Summer 2011 at Barcelona

The city celebrates its 9th edition of music festival called Festival Mas i Mas in which more than 140 live concerts are scheduled in different places like “La Pedrera” (c/ provença 261-265, every day), “Moog” (c/ arc del teatre 3, every day from midnight), “Tarantos” (plaza reial 17, every day from 21h30) and “Jamboree” (plaza reial 17, every day).

Looking for live music, there are free live jazz concerts organized in the Ciutadella park. Each wednesday at 22h from july 7 until august 27. If you plan for a romantic event with someone special, I recommend you to do a picnic with candles meanwhile listening the band.

Benicassim festival is back again this year for its 17th edition during 4 days (from july 14 to 17) but this music festival, located at Benicàssim (near Valencia), is about 3h of Barcelona by RENFE train or about 2h30 by car, so if you want to go, you have to wake up early. The one day pass costs 70€ and the full day pass costs 175€ (not including free camping site). To know the artists and more information, check its official website.

The Pride Barcelona 11 is celebrated on june 18 to 28. It is the Mediterranean Gay Pride in which anyone can enjoy a lot of activities like culture, movie, sport… ending with a parade the sunday 26 at 17h PM. To know everything, check its official website.

You want to discover culture, visit museums, good thing if you get tired of beaches. Some organize exhibitions and some open during night time from 20h to midnight. For more information, check their website and on my topic Museums at Barcelona, you will get what you need for.

Do you like movie ??? And if I tell you that you can watch it at Montjuic for only 5,50€ (2,50€ with flyer that you can download it from its official website - I also recommend you to rent a chair for few euros more). It is a good thing to avoid the hot night summer since the movie is projected in outdoor so don’t miss the Mecal Air event every friday and saturday between 20h and 24h exactly at “plaza del baluard i jardí escultòric” from june 3 to september 17.

At the mall of Illa Diagonal, there is also an outdoor movie event called Cine Parc (2 euros) taking place exactly at “jardines de sant juan de déu” every thursday at 21h during the whole month of july with the option to rent a deck chair for 2 euros more. And for the whole monnth of august, the CCCB museum celebrates its movie session in outdoor called Gandules 11 (free entrance), every tuesday, wednesday and thursday at 22h and it takes place at “patio de las mujeres” (women courtyard).

Combining movie and coastal tour, check the company “Las Golondrinas” (portal de la pau, in front of Columbus statue). They call their event Cinemar which takes place every friday and saturday until august 28 at 22h for 28€ (drink included). OK it is expensive but don’t forget that for this price, you have a night tour by sea so if you don’t like the movie or get bored, you still can enjoy it until 23h30.

For 17€, you can do an urban tour during the night time with the tourist bus every friday and weekend from june 24 until september 18 at plaza catalunya and if you prefer to watch a free water show, you have to go to plaza carles buïgas for the magic fountain, a show of lights, water and music every thursday, friday and weekend between 21h and 23h30.

At the espanya square, there are 2 events. Gamelab, the national videogame industry conference, is celebrated from june 29 to july 1 into the Arenas mall so if you are a gamer, don’t doubt to go there to play free and to discover the last news of your favorite games. Barcelona Harley Days takes place from july 8 to 10 which is an event of harley davidson so not only bikers will enjoy it but everyone lovers of motorbike.

Grec 2011 takes place from june 17 to july 31 in different sites as the Picasso museum, greek theatre, rei square, flower market… It is a festival of dance, theatre, music and circus for anyone to enjoy the summer. Some are free and some not, if you want to know what to see and where to go, check its official website.

Looking for local and traditional festivals, I recommend you absolutely the Gracia festival at the Gracia district from 15 to 21 of august. During this period, some streets are decorated, live music, projection of movies... eat on the street and get mixed with local people, a lot of entertainments. From 20 to 28 of august, Sants festival (plaza de la farga) at Sants district, more or less same thing as Gracia one but focused for children.

With all those things to do, I’m sure you will pass a great holiday at Barcelona and bring back at home a lot of souvenirs. If it is your first time at Barcelona, and I will always repeat it, even if it is your 1 million times in this city, read my topic about Dangerous areas in Barcelona and Avoid pickpocket at Barcelona because it is very important to know the dark side of Barcelona.

June 24, 2011