Home > Barcelona > Experience Catalonia: Correfoc (Fire Running) Festival Tour from Barcelona
USD $109.00
Experience Catalonia: Correfoc (Fire Running) Festival Tour from Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain
See a different side of Catalonia on an evening trip from Barcelona to a traditional ‘correfoc’ (fire-running) festival in a local village! Watch villagers dressed as devils ward off evil spirits by dancing to music and turning the village into a fiery cauldron of light and fireworks. You can take it all in from the side lines or get involved and dance your socks off as the night skies light up!
Numbers are limited to 14 on this small-group tour, ensuring you’ll enjoy this traditional festival with personalized attention from your guide.
Meet your guide in central Barcelona and head off by luxury minibus to a village in the countryside or on the coast. During the journey, which lasts no more than 1.5 hours, learn about the history of correfocs and their place in Catalonian tradition. Each festival is unique to the village it takes place in, so no correfoc is ever the same.
The time-honored Catalan tradition started in the 12th century, under the name el ball de diables (the dance of devils). Deriving from medieval street theater, the dance represented the fight of good over evil, and soon whole towns took part – with village centers decked out to represent hell and villagers dressed as the devil.
Arriving in the village, you’ll be greeted by colorful street decorations and partying locals. Most of the festivals have a religious meaning behind them and your guide will talk through some tales of the Christian and pagan influences on the shows. Typically locals wear red and black costumes with masks and horns, and carry effigies of dragons that are designed to ward off evil spirits. Take time to explore the village at leisure, soaking up the atmosphere before the outdoor show starts.
Typically, a correfoc lasts a couple of hours, and the show consists of a dazzling fireworks display in tune to live drum beats and folk music with gralla (Catalonian flute) tunes. The local devils wave sparklers and firecrackers around, dancing and running around in the middle of a shower of sparks. Stand back and watch the crazy festivities with your guide, or get involved and run with the devils between the crowds.
At the pre-arranged time, head back to your minibus for the relaxing journey back to Barcelona.
Loved this trip, it was well worth taking the time out to visit. The experience was fantastic and our guide was wonderful. She was informative, friendly and very caring. I highly recommend this.
Review by: twills, September 2016
Absolutely amazing. DO NOT MISS THIS TOUR. You will have one of the best nights in your life. We were actually part of the parade with fireproof smock and glasses provided. The streets were barricaded off with crowds behind them watching the parade us included for a couple of hours through the streets with fireworks spinning and colour everywhere along with continuous cracking and dancing. our guide knew the people and was with us all the time. Fantastic experience
Review by: Tateanna J, July 2016
This by far was one of the best things I did while in Barcelona. My guides were amazing. I was late getting to the meeting location and they didn't mind waiting for me. It was like being in the center of a fireworks display. I enjoyed every minute of it and would do it again and again.
Review by: judith S, October 2015
very fun trip to unusual local festival. Guide gave good orientation and made trip very memorable and fun.
Review by: Aaron, September 2015
Barbara was wonderful as our guide in this very unique experience. It was like a 4th of July firework show up close. It was a great experience to immerse in a true Catalonia tradition.
Review by: Skeeta S, June 2015
This was a fabulous tour. Pictures do not do justice to the celebration. The experience was made even better by our wonderful local guide Alex Puiol. This is certainly a one-of-a-kind experience.
Review by: Valerie, March 2015
Everyone enjoyed !
Review by: Valerie, March 2015
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Valerie, March 2015
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Valerie, March 2015
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Valerie, March 2015
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Lynn B, January 2015
This was our favorite tour in Spain (Madrid, Sevilla, Malaga, and Barcelona). It took about 1-1/4 hours to get to the Banyoles village. Our tour guides, Barbara and Alex of LivingIt, were outstanding! We were treated like royalty at this annual festival where this year, the children were running down the street. We wore the protective caps provided by LivingIt and we were so delighted to run with the children. After the event, we visited with the devils, experienced local food, and took a group picture with all the locals. This was a highly memorable experience. The next day we bought a Catalonian flag in honor of their cause and these wonderful people. The tour is expensive and long, but worth every minute of it.
Review by: RICHARD J, December 2014
We really enjoyed this tour and would rank it as one of the best we have ever taken. We participated in the Fire Running festival of a small town. We were welcomed by the local people as honored guests. The festival was fun, the local people were great and we all had a wonderful time. the Tour Guide was interesting and informative and made sure we were right in the middle of everything. All in all a wonderful experience in getting to know and interact with the local people.
Review by: rshustler, December 2014
This was the best tour I have ever been on. It was great from start to finish. The tour guides included us in the whole show. We met the fire running team members and had the time of our lives. Can't recommend this tour highly enough.
Review by: William R, November 2014
Tis was a fantastic tour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review by: Bridget W, October 2014
Barbara and Alex were incredible. We went to Girona and were lucky to see human towers as well as the fire running. They were able to get us to be part of the human towers. We met the devils before the fire running and they were very happy to share what was going to happen and tell us where to be for the best experience. You will be in the fire running, so be prepared to have sparklers falling all over you. I recommend long sleeves and pants, though you will get hot. This tour takes place all over Catalonia so before you book you may want to consider how far you will be from Barcelona. The time says about 6 hours, our tour was 8 because of where we went and also because it was delayed for a soccer game. All in all one of the best experiences I have had.
Review by: Rachel M, October 2014
Absolutely amazing - will definitely do it again and our guide, Barbara was fab!
Review by: toni h, October 2014
this was brilliant and a must for anyone going to Barcelona during this festival. guides were good if i had one criticism despite telling the tour operator I would only be contactable by phone they emailed me while I was away with a new time to meet. Fortunate for me the guys waited. This tour finished our break with a bang
Review by: coralie s, September 2014
Fabulous experience original, exciting.,a once in a lifetime experience
Review by: Diana S, September 2014
This was an excellent tour and would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to experience a traditional correfoc. Our guides Barbara and Alex were lovely and made sure our group was well looked after and making sure we had the best vantage point to view the fireworks or get up close and dance with the devils for the more adventurous. Loved it!
Review by: belindab, September 2014
It was an excellent tour to get away from the tourist part and see Barcelona in its true form
Review by: Lisa K, August 2014
Wonderful experience, and great guides!!
Review by: Paul, August 2014
Felt privileged to be apart of
Review by: Barbara R, August 2014
Thank you for such a great evening. This experience was the highlight of my trip in Barcelona. The guide punctually arrived at the meeting point in Barcelona and explained us what we were going to see during the following hours. Alex was using adjectives like marvelous, fantastic, amazing... So, I thought he was exaggerating._br/_
After a 45 minute drive, we arrived in the village where the local festival was on. We stroll around the narrow streets and beautifully decorated plaza, where villagers were chatting and enjoying the local festival. The atmosphere was just charming. Alex shared with us the history of the village, the tradition and the funny legends behind it. _br/_
At 9pm the fire running began. Devils, drums, sparkles and laughs were all around. The narrow streets became full of colors. I could not stop taking pictures. The group finally decided to join the villagers, so we all dressed the protection clothes Alex was carrying for us and joined the group of devils. We were really living the festival._br/_
This experience was just terrific. So, Alex was not at all exaggerating. I completely recommend this tour to anyone going to Barcelona.
Review by: Azizi A, July 2013
This was the highlight of our stay in Barcelona. We were very lucky to experience this festival which had been going on for over 400 years, and only held for four days every year. You just cannot imagine the atmosphere unless you were there.It was an awesome street party and everybody had a good time. We were given the best seat in the square and we thoroughly enjoyed the catalan festival.
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