It's party time once more in Poble-sec as the neighbourhood kicks off another Festa Major, with daily activities from July 15 to 24. Among the highlights on the programme at the start of the festivities, is the inaugural cortege ('seguici inaugural') on Friday 15, which starts in Plaça del Molino at 8pm. Various traditional Catalan cultural organisations will take part accompanied by musical acts, as they celebrate the beginning of the Festa Major together; the cortege will be followed by the 'pregó' (inaugural speech).
On Saturday 16 in the Parc de les Tres Xemenies, there'll be a special edition of the traditional Earth market and the XXVII Gathering of 'Gegants' (large figures representing different members of Catalan society and fantastical creatures), which sees the giants parade throught the neighbourhood with groups from Poble-sec as takes place with a performance from the Orquestra Sabor Sabor.
On Sunday 17 you can watch the runners in the XX Poble-sec fun run 2016 (9am) and at lunchtime there will be a display of human towers ('castellers') by the Castellers of Poble-sec group, which is celebrating its 17th anniversary (noon), and performances by other groups like Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia and Castellers del Poble-sec.
We recommend the open-air screening of 'Amerrika' in Plaça del Sortidor on Monday 18, while in the same venue on Tuesday afternoon, you can sample different cultural and gastronomic options with 'A Taula!'. Wednesday sees a live show of Cuban music on C/Blai from the Yadira Ferrer Quartet and a feminist event in Plaça del Sortidor that includes a feminist procession to the premises of organisations signed up to the protocol against male aggression of the Festa Major del Poble-sec.
Among the open-air concerts on offer, the events at Sala Apolo are worth a look. It's hosting free shows on C/ Vila i Vilà on Thursday 21 (De Dupe + WLDV), while the big party on Friday 22 has concerts by Twin Drama, Trau and Les sueques.