Progrés recovers the crown of Gràcia with its tribute to the correfoc

BarcelonaProgrés Street reclaims its crown. Its spectacular homage to the fire run took first prize in this year's Gràcia festival decoration competition, repeating the triumph it achieved in 2023. It did so in direct competition with last year's winner, Mozart Street, which this year was used as the legend of Saint George. Jesús completed the podium, repeating last year's third place with his vindication of popular culture.

The jury awarded the impressive aerial fire run by Progrés, featuring an army of devils, baton-wielders, and drummers suspended in the air and on the walls of a street welcomed by an enormous portal with fire beasts—with a nod included in the Gau piscina dragon. A group that has helped the "Progrefoc" festival-goers surpass Mozart, the winner a year ago, and has established itself among the streets to watch among the candidates for the award.

Jesús, with its homage to popular culture and iconic inverted castle, also reclaimed the third place it had achieved last year. In fact, the top four streets were the same as last year's, albeit swapping places. Rovira y Trias Plaza, which finished second last year, was fourth this year with its replica of a Hawaiian village.

Verdi's fire

This edition of the decoration contest for the Gràcia festival has been marked by the fire that burned early Sunday morning The monumental road leads to the Mayan temple that welcomed visitors to Verdi Street. The origin of the fire is still unknown. Endesa has ruled out the possibility that it started in the street's electrical panel, and the Barcelona Fire Department's report concludes that they cannot determine its origin. The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) are still investigating whether it was arson.

Although its impressive façade made it one of the favorites for the award, Verdi del Mig ultimately had to settle for eighth place. Before the awards began, the jury had given it a special mention for its resilience and perseverance, and for not giving up despite the fire.

There was also one for the Gràcia Festival Foundation for the event organized by all the streets on Sunday in solidarity with Verdi. A show of community for which the president of the Verdi del Mig street festival committee, Sergi Font, personally thanked the president. In his last year as president, he emphasized that this event generated "a very important force and the family unity of all the streets."

This atmosphere of brotherhood was maintained throughout the awards ceremony, where despite the traditional cries of "fix, fix" with which the festival-goers have accompanied practically every award, there has been a good mood. The awards ceremony is the high point of the Gràcia Festival and one of those that best preserves the community spirit: it is difficult for someone unversed in the tradition to understand what all those people do for practically two hours in the Plaça de la Vila. ~BK_S has also allowed everyone to have something to celebrate. The PSC too, which has seen how the second prize in the decorated shops and doorways that the local group of the party has obtained sweetened an awards ceremony where, as had already happened during the opening speech, the district councilor, Laia Bonet, has had to give a brief speech and raise her voice. evictor" that made part of the square.