Passejada de Bèsties—La Mercè 2024

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The Bretolàs de Sant Andreu, photo by Edu Bayer courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

One of the first events in the La Mercè's annual festivities, the passejada de bèsties (beasts parade), is back at the Born. It's a night-time parade with no fire that closes the exhibition of dragons and fire beasts at the Born Centre for Culture and Memory. The most curious beasts from Barcelona's neighborhoods and districts will leave the center ready to festively wander through the streets of the Sant Pere, Santa Caterina and La Ribera neighborhoods, accompanied by percussion—and with no risk of anyone being hurt by sparks.

Even though you may have seen them on display at the Born CCM, there’s no better way to really get to know them than by seeing them in motion, doing their dances and greeting citizens up close. Most of them will be dragons—you’ll see the dragons from Horta–El Carmel, Sants, Bon Pastor, Les Corts, Trinitat Vella, La Guineueta, Sagrada Família, Poblenou and many other neighborhoods—but they won’t be the only ones parading through the streets. Other mythological beings like the griffon and the wyvern, diabolical creatures like the Atzeries de la Vella from Gràcia, and even dinosaurs will parade through the neighborhood in this yearly event.

The route begins at Plaça Comercial and continues along Carrer del Comerç, Carrer de la Princesa, Carrer de Montcada, Carrer dels Sombrerers, Santa Maria del Mar, Carrer de Santa Maria, Passeig del Born and ending back at Plaça Comercial.

What to Do for La Mercè

Celebrated in the days surrounding September 24th, the La Mercè festival program is packed with things to do and see. From parades and exhibits filled with gegants (giants), capgrossos (bigheads) and fire-breathing beasts to giant castells (human towers), traditional dances, correfocs (fire runs), drone light shows, fireworks displays and free concerts, you're sure to find something to delight and amaze you.

But if all the festivities of La Mercè get to be a bit too much, why not take a culture break? Many of the city’s museums observe the holiday with a jornada de portes obertes (open doors). To make the most of your time, take a look at our interactive map with all the locations that are throwing open their doors for free: Map of Barcelona Museums with Free Entry for La Mercè.

See our Guide to La Mercè for a list of the festival's events and discover the story behind one of the biggest celebrations on Barcelona's calendar and the many traditions that make this beloved Catalan holiday so special.

For more events during the Festes de la Mercè check our online events calendar.