La Mercè 2016: Traditional celebrations

Most of the traditional celebrations of La Mercè are on this year on Saturday the 24th and Sunday the 25th. Saturday starts off with the traditional waking up of the neighbourhood, courtesy of the 'grallers' (pipers), who leave Plaça de la Mercè at 8am and parade around the centre to Plaça de Sant Jaume. If you're in the area and trying to get a lie-in, be aware that at 8.15am everyone in the vicinity of La Rambla, C/Ferran and Plaça de Sant Jaume is in danger of losing precious beauty sleep when the 'galejada trabucaire' (basically a group with ear-splitting mini cannons) shoot their weapons to get all the neighbours to rise and shine and get the festival weekend going. From 11am, also in Plaça de Sant Jaume, you'll find traditional dancing exhibitions and giants, as well as local 'castellers' building their human towers. On Sunday 25, there's still more to go, with the Falcons (similar to human towers, in different formations) in Plaça Nova (10.30am), traditional 'sardana' dancing in Av. de la Catedral (11am), fire parades featuring little devils (6.30pm) and the main 'correfoc' (fire run) at 8pm). And lest we forget the Fire Festival! Discover and enjoy the most traditional side of La Mercè.