Ball de Bastons de Catalunya (Stick Dancers Procession)

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Ball de bastons at Festes de Santa Eulàlia, photo by Edu Bayer courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

Barcelona's stick-dancing groups strike with tremendous energy for Santa Eulàlia! The day will start with a dance display in Plaça de Sant Jaume. After the performance, the groups will take to the streets in a parade which will make the Gothic Quarter tremble to the beat of the sticks. Finally, at noon, the parade returns to Plaça de Sant Jaume, where the stick dancers will continue to delight audiences with their last dances on-stage.

The ball de bastons (stick or baton dance) is a traditional Catalan dance that has its origins in medieval times; the movements of this dance with wooden sticks or canes represent an ancient sword fight. It was traditionally danced only by men, but these days women often join in as well.

Route: Plaça de Sant Jaume, Carrer del Bisbe, Plaça Nova, Carrer de la Palla, Carrer dels Banys Nous, Carrer de Ferran and Plaça de Sant Jaume.

Schedule

• 10:00: Traditional dance performance at Plaça de Sant Jaume.
• 12:00: Parade returns to Plaça de Sant Jaume for a final performance in the square.

What to Do for Festes de Santa Eulàlia

Celebrated in the days surrounding February 12th, the Santa Eulàlia 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 and correfocs (fire runs), 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: Free Museums in Barcelona for Santa Eulàlia.

See our page about the Festes de Santa Eulàlia for info on 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 check our online events calendar.