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The European Balloon Festival in Igualada is the biggest gathering of hot air balloons in Spain and welcomes around 25,000 visitors over four days the first fortnight of July. It's a meeting point, a competition and a festival in one, with more than 50 balloons taking to the air. Competitive flights take place early in the morning and at dusk, when conditions are ideal, and if you want a taste of the high life, balloon rides can be booked in advance. Fly among a mass of Balloons from several counties of the world.
But there's plenty to enjoy from ground level, whether it's the different skill challenges in the competition, live music, kids' activities and workshops, or the magical Night Glow event, in which balloons are fired up but don't take off, glowing like lanterns and accompanied by a fireworks display.
This sporting event combining swimming, cycling and running is undoubtedly on the rise and becoming a trend among those who are looking for a more varied exercise that provides more than just one single sport. It is no surprise that the Barcelona Triathlon attracts thousands of people to its waterfront every year.
With four distances and modalities available, participants can choose between supersprint, sprint, elite short, aquathlon and olympic, taking part as individuals, in couples (both should finish the race together) or as a relay team for olympic and sprint (with two of more members sharing the effort).
This year, in addition, the Barcelona Triathlon adapts the circuit for the youngest with the Junior Challenge, for boys and girls between 12 and 17 years old.
This is one of the most keenly anticipated and widely celebrated Catalan public holidays. According to the traditional tale, Sant Jordi (Saint George) killed the dragon that used to live in Montblanc where it terrorized the local population, thus saving the king's daughter from certain death. Legend has it that a beautiful rose bush sprang up in the spot where the dragon's blood was spilled. From the 18th century onward, the Sant Jordi festival became widely identified as a Catalan 'fiesta' which these days arouses great popular, civic and cultural passion. On Sant Jordi's Day, lovers exchange a rose and a book and every town and city in Catalonia is filled with stalls set up to sell both.
There have been many achievements by the LGTBIQ+ collective, but every day we see news and activities that show us that there is still a long way to go in the fight for freedom, dignity and respect for this community. Pride Barcelona is a unique opportunity to raise the profile of LGTBIQ+ rights through acts of celebration and assertion.
The Patum de Berga is a truly ancient traditional festival. It is cultural phenomenon that grew out of the theatrical performances that used to accompany the Corpus Christi processions in the Middle Ages. The event is focused on fire, music and a series of symbolic characters. These days, the Patum is as vibrant as ever; to the point it has been declared an event of Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. A small square in Berga, not far from Barcelona, concentrates all of the the energy, passion and magic of an unmissable festival.
The Sant Ponç Festival is one of the oldest and most traditional ones in Catalonia and is dedicated to medicinal remedies, aromatic herbs and culinary essences. The streets of Catalan towns are filled with stalls selling high quality gastronomic products. In Barcelona, the Sant Ponç Festival is centered on the Calle Hospital, which is transformed into a souk filled with the aromas and tastes of aromatic herbs, candy, chocolate, honey, artisan cheese, candied fruit and much more. Sant Ponç is the patron saint of herbalists and, according to the legend, upon coming to Barcelona and witnessing the widespread misery that prevailed, he began to prepare potions and medicinal remedies to cure the city's sick. In gratitude for his work, the Barcelonans decided to create a herb festival in his honor. The festival is rounded off with other activities that start on the night of 10 May with the decoration of the figure of the saint with herbs and flowers. The following day this is carried on a procession through the streets and there is a blessing of the medicinal herbs brought along by those in attendance.
The textile tradition of Igualada in the 19th century left an industrial neighborhood, the Rec district, full of factories. The Rec. O Experimental Stores initiative takes up the tradition and reinvents it through a temporary transformation. Over four days, the industrial areas will become pop up clothing stores where top brands will display their goods and samples at one-off prices. This circuit will also feature Rec Street Food, with food trucks, and the Rec Music Festival which will put on concerts throughout the different spaces.
In its 46th edition, this race has become one of the most well-known marathons in Europe. The Zurich Marathon in Barcelona, Gold Label by l'IAAF, is a huge city festival where runners from around the world come and enjoy this fantastic long-distance race. They are backed by the good weather and more than 42 km of city circuit which winds through the most emblematic parts of the city. It becomes, according to its participants, one of the most spectacular race in the world.
This long-standing Christmas tradition is the last race of the year for amateur runners. The Cursa dels Nassos (Race of the Noses) is held every year on 31st December. One of the most original, fun and festive races in the sporting calendar in order to bid the year farewell. Do you feel like running?
Closely related to Carnival, the Tres Tombs feast is held –at least since 1826– in Sant Antoni neighbourhood, the heart of Eixample district. In homage to muleteers, wagoners and peasant farmers, the horse parade is performed by ancient carriages animal drawn and several riders. It always appears the Unitat Muntada de la Guàrdia Urbana (Horse Guards of the local police) and riders who escort Sant Antoni and Santa Eulàlia flags, the co-patron saint of the city. But, overall, there are amazing carriages such as a firefighter truck driven by horses, the Imperial carriage of the funeral services, a delivery carriage for wineskins, one for the rice growers and some other historical ones from Barcelona and other Catalan cities. The parade finishes in Plaça Sant Jaume, when the local authorities welcome the entourage.