Carnival 2018: L'Arribo de Barcelona

'Fat Thursday' is the first day of the Carnival cycle, when the King of Carnival (Carnestoltes) makes his triumphant entrance into Barcelona with 'l'Arribo' (The Arrival), the central event of the Barcelona Carnival festivities. This year the king is Tòtil Tocatdelala, and he arrives with theatre group Comediants, who have prepared a collective show based on colour, the festival and masks, and you can follow them throughout the afternoon and evening on February 8 in Plaça Sant Jaume and surrounding areas. At 5.30pm the King's Court sets out, including the Prime Minister, the Seven Ambassadors with their attachés, musicians, flag bearers, the Barcelona Carnival giants Rodanxó and Rodanxona and more revellers. At 6pm, you can don your colourful mask that they're giving out in the square, and at 6.30pm welcome the King and his Seven Ambassadors, each one representing a colour and one of the seven deadly sins. Once the King proclaims his reign over the week of abandon, it's time for the 'taronjada' (orange fight) and a week of parties and costumes that comes to an end on February 14. Be on the lookout for parades all around the city, Carnival dances, Spanish omelette–making contests, neighbourhood meals, costume contests, the burial of the sardine and more!