What's On Barcelona: 23rd - 25th October

Bon dia!

It’s Alex here 👋. If we haven’t met yet I’m originally from Poland and I’ve been living in Barcelona for 10 years, and I’m a therapist.

On Wednesday 11th November, I’m hosting a small expat support group for anyone dealing with loneliness, homesickness or the ups and downs of living abroad.

It’s a chance to share experiences, meet others in a similar situation and feel a little less alone. You can find out more here.

And speaking of getting out and connecting with people, here’s what’s on in Barcelona this weekend!

- Mark and Alex

⛅️ Weather

Fri 🌥️ 22°/15° Sat ☁️ 18°/14° 🌥️ Sun 21°/14°

1. Taco Fest – Tacos, Mexican Wrestling & Mariachi Bands

What’s On: Taco Fest takes place at the Antiga Fàbrica Damm this weekend, bringing together 14 Mexican taquerías serving more than 50 different types of tacos, with prices starting from just €3.

Alongside all the food, there’ll be live Mexican wrestling, mariachi bands, DJs and tequila tastings. This year's festival also celebrates Mexico's Day of the Dead, with traditional decorations and face painting.

📅 When: Friday to Sunday, 23rd–25th October
📍 Where: Antiga Fàbrica Damm (Carrer del Rosselló, 515)

For more info see here →

2. 48h Open House – Explore 150+ Buildings for Free

What’s On: Barcelona's annual 48h Open House architecture festival takes place this weekend, giving you the chance to explore buildings and spaces that aren't normally open to the public, completely free.

There are 155 buildings to visit across Barcelona, including historic palaces, modern hotels, TV studios and other interesting spaces. Highlights include Hotel Arts, La Llotja de Mar and the former Telefónica headquarters.

Most buildings don't require a reservation, so you can just turn up and have a look around.

📅 When: Saturday and Sunday
📍 Where: Various locations across Barcelona

For more info see here →

Catalan Fashion Week (For Beginners) 👗 [AD]

080 Barcelona Fashion has been taking place this week (ends Friday), with models showing off the latest trends. But before you start planning your catwalk debut, how about learning a few Catalan words for the clothes you're wearing?

👕 Samarreta — T-shirt

👟 Vambes — Trainers

👗 Faldilla — Skirt

🧦 Mitjons — Socks

👞 Sabates — Shoes

👖 Pantalons — Trousers

👗 Vestit — Dress

That's seven new words for your wardrobe. You might not be ready for the catwalk just yet, but at least you'll know what everyone's wearing.

For even more resources on learning Catalan see here →

Content by the Ministry Language Policy

3. Escena Poblenou – 4 Days of Theatre, Dance & Live Performances

What’s On: Escena Poblenou takes place this weekend, with four days of theatre, dance and live performances across different venues in Poblenou, celebrating the festival's 25th anniversary.

There’ll be everything from experimental theatre and street performances to live music and a free swing dancing class. Some events are ticketed, but there are plenty of free activities too.

📅 When: Thursday to Sunday, 22nd–25th October
📍 Where: Various locations across Poblenou

For more info see here →

Sagrada Família Festa Major – Castellers, Fire Runs & Live Music

What’s On: The Sagrada Família neighbourhood is celebrating its autumn Festa Major this weekend, with three days of traditional Catalan festivities, live music and activities for all ages.

There’ll be human towers (castellers), giant parades, concerts and correfocs (fire runs), where people dressed as devils run through the streets with fireworks.

Highlights:
Friday 23rd: Castellers rehearsal followed by live concerts in the evening.
Saturday 24th: Traditional giant parade in the morning.
Saturday 24th: Children's and adults' correfocs (fire runs) in the afternoon.
Sunday 25th: Castellers (human towers) performing in the morning.

📅 When: Friday to Sunday, 23rd–25th October
📍 Where: Various locations around Sagrada Família

For more info see here →  

Also Happening This Weekend

🎶 Music, Parties & Nightlife
Niall Horan (Palau Sant Jordi) – Former One Direction singer performing folk-pop hits and songs from his new album Dinner Party (Sun, 9:15pm).

Mixtur Festival (Various Locations) – Experimental music festival with live concerts, electronic music, sound installations & talks (Until Sunday).

Ciutat Flamenco Festival (Various Locations) – Flamenco festival featuring live music, dance performances & workshops (until Sunday).

🛍️ Food, Drinks, Markets & Shopping
Craft Beer & Vintage Market (Port Olímpic) – Craft beer festival meets vintage market, with 30+ beers, 20 second-hand stalls, food trucks & DJs (Sat & Sun).

Mash Craft Beer Fest (La Sagrera) – Craft beer festival with 45+ breweries, 300 beers, local DJs & street food (Fri & Sat, 1pm–9pm, €27).

Cor de Vi Wine & Food Fair (Eixample) – Free street festival with wines from different regions, food pairings, guided tastings & DJs (Sat, 12pm–midnight, guided tastings €12).

