Best things to do during Girona festivities (Fires Sant Narcís)

Find out the best things to do in Girona during its main festivities, Fires de Sant Narcís. Culture, food, live music… and from a local’s point of view!

Girona is a beautiful 100.000 habitants city located a mere 100km north of Barcelona. It is a quite common one-day trip for many tourists and a base camp for those that look for a place to discover both the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees with all the commodities of a relatively big city.

Visiting Girona is always a good idea. During the summer months, the city is full of life, festivals and activities. From the well-known flower festival Temps de Flors at the beginning of May, there are plenty of things to do until the summer ends. Or this is what most people think.

Fires de Sant Narcís FAQs

What is Fires de Sant Narcís?

Fires de Sant Narcís are Girona festivities. In honour of Sant Narcís, the patron saint of Girona, the city has a 1-2 weeks celebration with multiple events.

When are Fires de Sant Narcís 2023?

Fires de Sant Narcís are always in late October and early November. Pending official confirmation, Girona festivities in 2023 will be happening from October 27 until November 5.

The Fires de Sant Narcís usually last over two weekends and they are one of the last festivities of the area (and of Catalonia), as most cities, towns and villages have their own during the summertime.

Autumn doesn’t sound like the ideal time of the year to go on plenty of outdoors activities. Nonetheless, thanks to the mild October and early-November climate, there is no better time of the year to do it. True, some years there are a few rainy days, but besides that, the temperature is perfect to enjoy all the activities to do in Girona during its festivities (Fires de Sant Narcís).

As someone born and raised in Girona, it is if not the best time, among the top 3 best times to visit Girona. The mix of cultural, gastronomic and entertainment options that the city offers is unbeatable.

Best things to do during Girona festivities: Fires de Sant Narcís

Attend the Pregó de Fires de Sant Narcís

The Pregó is the proclamation that the city festivities have started. Everyone gathers in the Plaça del Vi, in front of the City Hall and a set of traditional and cultural events happen. Some of the myths and legends of the city are welcomed in form of “giants”, massive structures with humans hidden inside them. Afterwards, the Mayor welcomes a well-known personality who makes a short speech. Finally, a small firework spectacle happens, and the Fires de Sant Narcís are officially inaugurated.

When? This happens on the first Friday of the Fires de Sant Narcís and is usually packed, so be there in advance.

Where? Plaça del Vi

Visit the painters and drawers market

One of the first memories I have of Fires de Sant Narcís is the painters and drawers market. Every year on the 1st of November (usually, the date can vary) the Old Town streets welcome local artists that showcase their art. From portraits, realistic depictions of the city, or more surreal art forms, the painters and drawers market is a unique way to explore the old town with a different vibe. Of course, if you want to buy some of the artwork, it is possible.

When? Usually on the 1st of November (bank holiday).

Where? Old Town, start here

Enjoy the live music concerts in La Copa

If you hear young people speaking about Fires de Sant Narcís, they will mostly talk about “barraques”. This refers to a very specific area, La Copa, where most nights during the festivities there is live music, with pretty well-known Catalan and Spanish artists as well as food and drink stands, organized by selected associations of the city: university clubs, sports teams, cultural societies… These are the so-called Barraques, where most of the party is.

Nonetheless, there are more places where you can enjoy free concerts, all of them listed in the official schedule of Fires de Sant Narcís. Available soon!

When? Most nights (Friday, Saturday, and holiday watch)

Where? in La Copa

Attend the Diada Castellera

Have you heard about Castellers? Listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, it is a Catalan tradition that consists of making human towers. The image below speaks for itself, but in a nutshell, there are associations or teams, and in a Diada Castellera like the one in Girona, they compete on who makes the most difficult or complex Castell (caste; human tower).

Complexity is not only rated in height but also in how many people participate in it. As you can imagine, the lighter the person, the higher the level they are in the tower. Thus, the top one, known as “enxaneta” is a really young kid. This is something you must see while in Girona or Catalunya.

