A week after traveling to Barcelona, La Mercè posters quickly surfaced around the city. My bucketlist for summer had finally arrived. A bright red poster with an intriguing woman captured the imagination of what was in store for this traditional summer festival. The design of the poster featured different elements, colors, and shapes, all invoking a sense of curiosity. The placement of these posters were critical. You could see them on buildings, lamp posts, and billboards. One could feel the sensations of excitement leaping from the paper, invading your personal space.
The Atmosphere of La Mercè
Barcelona was a city filled with anticipation, and you could feel it. It was the end of a lively, vibrant season of light and the last summer days. This festival is an item on the bucketlist for summer, where happiness begins. It comes in a time of transition. It’s meant to be celebrated with intense vigor and enthusiasm since summer graced our well-being with joy.
Through bright sunny days, cold tomatoey gazpacho, daytrips to Figueres, Spain and numerous hours lounging in the toasty beige sand at the beach with friends. Each day of summer has been a gift contributing to one’s overall wellness and health.
By dancing your way through the streets to the rhythm of Barcelona’s heart beat, smiling and laughing while soaking up the warm sun, and dodging left then right to avoid an abundance of tuk tuk drivers zipping around the walkways.
Before the celebration, you notice equipment covered in black bags placed sporadically throughout the city. Over two days, these black bags quickly transformed into the different locations where each activity for the festival and fairs will be held. Each site has been specifically picked to elicit healthy happiness associations with summer. Think green parks, big stone castles, sandy beaches, and city/county fairs.
My experience at La Mercè
It was time! La Mercè commenced and the captivating smells of the truck food festival flooded the air of the Barcelona Gothic Quarter. From burgers stacked with endless toppings, to nachos topped with piping hot BBQ pulled pork, cheese and guacamole.
Related post: 50 Best Things to Do in Barcelona
Don’t forget about the famous jamón (ham)! The meat was served straight from a leg hanging in midair, swinging ever so gently above the chef. The chef thinly carved the jamón and placed it inside sweet smelling fresh bread sliced perfectly in half.
The aroma is what brought you to stand in line for the healthy dose of food you ordered, but witnessing the construction of the bocadillo (sandwich) added depth to your experience. Unknowingly, your mind linked the anticipation for the sandwich to Barcelona’s readiness for La Mercè.
Traveling to Barcelona during La Mercè should be a bucketlist for summer item you don’t want to miss. The music tantalizing with every beat encourages deeper health and wellness. You enter deeper engagement and connection to the vibrant energy of La Mercè while sipping on your ice cold cerveza (beer). I’m not a beer drinker, but the atmosphere was worth noting due to the healthy magnetic spirits brought by all the people who attended.
The people, food in Barcelona, healthy environment and mostly warm weather in Barcelona all combined to invoke a sense of contentment with life in the present moment. La Mercè is the ultimate way to close that summer bucketlist.
History of La Mercè
La Mercè is the celebration of the patron saint of Barcelona, Verge de la Mercè (Virgin of Mercy). According to legend, in 1218 on September 24th the Virgin Mercy asked King Jaume I and two others to help save the lives of Christians being imprisoned.
Today, this festival international is one of the largest in Barcelona city. Although based in religion, this festival is now centered around the culture of the Mediterranean through expressions of music, art, food, traditional dances, and theater.
5 ways to experience La Mercè in Barcelona:
1. Free music concerts every evening during the festival
If you love music, which I do, the festival music is for you. Music is nourishment for the soul. It awakens the depths of your well-being and can increase your wellness being. Studies show that music can improve your mood, enhance your well-being, ease pain, reduce stress, and improve cognition, memory and attention.
With ranging types of musical styles performed at La Mercè, there is music here for everyone. Jazz, Rap, Catalan, Spanish, Barut, and various other styles to reflect the current theme of the La Mercè Barcelona festival.
2. Free shows/performances during the day
From acrobatics at Montjuïc Castle to eccentric dance performances, interactive exhibits and puppet shows, there are a variety of shows or things to do when summer ends. Shows do repeat so don’t worry if you miss one. You can catch it the following day or two.
