Chestnuts and Halloween
Barcelona offers a plethora of activities to indulge in chestnuts, panellets (Catalan almond sweets), candies, and spooky tales, catering to various audiences.
Are you one of those who celebrate "Castanyada" with friends and family, relishing the warmth of chestnuts and sweet potatoes, and the sugary delight of panellets? Or do you embrace the Halloween festivities with pumpkins, costumes, candies, and thrills? Whether you're a staunch supporter of "Castanyada," Halloween, or enjoy both celebrations, the city hosts an array of activities to partake in the merriment.
Halloween is indeed gaining popularity among children, and that's precisely what the play "Una castanyada de por," directed by Albert Pueyo (Sala Ars Teatre), explores. In this play, Castanyera (a traditional character associated with "Castanyada") comes to sell chestnuts in the city but realizes that the children are more interested in sweets and costumes. Thus, Castanyera must find new ways to stay relevant and not be forgotten.
The Xarxa de Centres Cívics de Barcelona (Civic Centers Network of Barcelona) has prepared a wealth of activities related to "Castanyada," including music, entertainment, shows, workshops, games, and even panellet-making workshops for you to discover how these sweets are crafted. Additionally, civic centres have Halloween celebrations with exclusive activities designed for spine-tingling thrills, such as the iconic terror tunnels. There are also makeup technique workshops, terrifying recipes for the occasion, and games. To explore all available activities, you can check the schedule and timings.
But there are even more Halloween proposals to consider. The Maritime Museum of Barcelona offers a challenge-based game in the activity "La Noche de las almas" (The Night of Souls) to free the museum's halls from spirits. Poble Espanyol suggests "Creepy Family" for a family adventure, solving mysteries and entering two haunted houses. Tibidabo hosts a circus, illusions, and horror show with "Wilhelm Freak Show," where you can witness mysterious and chilling creatures.
Once you've put the children to bed, another Halloween begins, this time for adults. At the Teatre Condal, you can enjoy a terrifyingly entertaining show, "La noche de los muertos vivientes ¡live!" (The Night of the Living Dead Live!). Moreover, various hair-raising escape rooms are organized, where you must solve enigmas within a time limit through trials and challenges. Remember that to celebrate the festival properly, the Palau de la Música presents a Halloween concert featuring excerpts from Stephen Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." The performance will be in Catalan, with leading roles played by Miquel Fernández and Anna Moliner, directed by Andreu Gallén and staged by Jordi Prat i Coll. At the Wax Museum, you'll have a night of horror and music. The Casa de la Seda offers a murder mystery experience "Murder Mystery: Asesinato en la Casa de la Seda", and Phenomena has prepared a program tailored for a terrifying Halloween.
This wide range of activities allows you to enjoy both autumn celebrations, from "Castanyada" in various Barcelona neighbourhoods to terror tunnels and many other activities. The entry price, schedule, and recommended age vary depending on the activity.