When? The Diada Castellera de Sant Narcís happens in la Plaça del Vi, in front of the City Hall and is usually on the 29 of October.

Where? In Plaça del Vi

See the human tower in the Cathedral Stairs

This is a quite recent tradition. Besides the Diada Castellera, during Girona festivities, Fires de Sant Narcís, the local Castellers decided to make an exhibition in one of the most iconic spots in the city, the Cathedral Stairs. Castells are usually static. Nonetheless, in this case, the Marrecs de Salt (this is the name of the group of people that do it) do a human tower and ascend it through the Cathedral Stairs to the very top of it.

People queue there for hours to see it, as there is not much space. The image below can give you a sense of what it is like, but if you are in town, don’t miss it!

When? It varies greatly, check the official schedule (still not available for 2022).

Where? Cathedral Stairs

Eat chestnuts and sweet potatoes

Autumn has some unique foods. It is quite common that during the Fires de Sant Narcís, the city is full of street food stands offering roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes, two very autumn products.

Grab some and your hands won’t be cold for some time! 🙂

When? During the whole week!

Where? Almost everywhere! The funfair area and the old town are where most stands are.

Get (not very) close to the fire in the Correfoc

The Catalan culture has a few unique things, and the Correfoc is one of them. A correfoc is literally a group of people dressed up like devils with fireworks in their hands that storm through some streets of the city followed by people that dance and run around them.

Girona’s correfoc has a grand finale (usually) in the Escales de Sant Domènech, where a massive fireworks spectacle happens.

I do not recommend getting in the running part without a local or someone that has been there before, but you can definitely wait in the last section to see the magnificent fire spectacle.

When? Not a fixed date. Check the official schedule (still not available for 2022).

Where? Old Town. Last part of the show here.

Take a stroll in the funfair

Kids and not-so-kids have their own place in Fires de Sant Narcís. Just by the La Copa area, where all concerts happen, there is la Devesa, the largest urban park in Catalunya. This is the area where the funfair is mounted. Amusement rides, food stands, games of chance and skill…

It is open from mid-day or early afternoon until late into the night (depending on the day), some people in the Concert area go there for food or to play some games.

It is not a dangerous place, but it is easy to get distracted, by lights and colours. Like everywhere in the world, pickpockets also exist in Girona. I have never had any problem there, but better be safe than sorry.

When? During the whole festivities.

Where? In la Devesa

See the Processional Giants dance

If after the Pregó de Fires de Sant Narcís you wanted to see more of the processional giants, don’t worry. There is one day (it changes) when Giants from Girona and nearby cities go on a sort of parade through the old town. Together with musicians and small giants called capgrossos (literally big heads) they dance and awake everyone that has been up till late the previous night.

Children love them, and it is a great mix of cultural elements from the Catalan culture.

When? Not a fixed date. Check the official schedule (still not available for 2022).

Where? In the Old Town. Route changes every year.

Grand Finale: fireworks castle

Great things always come to an end, and Fires de Sant Narcís is not an exception. But there’s no better way to celebrate it than with a massive fireworks castle. On the last Sunday evening of the festivities, at 8 pm (usually), the city stops and a beautiful show of light and colours inundate the sky of the city.

There are several great places to see it, but probably the best one is the City Walls, specifically this tower. From there, photos like the one below can be taken, with the impressive Girona Cathedral in the frame. Just be there a bit in advance, it’s a small tower, and lots of people want to be there.

When? The last Sunday, at 8 pm (usually). in 2022, the 6th of November.

Where? Everywhere. The best place to see it is this one.

Here you have it. the 10 best things that I, as a local, recommend doing on Fires de Sant Narcís, Girona festivities. Take pictures, enjoy the culture and discover the festive side of the city. Got any questions? Feel free to message me on Instagram (@aniolvisuals), or to reach out via the content form.

Visiting Girona and/or Catalonia? Check the articles below!