Every year there are heaps of celebrations and festivals held in Barcelona, its neighbouring districts, and even further afield. The Spanish love to party and there are festivals, parades, fairs and annual events to look forward to.

Booking a holiday apartment in July means you can use it as a base before heading up the coast for the traditional festival held in Calella de Palafrugell each year. A quaint fishing village it has everything the tourist is looking for, from the fishing boats that return with the catch of the day to sell and rugged cliffs, to the small beaches, whitewashed houses and historical cobbled streets. The Cantata de las Habaneras is a celebration for the safe return of native fishermen from the Americas where the locals sing traditional sea shanties, otherwise known as Habaneras, on the beach accompanied by the guitar and accordion, and sometimes bass drink cremat, a concoction of rum and sugar flambeed with coffee beans.

Blanes Fireworks Festival is a contest held at the end of July and firework companies from as far away as China and South America arrive with their best efforts in an attempt to win over the crowd. It attracts thousands of people over the few nights it is on and the beach is the perfect place to sit and watch the brilliant displays. Still on the subject of fireworks, on 23rd June is the Festival de Sant Joan where everyone heads down to the beach to celebrate the start of summer with an explosion of fireworks and bonfires and all night partying.

For culture then La Porta Ferrada is the organiser of the oldest art festival in Catalonia and takes place in July and August. The Festival International de la Porta Ferrada started in 1958 and offers a program of music, theater and dance. You can catch the many different events at Espai Port, the Theater-Auditorium and in the streets of the town.

Stay in Barcelona on 23rd April as its San Jordi, St George's day, who is the patron saint of the city. The Ramblas transforms into a gigantic flower market with books and other objects on sale. Similar to Valentines day, men traditionally give women a rose whilst the ladies respond by giving men a book in honour to Cervantes who died on the same day in 1616.

When June rolls around then its time for the Festival de Sonar with music and art as its focus. The city is swamped by thousands of music fans arriving from all over Europe to attend the technology fairs during the day in the city and music events in the evenings that are generally held at locations further away. Ensure you book your rental apartment before you arrive as everywhere will be very busy at this time of year.

There are plenty of festivals in the summer months so renting an apartment in the city means you can stay for a few months and get to attend all of them! The Grec Arts Festival is spread over the summer months and there's events organised at various venues around the city as it's Barcelona's biggest music, dance and theatre festival. Check out their website for details of all organised events.

Also held in August is The Festa Major de Gracia, held in the district of the same name it's a week long holiday with live music, fireworks and lots of drinking. Organised by the people who live here, a mix of families with children, students, intellectuals and artists it's seen as one of the most inspired community festivals in the city. Expect to see parades, concerts, floats, arts and crafts activities and lots more going on in the areas gaily adorned streets and squares.

Les Festes de la Merce opens on 23rd September and is Barcelona's main annual festival with more than 500 events. The focus is on Catalan and Mediterranean culture and traditions and includes various competitions from which group of 'castellers' can create the highest human tower and processions of colourful wooden giants. There's lots of live music events, firework displays and, as it's the national drink of Catalonia, far too much Cava drunk - try to be there for the opening procession at Placa de Sant Jaume.