Barcelona 2009 Events / 2nd Half

15-21 August
Festa Major de Gràcia
Gràcia, once separated from Barcelona by green fields, is now one of its more bohemian districts, much loved by those into ethnic restaurants and spending the day lounging on café terraces as well as being home to Barcelona's punks and squatters. It is also home to one of the more vibrant street festivals, with 600 events (dance, theatre, music...) over 9 nights.

The neatly designed site has the basic information about what's on...

•We like: The annual competition to decorate the streets
•Too hot: Barcelona in August
•Languages: Catalan only

September 23
La Mercé
Barcelona's "festa major", La Mercé, is named after its patron saint and includes music and dance as well as some spectacular traditions such as thecastellers (human castles, pictured, right) and the correfoc (literally the firerun), at which dragons belch fire over the packed crowds and demons spray everyone with sparks.

The Mercé also includes a very popular 10km fun run across the city.

•We liked: Being sprayed with sparks... No, really: it was kind of, you know, kinky!
•Not so hot: Don't expect the official site to be up and running long in advance
•Languages: English (very limited), Spanish and Catalan

October 2-12
Sitges Film Festival
A popular seaside resort some 40km down the coast from Barcelona, Sitges has an equally popular film festival, which this year celebrates its 42nd edition.

The main sections are science-fiction, fantasy and horror with both commercial and non-commercial movies.

•Languages: English, Spanish and Catalan

October 18
Barcelona Triathlon
If you can't wait till March for the Barcelona Marathon, there's always the Triathlon, with a 1.5km swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run on a circuit stretching from the beach to the Arc de Triomf and the Torre Agbar.

There's also the possibility of entering a three person team, with each member taking one stage.

•We liked: Getting off the beastly bike (the only bit we did like, in fact)
•Not so hot: The organization left a bit to be desired in 2008
•Languages: English, Spanish and Catalan

October 29-November 1
XV Manga Festival
The La Farga de L'Hospitalet trade fair centre, just outside Barcelona, hosts a hugely popular offshoot of Barcelona's main (June) Comic Fair.

October 29-November 1
ArtFutura
The eighteenth edition of ArtFutura, a digital art and new media festival, includes a wide range of workshops, conferences, performances, special presentations and audio-visuals.

November 7-15
Saló Nautico
Barcelona's International Boat Show is one of the biggest and most interesting of its many trade fairs. See our review.

27 December 2009-4 January 2010
Barcelona's annual "Festival de la Infancia" trade fair (this year the 44th edition) is a great day out for kids - with basically anything you could wish the Three Kings (aka Santa) would bring you. For details, check thefestival site.

How was your previous experiences? What did you hear about these events before? Any Comments or Clarifications to make?

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