The stick dancers will be hitting hard once more for Santa Eulàlia! The first mention of the stick dance, widespread throughout the Mediterranean region and Europe, comes from Catalonia in 1150. Since then it has become well consolidated in the city, with various groups in different neighbourhoods and districts who you can see in action at the winter festa major.

The stick dancer groups of Barcelona will be meeting in the Avinguda de la Catedral (10 am) to start a day of dance exhibition. They will not be alone, as this year they will be joined by the Pla de l’Aigua Stick Dancer group from Lleida, the Dance del Rabal group from Zaragoza and the Ball de les Gitanes from Vilafranca. The streets will then be filled with music, accompanied by the sounds of the sticks beating together in a street parade, a great chance to see the stick dances and guests in movement in Plaça Nova, Carrer de la Palla, Carrer dels Banys Nous, Carrer de Ferran and Plaça de Sant Jaume.

On arriving in the square, the stick dancer groups will gift us their last dances, making the earth shake in Plaça de Sant Jaume!

The sardana youth dancers will be meeting in Plaça de Sant Jaume to dance to the fresh, innovative sound of the Cobla Contemporània sardana orchestra. If you are among the new generations of sardana dancers, be sure not to miss this annual gathering!

Route: Plaça dels Àngels, Carrer d’Elisabets, Carrer del Bonsuccés, La Rambla, Carrer de Ferran and Plaça de Sant Jaume.

The “geganton” lesser giants, “capgrossos” (big-heads), “cuques” (insects), beasts and “cavallets” (little horses) of the festival groups and schools of Barcelona will be dancing together through the city’s streets, headed by the “gegantona” Laia.

The Giants of the City will preside over the arrival of the figures into Plaça de Sant Jaume and offer their dance as a reminder that, as the poet Joan Maragall said, the Giants of the City belong to Barcelona’s children. 

Santa Eulàlia is the city’s small festa major, in which children play the leading role. Consequently, the children’s sections of the Barcelona traditional and popular Catalan dance groups (esbarts) will be taking centre stage and celebrating their dance. The 20 city traditional dance groups will offer a variety of dances performed by their youngest members.

The exhibition will be held on two separate days. On Saturday, you can see dances by the Esbart Sant Martí, Esbart Maragall, Esbart Ciutat Comtal and Esbart Català de Dansaires groups. Sunday will be the turn of the Esbart Joventut Nostra, Esbart Vila de Gràcia, Esbart Sant Jordi and Ballets de Catalunya groups.

Looking forward to seeing them dance?

With the Esbart Santa Eulàlia traditional dance group and the Cobla Maricel sardana orchestra

Enjoy a modern interpretation of the Santa Eulàlia Dance with Esbart Santa Eulàlia, accompanied by the Cobla Sant Jordi-Ciutat de Barcelona sardana orchestra.

Route: Plaça Reial, Passatge de Colom, La Rambla, Carrer de Ferran, Plaça de Sant Jaume and Plaça de Sant Miquel (ending at 5.45 pm).

Experience a mass drum session, filling the streets of the Gothic Quarter with rhythm and sound! The drummers of the fire devils and beast groups will be meeting in Plaça Reial to celebrate the 9th Drummers’ Gathering. Their thundering beats will evoke the heartbeat of Santa Eulàlia! 

Would you like to see traditional dances? The Esbart Català de Dansaires traditional and popular Catalan dance group, the oldest in Catalonia, have prepared a performance of their dances, with musical accompaniment from the Cobla Sant Jordi-Ciutat de Barcelona sardana orchestra. 

With dozens of traditional dances interpreted in their performances, this dance group takes us on a tour of the country with dances from every spot. It also keeps the Catalan Traditional Dance Archive, with information on hundreds of dances collected over the years. 

In 2010 it received the Creu de Sant Jordi award from the Generalitat de Catalunya, and in 2012 it received the City of Barcelona award in the field of popular culture.

Prepare for a journey through dance!

Route: Plaça de Sant Jaume, Carrer de Ferran, La Rambla, Passatge de Colom and Plaça Reial.

When the veil of darkness descends on the city of Barcelona, the children’s and young people’s devil and beast groups will emerge from the City Hall, proving that Santa Eulàlia is the most youthful festival in the city! 

They will fill the following route with rockets and sparks: Plaça de Sant Jaume, Carrer de Ferran, La Rambla, Passatge de Colom and Plaça Reial, finishing at 7 pm.

