Parade by Dwarf and Giant figures

Start: Pl. Sant Jaume. Route: Ferran, La Rambla, Cardenal Casañas, Pl. Pi, Pl. Sant Josep Oriol, Portaferrissa, La Rambla, Pintor Fortuny, Àngels, Montalegre and Pati Manning.

Parade by Dwarf and Giant figures

After the Ball de gegants, it’s time for the oldest activity featuring giants in the festivities for La Mercè. This activity has been held since the 1940s and consists of a route around various streets in the Gòtic and Raval neighbourhoods to reach the Pati Manning at the Casa de la Caritat, where giants, dwarfs and bighead figures will wait for the moment they can go to the starting point for the festival procession, the Cavalcada de la Mercè.

Known as the Passada de Nans i Gegants , this parade is a big celebration of popular culture. It features the most majestic and fun figures, the dwarfs, the most notable of them being Cu-cut de la Plaça Nova, a country character wearing a hat who gets away with all sorts and has his own dance, inspired by The Magic Flute by Mozart. However, since 2011 he’s had a rival when it comes to gaining children’s affection: the General Lagarto dwarf figure, a French general accompanied by the Barceloneta cannon, which fires sweets instead of shells!

The Manolito dwarf pays homage to a local resident in the neighbourhood of Sant Just who is very involved with local initiatives, while the Poble-sec dwarf figures (the chimney-sweep Aquilino, seamstress Palmira and the girl Mariví) and the unique figures from La Pedrera are other dwarf figures who will be dancing during this occasion.