Image courtesy of Portalblau Festival.
Do as the locals do this August! Escape the heat of the city by heading to the coast to enjoy some outdoor music at one of the region’s many summer festivals.
Portalblau Festival
June 19 to August 15, 2021, L'Escala, Girona
Portalblau Festival in L'Escala offers evenings filled with a wide range of high-quality cultural events with the participation of artists from all over the world. Music, dance, poetry and theater performances are all presented in spaces steeped in cultural and historical significance against the deep blue backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea.
L'Escala is 145 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 50 minutes by car. portalblau.cat
Image courtesy of Nits d’Estiu de Calella.
Nits d’Estiu de Calella
June 26 to September 3, 2021, Calella
In Calella, live music fills the air during its summer-long festival: Nits d'Estiu de Calella. With a line-up that includes well-known artists and local talent, there's something for every musical taste. The festival offers live outdoor concerts, performances and shows in various locations throughout the city. This year's agenda includes a wine and tapas tasting, allowing you to enjoy good music and local cuisine in a peaceful setting under the stars.
Calella lies just over 60 kilometers up the coast; it's about one hour by car and one hour and 10 minutes by train (R1) from Plaça de Catalunya. calellabarcelona.com
Vida
Vida Festival
July 1-3, 2021, Masia d’en Cabanyes, Vilanova i la Geltrú
Just a short train ride down the coast from Barcelona, in the grounds of a neoclassical mansion dating back to 1574, Vida provides a dream festival landscape. Think sandy beaches, a fairytale forest and lush gardens. Soak up the sunshine with a soundtrack of local and international talent at La Daurada Beach Club by day, before heading up to the masía to enjoy the evening performances. This year’s line up includes Vetusta Morla, Nathy Peluso, Love of Lesbian and Stay Homas, to name a few.
While headliners take to the large Estrella Damm Stage, the smaller concerts take place in the enchanted forest, featuring a range of quirky stages. Among the hidden corners, which are tastefully illuminated with fairy lights and lanterns, you’ll stumble upon all sorts of happy surprises, from handmade markets to art installations and film screenings. An ideal festival for families, Vida has a large activities area for children with a program of storytelling sessions, instrument-building workshops and circus acts to keep them entertained.
Vilanova i la Geltrú is just 50 kilometers down the coast from Barcelona; it's about 45 minutes by car and one hour by train (R3) from Plaça de Catalunya. vidafestival.com
Image courtesy of Festival de Porta Ferrada.
Festival de Porta Ferrada
July 9 to August 21, 2021, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Girona
Named for the 10th century iron gate that once stood at the at the town's Benedictine Monastery, the Porta Ferrada Festival fills the streets of Sant Feliu de Guíxols with live music, theater and dance performances every summer. The program is unique for its wide range of artistic disciplines across genres; jazz, pop, rock and folk can be found alongside classical theatre, ballet and flamenco.
You can kick back and relax in the Espai Village which offers cocktail stands and food trucks as well as live performances and DJ sessions both before and after the shows. This year’s lineup includes Ben Harper, Bad Gayl, La Locomotora Negra, La Oreja de Van Gogh, Northern Cellos and many more.
Sant Feliu de Guíxols is in Girona Province, 105 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 15 minutes by car. festivalportaferrada.cat
Image courtesy of Festival Internacional de Música Pau Casals.
Festival Internacional de Música Pau Casals
July 10-22, 2021, El Vendrell, Tarragona
Located in the hometown of world renowned cellist, conductor and composer Pau Casals, this festival offers a classical music program with a special focus on chamber music and works for cello. Now in its 40th edition, this year’s theme “Pau Casals and America,” highlights significant moments in Casal's relationship with the Americas. Many of the concerts are free to attend, but reservations must be made in advance on the festival website.
El Vendrell is 70 kilometers down the coast from Barcelona; it's about one hour by car and one hour and 15 minutes by train (R4) from Plaça de Catalunya. auditoripaucasals.cat
Image courtesy of Festival Castell Peralada.
