Festa Major de Gracia

The Festa Major de Gracia is a festival that has been taking place for two hundred years! It is a huge event for our neighborhood and we saw the preparations underway for months before the event! Groups of neighbors get together to decorate their streets or plazas and they really get creative! I heard a lot about the festival before it took place, but I had no idea how elaborate it was going to be!

It started on a Wednesday which happened to be Assumption Day which is a holiday here in Spain so everyone was out and about to see the decorations! Bucky and I joined the crowds and enjoyed the festivities. We saw the opening parade which was made up marching bands along with people setting off loud fireworks right on the street. It was crazy, but fun to watch! We joined some friends on their rooftop deck to watch the closing parade with the same hectic fireworks and we enjoyed it much more being further away!

This is the "bee" street near us.

This display was of fashion made ALL of paper. It was cool and made me think of Kathleen!

Carrer Verdi had a Bacchus theme which was appreciated by the wine drinkers!

Here is some detail from one of the streets. People made this "stained glass" out of paper!

Of course, we had to stop for a beer!

These people are passionate about their origins!

I am risking life and limb to get a picture of the fireworks at the opening parade. 

Everyone needs a flying pink horse!

More details on another street. 

The fireworks from above.

It seemed like the fireworks went on forever! Glad we were above them!!!