny little dioramas— with bees!

Set in cartoon versions of their town in England

Amusing "underwater" scene

Correfoc

The traditional “Fire Run” is a highlight of many festivals in Barcelona. We’ve seen several, including in the small streets of the Gràcia neighborhood. Fire and sparks everywhere! Never in the states would this event be legal! Little kids participate from early on. It’s a tradition, and everyone learns how to do it safely— well, kind of!

Cute cartoon version symbolizing the "devils" in Correfocs.

After the kid's Correfoc, kids spelling words with the spent fireworks shells!

In the middle of Passeig de Gràcia! Pretty fun.

More fireworks. Never gets old!

The famous Casa Milà, or La Pedrera on the right.

Yeah, those sparks are pretty close!

Video of Correfoc fire!

Castellers

The Barcelona Falcones— a unique style of castellers

Forming a super cool pyramid

The Castellers de Barcelona

A team from another town in Catalyuna

Video of the Falcones creating a tower

Finds in the Barri Gotic (old town)

Remainders of a Roman temple in this building!

Not much is left from Roman times, but this was saved.

Nestled within other buildings, a mini museum.

Enamorats = Love Birds!

Having a drink and a bite in a cool bar

Glimpses of Everyday Stuff

My upstairs loft studio. Loved my space!

A neighborhood bar for an aperitif.

Mirror selfie with a neat setting.

An abandoned former grand house in Gràcia.

That the city made a public garden space

In Catalan, but describing the garden.

Restaurant "Bar But". Funny name, excellent food!

Nicely decorated, cozy dining space.

Update on the Sagrada Familia

Each visit I go by Sagrada to check on the construction progress. They had hoped for completion in 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudì’s death, but it seems unlikely. Nevertheless, I could see visible progress on the completion of the central, and tallest tower from a year ago.

Make sure to click on the thumbnail photos to get the full vertical images!