Bargain Garden (Ciutadella) – Second-hand market with 40+ stalls selling clothes, accessories & other bargains, everything priced at €10 or less (Sat & Sun, 11am–7pm)

Barcelona Textile Expo (Fira Montjuïc) – Textile trade fair showcasing fabrics & clothing materials & the latest fashion trends, manufacturers from around the world (Ends Fri)

Fet al Born (El Born) – Market with 25+ local artisans selling handmade jewellery, ceramics, clothing & homeware, plus free creative workshops (Sat & Sun, 11am–8pm).

World Soup Festival (Nou Barris) – Food festival with soups from around the world, live music, circus performances & puppet shows (Sun, from 9am, soup tasting at 1pm).

Barcelona Vegan Fair (El Born) – Free vegan market with plant-based food, cakes, handmade crafts, clothing, cosmetics & animal rescue stalls (Sun, 12pm–5pm).

€3 Vintage Market (Poblenou) – Second-hand clothing market with everything at €3, plus a selection of leather jackets for €30 (Sun, 10am–7pm, free entry, C/ Llull 68).

AKILO Vintage Market (Poblenou) – Vintage clothing sale with everything priced at €5 on Fri & Sat and €4 on Sunday (Fri–Sun, 10am–7pm, free entry, C/ Pere IV 117).

Second-Hand & Antique Book Fair (Passeig de Gràcia) – 29 stalls selling second-hand books, rare editions, manuscripts & out-of-print finds (Until 1st Nov).

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

🎨 Culture & Experiences
Barcelona International Community Day (Maritime Museum) – Free event for internationals, with workshops, talks, useful services & networking opportunities (Sat).

Giants' Dance at Santa Maria del Mar (El Born) – Traditional Catalan celebration featuring gegants (giant figures) and local folklore, marking its 22nd edition (Sat).

Blanc! Design Festival (Poblenou) – Two days of graphic design, branding & creativity, with talks, workshops, exhibitions, an artist market & live music (Fri & Sat).

Barcelona Design Week (Various Locations) – Design festival with exhibitions, installations, workshops, talks & creative experiences (Ends Sunday).

PSYNEMA Film Brunch (Poble-sec) – Watch 2 short films exploring silence & unspoken emotions, followed by a group discussion with a psychologist & director (Sat, 11:30am).

Flaix de Tardor Festival (Various Theatres) – International theatre & contemporary dance festival (Ends 29th Oct).

La Reial Ens Mou (Gothic Quarter) – Free events in Plaça Reial, including recycling workshops, swing dancing, jazz, choirs & Balkan music (Thu–Sun).

Dansat Festival (Sant Andreu) – Contemporary dance festival with indoor performances, free outdoor shows & a family-friendly interactive dance show (Ends Sunday).

AR-DE Poblenou (Poblenou) – Free art & design trail across local galleries, museums and creative spaces, with exhibitions, contemporary art & talks (Fri–Sun).

Halloween at Tibidabo (Tibidabo) – Halloween celebrations with zombie shows, horror movie characters, a haunted hotel & more (Now until 8th Nov).

Creepy Halloween Family (Poble Espanyol) – Family-friendly Halloween event with spooky creatures, costumes, games & surprises (Sat & Sun until 1st Nov).

International Puppet Festival (El Born) – Puppet shows from theatre companies, combining puppetry, shadow theatre, music & comedy (Fri–Sun until 1st Nov).

Escena – Barcelona Districte Cultural (Various Locations) – Free theatre, dance, live music & family shows at cultural centres across the city (Now until 19th Dec).

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.

🌞 Outdoors & Active
International GT Open (Montmeló) – Weekend of motorsport racing featuring GT sports cars, Euroformula single-seaters & TCR touring cars (Sat & Sun).

Km de les Corts (Les Corts) – Free 1km running race for individuals or pairs, with couples crossing the finish line holding hands (Sun, 10am–12:30pm).

Lluís Companys Run & Walk (Montjuïc) – 5km & 10km races and a 3km walk, commemorating Barcelona's 1936 People's Olympics (Sat, from 9am).

Challenge Barcelona Triathlon (Sant Martí) – Swimming, cycling & running races, for all abilities, including open-water swims, aquathlons & junior races (Sat & Sun).

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

Barcelona Night Skate Routes – Free guided skate routes through Barcelona every Friday night, starting from Vila Olímpica & led by volunteer skaters (Fri, 10pm).

💼 Jobs of the Week

Customer Support Specialist at Woolsocks
^{Help customers resolve issues, manage support requests & improve the customer experience at a fintech company.
See the role →}

Customer Success Manager at Criteo
<sup>Manage media partnerships, analyse campaign performance & identify growth opps at an ad technology company.
See the role →

Find more jobs like this on BarcelonaJobs.com</sup>

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

— Mark and Alex

P.S. Here are three ways we can help you👇

1. Book a FREE introductory therapy session — for couples or individuals with Alex
 
2. Get 50% off your first online Catalan or Spanish language lesson with Preply

3. Get your business in front of 10,000+ readers by sponsoring this newsletter.