The Barcelona neighbourhood of Gràcia has recovered its annual Festes - or street festivals - which are finally back to full normality after the pandemic kept a lid on the annual August celebration over the last two years. This year, they are on from Monday 15th to Sunday 21st August, and the 2022 edition is, as always, loaded with a variety of activities from morning till night - from kids' games, to meals in the streets shared by all residents, young and old, to late night rock'n'roll bands. This Wednesday night the prizes in the street decoration competition have been awarded, and after the judges compared the 23 carefully-decorated streets - each one based on its own theme - they awarded first prize for 2002 to Carrer Verdi del Mig, based on the mythical work of Miguel de Cervantes; second to Carrer Tordera for their version of the Orient; and third to Carrer Progrés, for their theme park, complete with ferris wheel and tunnel of terror. Meanwhile Carrer Berga is a vegetable garden; Carrer Mozart takes visitors to a movie studio, and there's Carrer Jesús, where, appropriately, it's Christmas. The decorations, created by neighbourhood groups and associations are based on months of hard work. Check out the concerts that take place in most of the streets as well as in several of the main squares.
Percussion bands come together in the Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, enlivening the atmosphere before the proclamation that kicks off the 2022 festivities. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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The festivities begin with the correfoc - literally, "fire run" - that acts as an alarm clock to wake up the whole town of Gràcia. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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Vikings, the theme of Carrer Llibertat's street decoration this year. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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Despite the summer heat, Carrer Jesús is filled with snow - it's Christmas. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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Don Quixote and his madness, the theme of Carrer Verdi's street decoration, has been awarded the top prize out of the 23 Gràcia streets in fancy dress this year. Thousands of people will pass by throughout the week to enjoy sights and characters from the famous novel by Miguel de Cervantes. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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A young castellera, member of a human castle team, prepares to play her part in the Catalan sport which requires strength, coordination, and above all, teamwork. In Gràcia's Plaça de la Vila. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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The castellera supports, with the rest of her team, the weight of the human castle they have built. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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Carrer Mozart transports us to the world of cinema behind the camera - a movie studio. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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Long queues at Fraternitat de Baix to see the street dressed up to look the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Everyone seeks the shade in the high temperatures. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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The residents of Carrer Progrés have built a fountain where people can get wet to withstand the heat. It's one of the attractions of ProgrésPark. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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On Carrer Providencia, they've decorated their street based on the series La Casa de Papel (Money Heist). / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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On Carrer Joan Blanques de Baix, the space is filled with ink and graphite. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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At Travessia de Sant Antoni, it's all about travel, and we find everything from suitcases to a plane, even a calendar to organize our holidays. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
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Another trip we can take is to Carrer Joan Blanques, where we can visit New York, with a yellow cab and even the famous cafe from 'Friends'. / Photo: Carlos Baglietto.
