Guide to enjoy Christmas in Barcelona

Catalunya square will once again be one of the main highlights of this year's Christmas celebrations in Barcelona. There, large windows designed by Carles Piera will invite us to peek into a few homes, to contemplate some very typical scenes of these holidays, to feel again those shivers that come from remembering that place where we always felt so protected years ago... One may like the municipal offer more or less, but no one can argue with the care with which the City Council organizes these events.

Catalunya square will once again strive to become a meeting point for performing arts. We are talking about theater, dance, and street circus, with 25 shows and up to 334 performances that will take place over eleven days, from December 20 to 30, with the participation of 17 companies and eight musical groups. Many attendees may be familiar with some of them from previous occasions, but most of these performances will be new to this city.

“We are living in times of uncertainty and shocking news,” said Mayor Jaume Collboni during the presentation of these Christmas festivities. “We want to offer the people of Barcelona a moment of pause, comfort, and a chance to reconnect with others.” The mornings at Catalunya square will have a family-friendly atmosphere, featuring performances showcasing different perspectives of Christmas and concerts. The afternoons will be filled with street dance and circus shows. Later, around seven o'clock, the square will come alive with groove and electronic music, jazz, folk, and even traditional lullabies! The days will end with circus performances.

Five settings in the grand lighting of Passeig de Gràcia

On the 28th, another highlight of these festivities will take place again on Passeig de Gràcia, the traditional lighting ceremony. Those who do not arrive early will barely see the flashes. The show Solvern, a production of the Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB) commissioned to the company Aktionstheater Pan.Optikum, will be about hope and cohesion, about the light that appears in the darkness, like the sun that warms you in winter or the star that guides you in the sky. Apparently, everything will be super immersive and multidimensional. Up to 28 artists will roam five stages to the beat of a very urban music.

However, the repetition of the walk also elicits criticism. Barcelona en Comú already stated that it was “a sign of Collboni's elitist drift.” And yesterday, the Barcelona Comerç foundation, an entity that brings together 23 neighborhood commercial axes, pointed out that “this decision is a missed opportunity to promote diversity, uniqueness, and the offerings of other axes.” In previous years, the entity added, the City Council did promote “the equitable distribution of opportunities and the attraction of visitors to areas made up of small and medium-sized businesses.” Additionally, ERC requested that the City Council reintroduce the itinerant model.

The number 47 will shine in Torre Baró, and the giant reindeer in each district

Barcelona will once again surpass its records and will showcase over 110 kilometers of very bright Christmas lights. In this sense, the city can boast about its decentralization. Among the few novelties of Barcelona's Christmas, the one in Torre Baró stands out. Thanks to the Pla de Barris, the neighborhood will present a decoration based on the history of the movie El 47.

And one of the most anticipated elements this Christmas will be the debut of 24 reindeer and other figures ranging from 2.5 to 3.8 meters with Christmas motifs. These elements will be spread across all districts of the city. Other few novelties this year will include guided tours through emblematic shops in El Raval and the Gothic Quarter, specially illuminated for the occasion.

Half a thousand drones to ring out the year

Barcelona will celebrate the arrival of 2025 with a pyrotechnic show featuring five hundred drones, once again organized by Groupe F. The stage will be set on Maria Cristina Avenue. The central theme of this performance will revolve around the various ways of understanding love, “from love for nature to love for the city,” as stated in the municipal dossier. "Each element will be carefully synchronized to create a visual experience that will mark the heartbeat of the new year, combining lights, rhythm, and colors. Unfortunately, as mentioned in the breakdown of this information, we will still not be able to enjoy the Magic Fountain.

A 15-meter fir tree in Sant Jaume that will not be visible from the moon

And in the shadow of the majestic 20-point star that the City Council will plant in Sant Jaume square to refer to the origin of the universe, a 15-meter fir tree will be erected. Municipal sources anticipate that the decoration of the star and the fir tree will be in the same style. It remains to be seen if the controversies surrounding this star will overshadow a traditionally cornered fir tree even more. It is assumed that this year it will not go unnoticed. The florist and interior designer Xavier Lloveras, from the centennial Flors Prats, will be in charge of decorating the tree. As every year, Mercabarna provides the specimen in question. Yes, Barcelona does not intend for its Christmas decorations to be visible from the moon or to participate in the competition to see which city has the tallest tree in Spain. It wouldn't be in line with Barcelona. Both the City Council and the Generalitat will host traditional nativity scenes.

The toy factory and the parade of the Three Wise Men

And a momentous issue. Everything is ready for the Fabra i Coats toy factory to open its doors and be fully operational on December 27th. Once again, the visit will be free of charge, but remember that it is advisable to make the corresponding reservation to avoid being left at the door. However, the Three Wise Men will still come well loaded with gifts, just in case. Initially, the route will be the same as last year. The City Council will soon announce the novelties of this year's parade. The neighborhoods will also celebrate the arrival of Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar with their own parades.