Spring (March – May)
Spring marks the beginning of the cultural and festival season in the Alt Empordà. The region slowly comes alive with local traditions and outdoor events.
- March – April: Easter celebrations in towns like Figueres and Castelló d’Empúries, with religious processions and cultural activities.
- April: Sant Jordi (23rd April), one of the most beautiful Catalan traditions, with books and roses filling the streets.
- May: Local festes majors begin in smaller villages, featuring live music, traditional dances, and community gatherings
Summer (June – August)
Summer is the most vibrant season, filled with music, festivals, and seaside celebrations.
- June: Sant Joan (23rd June) there are bonfires and fireworks celebrated along the coast, especially in Roses and Cadaqués.
- July: Cap Roig Festival, it’s a open-air music festivals in the Mediterranean, featuring international artists in a botanical garden setting. Festival Portalblau at L’Escala, a cultural festival combining music, arts, and heritage in unique historical and seaside venues. Sons del Món in Roses a well-known wine and music festival held in the Santa Margarida campsite and the Ciutadella de Roses, mixing concerts with local wine tasting experiences.
- July – August: Peralada Festival Catle it’s a one of the most important cultural festivals in Catalonia, offering opera, classical music, dance, and jazz in a stunning castle setting. There are also a open-air concerts, jazz nights, and contemporary music events in Figueres and surrounding towns. Beach parties, night markets, and cultural events along the Costa Brava coastline.
Autumn (September – November)
Autumn is harvest season and a key moment for gastronomy and wine culture.
- September: Fires i festes majors in many villages, with parades, music, and traditional Catalan activities.
- September – October: Verema (Wine Harvest Festivals) in DO Empordà wineries such as La Vinyeta, Espelt Viticultors, and Perelada Winery, offering grape harvesting experiences, guided tastings, and vineyard activities.
- October – November: Fira de l’Anxova i la Sal at L’Escala, one of the most emblematic gastronomic events in the region, with tastings, workshops, and local food markets. Gastromusical & local food fairs in different towns of the Costa Brava, where visitors can enjoy seasonal products, olive oil tastings, wine pairing experiences, and traditional Catalan cuisine. Events such as Fira del Vi Novell (new wine fairs) also appear in nearby areas, marking the arrival of the new wine season.
Winter (December – February)
Winter is quieter but rich in tradition and local culture.
- December: Christmas markets and festive lights in Figueres (Mercat de Nadal a la Rambla) and nearby towns such as Roses and Castelló d’Empúries, where seasonal fairs offer local crafts, gastronomy, and holiday atmosphere.
- January: Cavalcada de Reis (Three Kings Parade) – 5th January Celebrated in Figueres, Roses, Cadaqués, and L’Escala, this is one of the most important family traditions in Catalonia, with parades, music, and gift distribution across the towns.
- February: Carnaval (Carnestoltes) in several municipalities, especially: Roses Carnaval, one of the largest and most famous in the Costa Brava, known for its big parades, costumes, and parties. Figueres Carnaval also local parades, satirical floats, and community events. L’Escala Carnaval it’s smaller but very traditional and family-oriented celebration.
Let the celebrations lead your journey, and step into the heart of every season’s story!