Although the children’s fire run is aimed especially at smaller children, it is not completely free of risk:

• Be sure to wear long-sleeved cotton clothing covering the whole body. Suitable footwear should be worn for when you need to run.
• Take care of children and ensure they are a safe distance from the fire.
• If the fire run goes past your home or shop, roll back the awnings, cover your windows and close your shutters.
• And remember, follow the instructions of the stewards, so you can enjoy a safer festival!

The Bella Quirze Band was formed about 20 years ago as a Parents’ Association activity at the El Turonet public school in Sant Quirze del Vallès, when a group of parents and teachers started to rehearse some of the gospel pieces for a performance at the end of year party. Later, the group incorporated the singers of the Gòspel de Bellaterra, which led to the birth of the Bella Quirze Band. The current director of the choir is Lourdes Garcia Espinal.

The New Gospel choir was created in 2009, under the guidance of the Gòspel l’Hospitalet Music Association and under the direction of Manel García Sepúlveda. New Gospel currently has 35 singers, and since 2019 has been directed by Verónica Marín. Accompanied on the piano by Abel Coll, the choir will be offering an innovative performance with incursions into soul and funk.

This choral concert is organised by the Barcelona branch of the Catalan Federation of Choral Groups. The federation includes more than 140 choral groups and this year they’ll be presenting two gospel groups with really entertaining repertoires.

Route: Plaça Reial, Passatge de Colom, La Rambla (ascending), Carrer de Ferran and Plaça de Sant Jaume (ending at 8.45 pm).

The last light of the day fades away and night descends over the city streets; fire beasts and devils gather in Plaça Reial... When the first beat of the drum sounds and the beasts begin to draw fire from their teeth, the Santa Eulàlia Fire Run has begun! Moving to the deafening beat of the drums, driving them into the streets to fill them with fire, sparks and smoke, the Dragon, She-dragon, Mulassa, Ox, Harrier and Dolphin will dance among flames with the Kinta Forka, Gothic Quarter and Tarascaire devils.

Once in the Plaça de Sant Jaume, the participating festival groups will perform a jaw-dropping show of thunder and fire, marking the end of the fire run.

Enjoy the fire festival, a feast for your senses with drums, the smell of gunpowder and the light of the sparks.

PLEASE NOTE:

The fire festival is one of the most entertaining events of the Santa Eulàlia celebrations but it is important to take every precaution. If you wish to participate, don’t forget that:

• You will need cover your head, wear a neckerchief and long sleeves and trousers. Always wear clothes made from cotton and not from synthetic materials. You should wear comfortable footwear so that you can run when necessary.
• Be particularly careful if you are with small children and keep a safe distance from the fire. Don’t let children hold hands and remember there is a special fire run for kids, with fewer fireworks.
• If the fire run goes past your home or shop, roll up the awnings, cover your windows and close your shutters.
• No alcohol or glass: while the fire run is taking place, avoid alcohol. And if you are carrying a drink, make sure it is not in a glass bottle or cup. Broken glass is dangerous.
• Do not forget that the fire run is a lot of fun, but if you do not follow the basic safety rules, it can also be dangerous. Join in the festival but enjoy it sensibly!
• Remember to always follow the instructions of the stewards, who will be well identified.

This year marks the commemoration of the bicentenary of the birth of the musician, poet and journalist Josep Anselm Clavé. For this reason, the Federació de Cors de Clavé (Clavé Choirs Federation) has prepared a year of celebrations, with the first major event to be held during the Santa Eulàlia festivities.

The Group Sau 30 will be joining the Coral Cantanna de Vic and La Veu de Voltregà choirs in a magical concert to revisit and sing their greatest hits with Pep Sala and the group, merging choral singing and rock while paying tribute to Carles Sabater, to inaugurate the 2024 Clavé Bicentenary. 

On Saturday 10, in Plaça de Sant Jaume, they will be waiting to perform songs for you, such as El tren de mitjanit, Ningú ens mourà d’aquí, Envia’m un àngel and, of course, Boig per tu. 

Let the Clavé Bicentenary begin!

Eulàlia, the show that pays homage to the life of Santa Eulàlia and explains her martyrdoms, has reached its tenth edition. The Esbart Ciutat Comtal traditional dance group will reveal the legend of the saint through music and dance in the idyllic setting of Barcelona Cathedral, in front of the crypt where her relics lie. Exalting the values of liberty, equality and justice, the esbart will reveal the figure of Santa Eulàlia.

With the choreographer Lluís Calduch and music by the composer Francesc Cassú, Eulàlia recreates the life of the saint from her profession to her crucifixion, including the martyrdoms inflicted on her, through dance sequences, gestural interpretation and choreographic compositions whose reference is the folklore and religious manifestations of Catalan popular culture.