Festival Castell Peralada
July 16 to August 1, 2021, Perelada, Girona
Nestled in the beautiful grounds of a medieval castle, the Festival Castell de Peralada celebrates its 35th edition this year. Hosting large concerts in the gardens and smaller, more intimate recitals in the church and cloister, you'll find a wide range of artists performing rock, pop, ballet and opera. This year's festival opens with Ballet For Life by Béjart Ballet Lausanne and includes international singers Sondra Radvanovsky, Lise Davidsen, Carlos Álvarez, Jonas Kaufmann, Javier Camarena and Benjamin Bernheim.
Located 145 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 50 minutes by car, the castle is also home to one of the Costa Brava’s best known wineries, a 5-star hotel with a casino and a golf course. festivalperalada.com
Image courtesy of Cap Roig Festival.
Cap Roig Festival
July 23 to August 21, 2021, Calella de Palafrugell, Girona
Perched on the coast surrounded by natural woodlands, the Cap Roig Castle was built in 1927 as the dream home of a Russian colonel and his English aristocratic wife. Covering 17 hectares, its botanic garden is home to over a thousand plant species and is considered one of the finest in the Mediterranean. The picturesque location boasts an open-air stage, with capacity for over 2,000 spectators, providing the perfect backdrop for the Cap Roig Festival’s equally impressive line-up.
To round out your plans, consider reserving a table at the castle's Michelin star Restaurant Via Veneto. Or, if you looking for something lighter, the Plaça del Castell has a variety of tapas, sandwiches and a special drinks selection.
The castle is 130 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 35 minutes by car. caproigfestival.com
Image courtesy of Festival Torroella de Montgrí.
Festival Torroella de Montgrí
July 30 to August 22, 2021, Torroella de Montgrí, Girona
What began in 1981 with a small number of concerts is now a fully-grown classical music festival that takes over the medieval center of this small seaside village. Performers at the Festival Torroella de Montgrí this year include Daniel Hope, the Gerhard Quartet, Trio Da Vinci and Maria João Pires.
Situated on the north bank of the Ter River just a few kilometers before it flows into the Mediterranean, Torroella de Montgrí is located 140 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 45 minutes by car. festivaldetorroella.cat
Image courtesy of Festival Internacional de Música de Cadaqués.
Festival Internacional de Música de Cadaqués
July 31 to August 14, 2021, Cadaqués, Girona
This picturesque little fishing village on the Costa Brava is known mostly for having been the residence of Salvador Dalí. But every summer the Cadaqués International Music Festival also hosts an eclectic little music festival that seems to buck the popular music trends. This year is no exception with jazz, gospel, Spanish guitar and chamber music all on the program.
Cadaqués is 170 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about two hours by car. festivalcadaques.com
Image courtesy of White Summer Festival.
White Summer Festival
July 31 to August 29, 2021, Pals, Girona
Held in the masía Mas Gelabert in Serres de Pals, the White Summer Festival offers culture, design, gastronomy and emerging musical talent. An array of acoustic concerts, circus acts, theater and dance shows provide entertainment for all ages and a selection of food trucks offers options for even the pickiest eater.
Pals is 130 kilometers up the coast from Barcelona, about one hour and 35 minutes by car. whitesummer.es
Image courtesy of Arts d’Estiu.
Arts d’Estiu
August 3 to August 14, 2021, Pineda de Mar
ARTS d'Estiu was created in 2000 in an effort to bridge the gap between music festivals and local culture in Catalunya. Hosting a diverse lineup of artists, from Ara Malikian to Amaral and God Save the Queen, the festival acts as a meeting ground for artists from a variety of disciplines.
If you want to take a break or just need to sneak away from the crowd for a drink and a bite, the festival also offers "El Village." There you'll find a space with a pleasant atmosphere, small-scale performances and varied gastronomic offers in a laid-back setting. It's a space to eat, drink, shop, dance and have fun, all right next to the beach.
Pineda de Mar lies just over 60 kilometers up the coast; it's about one hour by car and one hour and 15 minutes by train (R1) from Plaça de Catalunya. artsdestiu.com