Barcelona Carnival 2022 is here and it promises to be one of the biggest and best ever! Despite being the second carnival during the pandemic, this year Barcelona will host an array of fantastic and flamboyant activities brimming with colour and excitement from 24 February to 2 March.
Barcelona Carnival 2022 will bring freedom and fantasy to all districts in Barcelona, so don’t miss our complete guide to a range of featured activities for young and old!
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Barcelona Carnival 2022: Thursday, 24 March
Just like every year, Barcelona Carnival 2022 will be kicked off on Jueves Lardero, or Fat Thursday. Traditionally, this last Thursday before Lent marks the start of the celebrations and feasting before the upcoming period of fasting.
El Arribo – 5:45 pm
This year, El Arribo opening ceremony will take place on La Rambla in honour of all those who work in kiosks, and will be presented by King Tòtil and Queen Belluga.
This magical parade will end at Palau de la Virreina to hold the much-awaited Taronjada. This rebellious event dates back to 1333 when the Council of One Hundred prohibited the throwing of oranges, and is celebrated this Barcelona Carnival 2022 with the throwing of orange confetti and fireworks.
Culinary events
Similar to past years, Barcelona Carnival 2022 will welcome an array of gastronomic events on Dijous Llarder, from omelette competitions, coca bread tasting events, show cooking, and much more.
Highlights include the truita tasting and concert at 6 pm at the Centre Cívic Font de la Guatlla, the Centre Cívic el Coll’s Fat Thursday for the elderly at 5 pm and La Violeta Omelette contest at 8pm. What’s more, anyone can take part in the ninth edition of Entruita’t’. Find more information about this online omelette competition here.
And whilst we’re on the topic of food, don’t forget to try the traditional coca de llardons: this pork crackling bread topped with pine nuts is one of the most typical sweet-and-savoury Barcelona Carnival 2022 treats.
Barcelona Carnival 2022: Friday, 25 March – Saturday, 26 March
On the 25th, Barcelona Carnival 2022 brings us a plethora of parades, or Rúas. With 30 in total around the entire city, you’ll be spoiled for choice. This year, Barcelona Carnival 2022 will bring the city’s Old Quarter to life with a special event for kids at 5.45 pm, with two colourful parades starting from Plaça de la Mercè and Plaça de la Acadèmia respectively, and ending in Plaça del Rei.
Highlights on Saturday 25th include the ‘Carnavalassu adult’ (5 pm) with a parade starting at Sant Felip Neri and ending at Avinguda Francesc Cambó. Gràcia’s main parade will start at 6 pm in the Jardinets de Gràcia and will end at Plaça de la Vila. And in Les Corts things get started at 4:30 pm in La Plaça Comas, and will finish with a chocolate event and entertainment for kids in Plaça de Can Rosés.
Unlike in other towns and cities, which save the best for Sunday, Barcelona on Saturday will be brimming with a range of parades, pageants and processions in addition to workshops, tasting events, costume parties and masquerades. There are so many events to choose from in fact, we recommend checking out the official city council website to find out what’s going on in your area.
Barcelona Carnival 2022: Wednesday, 2 March
In Christian cultures around the world, Ash Wednesday celebrates the start of Lent. Bringing Barcelona Carnival 2022 to a close will be the traditional “Burial of the Sardine”. This ritual marks the seven days of decadence and celebration and gives way to a time of sobriety and abstinence. This procession symbolises a burial of the past to make way for the new and is an event that cannot be missed.
This Barcelona Carnival 2022, there are eight different burials to choose from in the city, each with its own peculiar traditions. Catch parodies of funeral processions, the burning of the King of Carnival and community meals of… you guessed it – sardines!
Some highlights include the Centre Cívic de Guinardó’s New Orleans-style sardine burial at 5:30 pm and the burial of the King of Carnival at 7 pm at the Cotxeres de Sants auditorium, to bring this magical time to a close.
But wait… it’s not over yet! La Barceloneta will celebrate its very own Carnival the following weekend. So get ready for more fun and frivolities!
From bizFlats, we wish you a very merry Barcelona Carnival 2022!
