Festes de Sant Roc in Plaça Nova, the oldest festivities in Barcelona

The Festes de Sant Roc in Plaça Nova has been celebrated since 1589, which makes it the oldest town festival in the city. Every August, some of the most unique traditions in Barcelona take to the streets right in the heart of the Gothic Quarter so all citizens can enjoy them. On the days around the feast day of Saint Roch, which is 16 August, Plaça Nova will fill with some of the most famous traditional icons in Catalonia, like the capgròs (big-head) Cu-cut; the Cucanya de la plaça (greased pole); the giant figures from L’Espluga de Francolí, El Pi, El Raval, Barceloneta and Carrer de la Princesa, among others; the Devil of Sant Roc; the Eagle of the city; the Eaglet of the Gothic Quarter; and many other figures. There will also be sardana dances, correfocs (literally “fire runs”), crafts fairs, community hot-chocolate gatherings, folk dancers, processions, children’s activities and the traditional Porró Llarg (long-spouted wine jar), just to cite a few.

This celebration, the 430th, will be held 14 to 17 August at different times in Plaça Nova. Don’t miss this longstanding tradition which was listed as a Heritage Festival of National Interest by the government of Catalonia in 2017. Plus, the organisers encourage everyone to see the exhibitions entitled “1938. The Cathedral District Under the Bombs” and “4 ¼. 425 Years of the Festes de Sant Roc of Barcelona” at the Casa dels Entremesos, and “The Lost Neighbourhood. Plaça Nova and the Cathedral Neighbourhood” at the Pati Llimona, in order to gain an even better understanding of the history of this neighbourhood.  

All the activities are free of charge and open to everyone. You can find the complete programme on the website of the Associació de Festes de la Plaça Nova.