What's On Barcelona: 21st - 23rd August

Bon dia!

If Barcelona has felt unusually hot at night this summer, you’re right. The Can Bruixa weather station has already recorded 52 nights where temperatures didn’t drop below 25°C, a record in its 40 year history, and summer isn’t even over yet.

Looks like this weekend should be a little cooler. Here’s what’s on!

- Mark

⛅️ Weather

Fri ⛅ 27°/23° Sat 🌧️ 25°/21° 🌧️ Sun 26°/21°

1. Festa Major de Gràcia (Gràcia Neighbourhood Festival)

What’s On: It’s your last chance to catch Festa Major de Gràcia, with the festival wrapping up on Friday. Explore the neighbourhood’s 23 elaborately decorated streets, including a five street Lord of the Rings themed route, before the festival comes to a fiery end with the children’s and adult correfocs.

📅 When: Ends Friday 21st August
📍 Where: Gràcia neighbourhood

Highlights
Fri: Giants parade (6:30pm), kids correfoc (7pm) & correfoc (9:30pm)

For more info see here →

2. Festes de Sants (Sants Neighbourhood Festival)

What’s On: Sants hosts one of Barcelona's biggest neighbourhood festivals, with 11 decorated streets, over 180 concerts and music shows, giant parades, castellers (human towers), correfocs (fire runs) and hundreds of free activities.

📅 When: Saturday 22nd – Sunday 30th August
📍 Where: Sants neighbourhood

Highlights
Sat: Opening parade with giants, capgrossos & fire groups (7pm)

For more info see here →

Catalonia Beyond Fuet: Do You Want To Learn Catalan? [AD]

Com va l’estiu? I el català?

Do you know what CPNL stands for? It is the Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística (Consortium for Linguistic Normalization). It is a public institute that works to boost the learning and use of Catalan in society.

You can have a look at its Catalan courses and here’s an online map where you can find the institute that is closer to you.

Get ready because there will be new courses opening in September! This is your time to learn this beautiful language.

Gaudeix d’aquests últims dies d’estiu! Enjoy these last days of summer!

Content by the Ministry Language Policy

3. Sants International Chess Open

What’s On: Fancy testing your chess skills? The Sants International Chess Open returns for ten days, with players competing across three categories based on ability. The tournament follows the official FIDE system, but you don't need to be a chess master to enter, Group A is open to everyone.

📅 When: Friday 21st – Sunday 30th August
📍 Where: Centre Cívic Cotxeres de Sants

For more info see here →

If you want to register, I think today (Thursday 20th) is the last day, so be quick!

4. Prostir Fest – Ukrainian Music Festival

What’s On: Prostir Fest brings three days of contemporary Ukrainian music to Poble Espanyol, with performances from some of Ukraine's biggest artists, including Max Barskih, Dorofeeva, Jerry Heil, Klavdia Petrivna, KOLA and Parfeniuk. Alongside the live music, expect food, bars and a vibrant open-air festival atmosphere.

📅 When: Fri 21st – Sun 23rd August
📍 Where: Poble Espanyol

For tickets see here →

Also Happening This Weekend

🎶 Music, Parties & Nightlife
Throwback: 80s, 90s & 00s (La Terrrazza) – Open-air tardeo playing throwbacks from the 80s, 90s & 00s at Montjuïc’s best known outdoor club (Fri, 7pm–midnight).

Fiesta Caribe (Poble Espanyol) – Live salsa and bachata, dance classes, Caribbean food, cocktails and DJs in an open-air setting (Wed, until 26th Aug).

Rock&Grill (Poble Espanyol) – Classic rock tribute bands, grilled food, craft beer and live music under the stars (Thu, until 27th Aug).

Queens' Nights (Poble Espanyol) – Tribute concerts celebrating artists including ABBA and Amy Winehouse, plus DJs and food trucks (Fri, until 28th Aug).

Fritanga! (Poble Espanyol) – Live Catalan rumba, tapas, mojitos and DJs at one of Barcelona's best summer tardeos (Sat, until 29th Aug).

MASiMAS Festival (Various Venues) – Live jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop and Afro-Latin music across six iconic Barcelona venues (Until 6th Sept).

Live Music at Paperines (Montjuïc) – Enjoy live rumba under the stars at this open-air bar on Montjuïc, alongside food and drinks (Thu–Sun, 9pm–11pm, until 6th Sept).

🎬 Film & Outdoor Cinema
Mecal Air (Poblenou) – Free open-air short film screenings every Friday night, with themed sessions including comedy, animation and creative advertising (Until 28th Aug).

Filmoteca family cinema (El Raval) – Free weekend screenings at the Filmoteca. (Sat & Sun).

Finestrelles Summer Cinema (Esplugues de Llobregat) – Free outdoor cinema with weekly family-friendly films every Saturday evening (Until 12th Sept).

Family Cinema at the CCCB (El Raval) – Free screenings of animated & experimental short films exploring cities, every Wednesday & Saturday (Until 5th Sept).

🛍️ Food, Drinks, Markets & Shopping
Flea Station (Estació de França) – Vintage fashion, unique pieces and independent brands for a special edition of Flea Market Barcelona (Sun, 11am–6pm).

Two Market €3 Clearance Sale (Poblenou) – 8,000+ second-hand clothing items and over two tonnes of clothes, all for €3 (Fri–Sun, 11am–7pm, free entry).

Two Market Rave Market (Nau Bostik) – €2 second hand clothes, with a rave market atmosphere. Prices drop to €1 for final hour (Sun, 10am–7pm).

Mercat de Colom Vintage Market (Port Vell) – Browse vintage jewellery, cameras, watches, antiques, military memorabilia and collectibles (Fri–Sun).

🎨 Culture & Experiences
Gràcia Funfair (Passeig de Gràcia) – Traditional funfair with rides, games & fairground attractions opens ahead of the Festa Major de Gràcia (until 21st Aug).

Tibidabo Laser Show (Tibidabo) – Nightly laser, light and music show in Plaça dels Somnis (9:30pm, on park opening days).

Free Star Wars Exhibition (Passeig de Gràcia) – Original film props, life-size figures, ships & rare collectibles from one of Spain's largest private collections (Ends 18th Sept).

Emerging Art Festival (Various Locations) – 50+ exhibitions & events showcasing up-and-coming artists in galleries and art spaces across Barcelona (Until 3rd Sept).

Jardí Geològic (Les Corts) – open-air museum exploring geology and Earth science, with rock displays and interactive exhibits (Free, open daily).

La Model Prison (Esquerra de l’Eixample) – Former prison turned public space, open for free visits where you can explore its cells and learn about its history.

The Last Days of Pompeii (IDEAL Montjuïc) – Immersive exhibition recreating Pompeii with 360° projections, VR and sound, including a dramatic Vesuvius eruption finale.

World’s Largest Balloon Exhibition (Poblenou) – Immersive exhibition made from 600,000 balloons, with sculptures & interactive rooms to explore.

Antarctica Experience (Plaça d'Espanya) – Escape the heat at this immersive exhibition exploring Antarctica through 360° projections, sounds & real footage.

🌞 Outdoors & Active
Outdoor Board Game Space at Glòries – Free open-air board game area with 100+ games you can borrow and play in the park (Sat & Sun, 6pm–10pm).

Juguem a les Places (Various Locations) – Free outdoor play spaces for kids & families across almost 50 Barcelona squares, with toys, games & activities.

💼 Jobs of the Week

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That’s all for this week, have a great weekend!

— Mark

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