What’s up in Barcelona during August?

Traditionally, August is the month for holidays in Spain. Many Catalans and Spaniards are pulling down the shutters of their shops and leave the country for their summer vacation. However, there is still a lot to see and to do in Catalan’s vibrant capital during the hot summer month.

Besides rambling over Las Ramblas, discovering the city by bike, enjoying the sun at the beach, marvelling at Gaudi’s spectacular architecture or tasting culinary specialties at La Boqueria food market the biggest event to mention is the street festival in the Gràcia neighbourhood. Every year around mid August you will find 17 streets in this district competing one whole week against each other in order to win the prize of the best decorated street. Be a witness of this exciting and unique atmosphere of “La Festa Major de Gràcia” embedded in a huge variety of concerts and shows. And as usual the best part comes last: The Gràcia Festival is for free!

But this is not your only possibility to find great live music performances in Barcelona. Besides the well known MASiMAS festival you can discover several unofficial jazz sessions in Barcelona’s Parc de la Ciutadella, usually in the evening hours. In addition to that, the popular Piknic Electronik seduces all electronic music lovers every Sunday till the end of September at the Jardins de Joan Brossa.

You think this is already everything? Of course not!

The magical nights at the Museu d’Historia de Catalunya are an integrated component of Barcelona’s August program. Tourists as well as locals are friendly invited to enjoy all kinds of cabaret, theatre, magic shows and much more! And for those who like to watch movies under the free sky with a (fresh) air breeze, you should definitely check out the program of the outdoor cinema which opens its gateways in August on the courtyard of the Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB). This exhibition and art centre is located in Barcelona’s Raval district which offers a great selection of typical restaurants and bars to go afterwards and to let the evening fade away.

Last but surely not least: Barcelona wouldn’t be Barcelona if there were no sport events findable! In mid August, the whole nation will be split when Barcelona’s first league football team FC Barcelona will fight for the Joan Gamper Trophy against Valencia’s team Levante UD. And also towards the end of the month all football lovers will be thrilled again when Barcelona plays against Atletico Madrid for the Spanish Super Cup. For being close to the action you should definitely watch the game in the amazing Camp Nou Stadium. However, Barcelona’s city centre has several bars and pubs where you can follow the spectacle on live TV shows. But not only football can be gazed on TV but also the 2013 World Championships of Athletics will start 10th August where all athletes can be marvelled at from Friday to Sunday.

Enjoy!

Why not check out things to do in Barcelona in September?