The streets of Gràcia are preparing for a new edition of their main festival, which will offer more than 900 free activities from August 15 to 21.
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While the committees finalize preparations, those responsible for the festivities have already encountered the first controversy: a quarter of the participating streets – at least half a dozen – have received requests from residents and businesses to cancel night activities due to noise.
In response to these complaints, the Fundació Festa Major de Gràcia has published a manifesto to defend the celebration’s model as a “living heritage that must be protected.” In the document, the entity asks public administrations to come out in defense of the programming. And this afternoon, the councilor for the Gràcia district, Laia Bonet, highlighted the coordinated work between the foundation and the executive, in addition to emphasizing the identity element that the festival represents.
Barcelona’s first deputy mayor has also acknowledged the “challenges” involved in organizing this major festival and has stated that they are working to address them. Noise complaints are common, although this year they have been exaggerated, and the organizing foundation has spoken of “radicalization.” For this reason, the so-called ‘quiet night’ – a day without music or concerts to promote coexistence and neighborhood rest – has been consolidated in the program. In this regard, the president of the foundation, Lina López, has confirmed that activities in Sant Miquel square, where the protest originated, will not be modified.
Beyond neighborhood conflicts, the camaraderie among the decorating committees is growing. It will be the first time in ten years that five streets will share a theme, although each will maintain its own style.
Another novelty is that the Jesús committee is leaving its street and will decorate Sant Pere Màrtir street, after the Urban Guard confirmed that the latter is a safer space due to less traffic in the area. In addition, a new style of party for families and teenagers will be set up in Joanic square, which the organizers hope will be consolidated in future editions. In this square, which is one of the entrances to Gràcia, activities will be prepared for children under 14, such as sensory and tactile activities, storytelling, folk shows, or dance workshops.
Other events planned for this year include a youth band competition and a commemorative Gaudí year scavenger hunt, with a prize for the costume that best fits this theme. In addition, there will be family dinners and open-air cinema.
Providència and Tordera streets will receive the commemorative plaque for their centenary
Streets that opt for decorations on gender and sexual orientation diversity, anti-racism, or ecology will receive additional budgetary allocation. Likewise, funds will be raised for the Associació Catalana Síndrome X Fràgil, the Gràcia entity focused on improving the lives of people affected by this syndrome, which is the leading cause of hereditary intellectual functional diversity.
To ensure everyone can enjoy the festivities, purple points and safe routes will return, allowing people to cross the neighborhood in all directions with the accompaniment of police forces. The security deployment of the Guàrdia Urbana and the Mossos de Esquadra will also be reinforced, and public transport will have an uninterrupted service from Fridays to Sundays during the festivities. For the first time, all the fountains in the Villa de Gràcia will be marked on the street map to combat high temperatures.
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