Top 10 Events in Catalonia, Spain

Fancy a Spanish trip full of laughter? Non-stop giggles await at the Barcelona International Comedy Festival, otherwise known as FIC BCN. Billed as the world's first and only multilingual comedy festival, you'll need strong sides and facial muscles, as the laughs keep on coming. The festival shows off the likes of comic talents such as Seann Walsh, Marcel Lucont, and Dylan Moran — and you'll be joined by an international audience at hand-picked venues throughout the city. 

Afraid of heights? Well, as long as you don't have to join in — just watch instead! The Human Tower Competition takes place in Tarragona on even-numbered years in October. You can be one of 6,000 spectators, whose knees will go weak at the sight of the Concurs de Castells. Young kids, older folk, people of all shapes and sizes — but all very fit — act as a tightly-knit team to jump atop each other's shoulders and create a human tower. Epic heights are reached, with upwards of nine stories of human strength. The strongest men are at the bottom, the most nimble child perches on top — known as the 'enxaneta' — he or she raises four fingers when the pinnacle is reached (representing the Catalan flag). What started as a dance is today an amazing spectacle, which must be seen if you have the opportunity. This is one for the whole family. 

Calling all speed fans! The Spanish Grand Prix takes place at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, 30 minutes from that vibrant city. Fly into Barcelona and avail of the many transfer services that will cover the short distance to the track, including a shuttle bus. Depending on the day you choose to go, and where you wish to sit, ticket prices vary and there are also concessions available. It's a fun, noisy, and electrifying experience for the whole family, and makes a great gift idea for any petrol head! Who will spray the magnum of champagne next? We'll have to wait and see! 

One of the most innovative music festivals in the world has its roots in the cultural city of Barcelona, a creative hub renowned for its innovation and eccentricity. The Sonar Festival started in the 1990s and is today the final word in electronic music, video and multimedia arts, cinema, sound, and vision. It attracts music fans and technology wizards alike. Every June, the Sonar Festival keeps itself at the cutting-edge of creative electronic music, technology, and innovation. It’s a visually stunning festival attracting crowd pleasers such as The Chemical Brothers, as well as lesser-known international artists, for the thousands of spectators. It’s a great, happy, party atmosphere for aficionados.

Top international bands and musicians have been attracted to take to the massive stage at the annual Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona. About 100,000 music lovers head to the city in late May or early June for one of the biggest music festivals in Spain to see top global stars such as the late, great Lou Reed, Motorhead, White Stripes, Neil Young, Pulp, and The Cure. It's an interesting mix of musical styles including indie, electronic, pop, jazz, metal, and rock performing on the different outdoor stages and the auditorium, so there's something to suit most music fans. It’s a fun-packed festival, which is not as mainstream or commercial as some. Although there are top artists, you can also see lesser-known acts or hear more avant-garde genres. Plus, there are plenty of food stalls inside the arena by the sea so you can refuel between concerts.