Festa Major de Gracia takes over the streets in Barcelona's Gracia each August: hand-decorated streets compete, every corner becomes an outdoor bar and grill.
Tip: Every street has its own decoration theme and bar. The Carrer Verdi and Carrer Joan Blanques are the food anchors.
Address: Plaça de la Vila de Gracia, 08012 Barcelona
Alimentaria is Barcelona's biennial Mediterranean food trade show in March at Fira Gran Via: 4,000 exhibitors, tasting halls and the Restaurama professional kitchen.
Tip: Trade-only Tuesday and Wednesday; opens to public Thursday-Friday. Day pass 25 euros at the door.
Calcotada Season runs from late January through March in Barcelona and across Catalonia: grilled spring onions with romesco sauce, eaten with the hands.
Tip: The traditional calcotada lunch runs 35 to 50 euros at most Catalan rooms; book a week ahead in February.
Tasta Eixample in Barcelona runs in October across the Eixample district: 200+ rooms offer a 5 euro tapa-and-pour set, designed for the after-work crawl.
Tip: Buy the tapa-and-pour vouchers ahead online; participating rooms wear a window sticker.
La Merce is Barcelona's flagship Patron Saint festival around 24 September: open-air calçotada stands, vermouth stations and the human tower competitions.
Tip: Pick up the programme at any kiosk; major food stalls cluster on Avinguda de la Catedral and Plaça Reial.
