Festa Major del Raval 2014

The Raval's Festa Major, or Big Huge Party, is back with loads of things to do betwen the 10th and 13th of July, including parades, screenings, workshops, sports, all kinds of live music, chocolate parties and dances in a programme that reflects the open and diverse character of one of the city's most emblematic barrios.

The festivities begin on Thursday at 8pm with the Dance and Parade of the Raval Giants, Big Heads, Bulls and Cows, which ends up in Plaça Vicenç Martorell at 9pm with the fesival's official opening ceremony and speech, given this year by José Maria Benet i Jornet. That kicks off the dancing and music until midnight.

Among the highlights of the weekend's activities are the Haima cultural workshops in the Rambla del Raval (Fri-Sun, 10.30am-10pm) with live music from 6.30pm; the Rastro de la Virgen market (Sat, 10am-8pm) in C/de la Virgen and C/Valdonzella, where you can pick up second-hand and recycled items while you bop your head along to music with DJs; the vintage fair 'Le Freak Riera Baixa' (10am-11pm) in C/Riera Baixa; the tenth Raval 'Bastoner' Festval (6pm-midnight), with performances by 10 'bastoner' (stick dancers) groups from Barcelona and around Catalonia; and open doors at the MACBA starting from 7pm.

The last day of the Festa Major features Fleastock, a sustainable market of second-hand goods and with workshops (11am-9pm) in Plaça Blanquerna, which also includes live music and DJs; open doors at the Portal de Santa Madrona and the Baluard gardens (10.30am-2pm); and the Tabalada drum parade with the Tabalers de Poble Sec, and fire shows with fire-breathing demons and everything, featuring devils and demons from Kinta Forka and Esquerra Infernal de l'Eixample, which will set out from C/Guifré at 10.30pm.