Barcelona’s Barceloneta Market, in Plaça del Poeta Boscà in Ciutat Vella, will host the fourth edition of Petit Mercat de Mercats on 29 and 30 May. The two-day event will run from 11am to 11pm on both Friday and Saturday, bringing market food, workshops, live cooking, music and family activities to the city’s maritime neighbourhood.
The festival is promoted by the Municipal Institute of Markets of Barcelona, known as IMMB, with support from the Federation of Municipal Markets of Barcelona, FEMM. It forms part of Barcelona’s commemoration as the European Local Commerce Capital. Raquel Gil, Deputy Mayor for Economic Promotion, Commerce, Markets, Restaurants and Employment, said initiatives such as Petit Mercat de Mercats help revitalise neighbourhoods and promote local produce, healthy and sustainable eating, and local gastronomy.
For readers following Barcelona’s market scene, the event is designed to give visibility to Barceloneta’s shops and organisations. The Association of Merchants and Industrialists of Barceloneta, ACIB, will have a stand with Paint the Commerce with ACIB workshops, where children can draw their favourite local shops and restaurants throughout the day. More Catalonia news
On Saturday 30 May, coinciding with the Spring Festivities, the fair will feature the Barceloneta giants, with a display, workshops, dances and the start of a parade. Traders at Barceloneta Market will also offer meat, fish and vegetables, which visitors can buy and have cooked at the barbecue area.
The Gastronomy Classroom will host showcooking sessions led by Víctor Torres from Magnolia restaurant and Enric Buendía from Kamikaze restaurant. The programme also includes a responsible fish consumption workshop with sardine pasta tasting, a session on La Bomba de la Barceloneta, and beer, wine and tonic tastings. A Quality Products from Lleida space will run on both days, with tastings and presentations from the Catalan Council of Integrated Production, including Les Garrigues DOP oils and Lleida DOP pears.
The restaurant area will serve tapas and small dishes from market and neighbourhood businesses, including Marisma restaurant, The Fish & Chips Shop, Dreams and Makamaka Beach Burger Café. Go Go will provide natural fruit ice creams and sweets, while children and families will have activities focused on local and seasonal fruit and vegetables, plus card games on responsible consumption.
Music will run throughout both days, with DJs Pinchadiscos, Pierre Antoine and Yamamemaru, plus live concerts by Bossa Nova, Nicole Torralna and Namina. Brigitta Lamoure will also take part in the event, interacting with the public and market customers while presenting activities.
