Associations and groups, the youngest in the city, are taking the reins of Barcelona’s winter festival, the Santa Eulalia festivities, which will be held on 7, 8, 9 and 12 February.

We start with the exhibitions, such as ‘Fantastic!’, a festive and fantastic bestiary exhibition that we will be able to see in the Palau de la Virreina from 1 to 9 February, which presents a series of fabulous beasts, both from Barcelona and from all over the country, the result of the imaginative contemporary interpretation of legends and mythologies and even creations inspired by comics and fantastic and horror literature and cinema.

On February 10th and 11th we can also see in the gegantona Laia, Laia and Laieta in the Plaça Nova, Laia the Giants of the Pi, Lola del Raval or the Maria la Limpia of Barceloneta, among other giants, and only giants, of Ciutat Vella, who also meet in the Palau de la Virreina to vindicate Santa Eulàlia as the patron saint of Barcelona and pay homage to all the women of Barcelona.

Friday 7: The children’s opening speech will mark the start of the activities of the Santa Eulàlia festival. An educational meeting in Sant Jaume Square (10 a.m.) aimed at 3rd, 4th and 5th grade primary school students to promote and disseminate children’s rights. In the afternoon, at 8 pm, it will be the turn of the protocols of the Eagle of the City, which will leave the Plaza Sant Jaume with his entourage: the Lion of Barcelona, the Giants of Santa Maria del Mar or the Ministers of the City to arrive, between 20.50 and 21 Santa Maria del Mar where the Eagle will dance inside the Basilica. At 8.15 pm in Sant Jaume square we will be able to see ‘NU(e)S’, a show by the Esbart Maragall.

Saturday 8th: The day begins with the 18th Muestra de Gegantons (Gegantons Show) by the groups of the Coordinator and the 16th Muestra de Gegantons y otros elementos de escuela (Plaza de los Ángeles, 10 h) and the 17th Encuentro Sardanista Infantil de Santa Eulalia (Plaza Sant Jaume, 10.30 h). Also on Saturday there will be the Diada Bastonera, which includes a dance show at 11 am in the Avenida de la Catedral and a show of Children and Youth Dancing Esbarts.

Saturday will also see the correfoc of the little devils (6:15 pm), with a route that leaves from Plaza Sant Jaume and the 29th edition of the correfoc of Santa Eulalia (8:15 pm), which begins the route in Plaza Real. We also note that for the eighth consecutive year comes ‘Eulalia’ (Saturday, 21 h and Sunday 16.45 h) award-winning music and dance show Esbart Condal City that is represented inside the Cathedral of Barcelona

Sunday 9th: Don’t miss the Madrugada de grallers (8 am, descent from Santa Eulalia) and its music parading through the streets of the Gothic quarter. Don’t miss the Diada Castellera (plaza Sant Jaume, 11 h) with the groups from Barcelona, Sants, la Vila de Gràcia, Poble Sec, la Sagrada Familia, la Jove de Barcelona, la de Sarrià and the left side of the Eixample. The XXXVIII Encounter of Giants in Ciutat Vella and Santa Eulalia’s Courtship will meet in the Real square (10.30 h) to initiate the courtship at 11 h). In the afternoon it will be the turn of ‘Fantastic! Pasacalles’ (Parades), a display of dances and fireworks from the bestiary (Palau de la Virreina, 5 pm) and the musical parades with the Roquetes-Nou Barris Symphonic Band and the Band from the Padre Manyanet School, which will hold separate parades (the first will leave from the Portal del Angel at 6 pm and the second from Plaza Sant Josep Oriol) to meet in Plaza Sant Jaume, where they will perform together as a big band.

Wednesday 12th: The Paseo de las Laies (18.30 h) is one of the most special moments of the festival of the co-patron of the city and closes the city’s winter festival. Don’t miss the dance of the Laies in Sant Jaume square and don’t forget to accompany the giants in the floral offering they make to the saint, to the descent that bears her name. The celebration finishes in the same square of Sant Jaume, when all the giants of the city pass under the banner of Santa Eulalia that is placed in the balcony of the City council.