Festes de Sant Roc 2017

Also known as the Festa Major (big neighbourhood street party) of the Barri Gòtic, this is the oldest Festa Major in Barcelona, dating back to 1589. As in the medieval markets of the time, there will be plenty of activities going on over the five days of the party, as well as craft stalls. You'll find things to do for kids, social dances, traditional dances, fire runs ('correfocs') and loads of other goings-on to keep you celebrating.

On the first day, Friday August 11, the most traditional events kick off, including the inaugural parade through the neighbourhood; the raising of the flag and the climbing of the Cockaigne pole in Plaça Nova – which are repeated every day; traditional 'sardana' dancing at 7.30pm; and a night of dancing starting at 10pm.

On Saturday starting at 6.30pm it's the Festa Catalana, with various traditional performances, 'gegants' (giants) and 'capgrossos' (big-heads). At night there's a dance with the Cocodrilo Club show.

Sunday the 13th brings the Festa del Gos dog show, with an agility competition, and you'll also find 'devils' workshops and a habaneras concert. Monday sees games for kids and a dance at night. Although Tuesday the 15th is a bank holiday, the fun doesn't stop during the Festa Major. The day's main attractions are the XXXVI Dance of the Giants and the performance from the human-pyramid-building Falcons de Barcelona. At night it's time for a sweet snack at the big 'xocolatada' chocolate feast, followed by a performance by traditional dancing from the Esbart Català de Dansaires group.

Wednesday the 16th is Sant Roc's feast day, and the day kicks off at 9.30am with the Gran Traca Despertada – that is, a lot of noise to wake up the neighbourhood, courtesy of a parade of devils, 'bastoners' playing drums, dancers, neighbourhood beasts, giants and anyone who wants to join in on the fun. At 10.30am, in the Santa Maria del Pi church there's a singing Mass, and after there's a floral offering to Sant Roc in Plaça Nova (12.15pm) followed by the Centenary Dance of the Sant Roc Giants in Plaça Nova, as well as the 'Porró Llarg' (you're just going to have to see this one). At 6pm there's a kids' festival with puppets and clowns. The correfoc with the Barri Gòtic Devils, the Barri Gòtic Eagle, the Barcelona Víbria, and the Dance of the Atabalats Devils of Mataró starts out from Plaça Nova at 10.30pm. The Festa Major comes to an end with fireworks at 11pm.