Make sure to download the La Mercè guide. It’s very helpful for planning your activities as it lists dates and show times of all the events. If you prefer a physical guide, head over to Parc de la Cuitdella and visit the information booth. They have guides in multiple languages and you might score a free La Mercè bag!
3. Watch the correfocs (fire run)
At the entrance of Via Laietana, police cars block off the street. In front of them are at least twelve different drum-lines and bands rehearsing for the correfoc (fire run). Feeding off their high energy, you could feel the loud drumming coursing through your veins. Watching them drum and dance to the tune was a friendly invitation for the crowd to join in. Then came the children.
Each group dressed up in various costumes: witches, devils, dragons, and ghosts carrying something which resembled a torch. One at a time they would walk up to the starter, who put a firework on top of their torch-like object, then lit it.
They took off skipping and spinning up the street while their torch-looking firework spun in crazy circles above their heads. You could hear the crowd hoot and holler. Some danced underneath the fireworks, while others dodged and took cover from the yellowish orange flying sparks.
4. There are food trucks for days
At each location there is a wide variety of food to choose from and refuel your body. These food truck fiestas are stationed throughout each areas, making a sort of food truck park. They contain traditional food in Spain and street food: think of sweet and savory crepes, freshly fried fries with breaded chicken, sandwich trucks, health food restaurant trucks, gelato, calamari and other specialty foods such as falafel and noodle bowls.
From dairy-free foods (and yes! A small vegan Barcelona does exist), extraordinary desserts in Barcelona, hearty meals and light snacks to walk around with and enjoy, there’s food here for even those with plant based whole food diets.
5. Watch the closing ceremony
On the last day of this Barcelona festival, there is a closing ceremony held at Plaça d’Espanya. The closing ceremony consists of a music, light, and water show from Fonts de Montjuïc (Fountain of Montjuïc), paired with fireworks. It’s truly mesmerizing listening to inspiring and uplifting music while watching fireworks light up the sky. Sparkling blueish-green dots and shimmering pink-ish red explosions enveloped the black night sky.
Each crackle and boom accompanied by feel good music cultivates a sense of gratitude and positive energy. While the dancing water brings a unique contemplative calmness, one can soak in all the exciting experiences collected during this summer festival.
Tip: I recommend getting there early to avoid the crowds! You can also watch the ceremony from any street corner that gives you access to view Fonts de Montjuïc and the fireworks.
When is La Mercè
The day of La Mercè is September 24th. Each year in late September the festival commences around this date and lasts for several days, right on the cusp of the fall season. This year it lasted 5 days, ending on September 24th. Check out the Ajuntament de Barcelona to view the exact dates for this summer and fall festival in 2021.
Amazing! You write beautifully and instantly transported me back to Spain. I had never heard of this festival before but it sounds vibrant and wild and fun. Thank you for sharing!
How awesome! I’ve never heard of this festival and I would go for the food trucks alone haha! Thanks for giving out all the details 🙂
This event looks amazing! the photo with the water bottles made me laugh, such a great photo. It looks so fun!
I love visiting new places when special events and festivals are going on. Zozobra in Santa Fe is one not to miss, if you ever head through the Southwest. 🙂
I have literally never heard of La Merce! It seems like a fantastic way to end summer though! Especially the correfocs!
This festival looks like such much fun! The fire run looks very exciting, that would be quite the scene. I would also enjoying seeing the concerts/performances throughout the day. It sounds like a great way to celebrate summer.
This is definitely a feast! Sounds fun to be there 🙂 I miss attending to such festivals like this.
Looks amazing! I love Spain- the festival, food trucks and live entertainment is right up my alley 🙂
I’d never heard of this festival before this, but I can definitely see why it’d be appealing to go!! I’m all for free shows/music! 😀 Same with food trucks too–I’d love to eat my way through Spain! 😛
I have never heard of this event but looks like a blast! Reminds me of a similar event in Toronto!
I can’t resist an outdoor market! This looks completely up my alley (especially that jamon!).