The event includes over 60 free activities for children up to the age of 12, along with concerts and a picnic area with food on sale. Activities at the fair include a chance for youngsters to learn about the work of the City Police and the Barcelona Fire Service, and to climb on board their vehicles and try on their uniforms.
Both corps will be present every day at the festival, from 27 to 31 December, in hall 2 of the trade fair site in Montjuïc (right next to Pl. Espanya), during these hours:
- Mornings: 10 am to 4 pm
- Afternoons: 4 pm to 8 pm (no afternoon session on 31 December)
The main change this year will be that the corps have their own stand, where painting workshops will be organised. Information will also be available about the dissemination activities offered by the City Police and the Fire Service in the sphere of education, as well as the various other activities organised over the five days.
Tours of vehicles and a photocall with jackets and helmets
Some of the activities are permanent, such as the visit to the two fire engines (one with its ladder extended), where a member of the corps will help children climb on board the vehicles to take a selfie, with an explanation of how the vehicles work.
Another photo option comes in the form of a photocall, with jackets, hosepipes and helmets for children. Youngsters will be able to try on the clothes used by firefighters in each type of situation and feel like firefighters for a day.
There will also be a chance to acquire merchandising or the solidarity calendar, which can also be purchased on the Bombers amb Causa website.
Display by the dog section and first-aid workshops
Activities and workshops will alternate during the busiest times.
As for the City Police, kids will be able to touch police horses and discover the Mounted Unit, the oldest unit in the corps. There’s also a display by the dog section, showing how police dogs work in different situations, with visitors also able to learn about avoiding risks when driving.
For their part, the city’s firefighters will be offering various workshops, for instance with the PREvenim teaching vehicle, promoting advice and prevention and self-protection and enabling children to prevent risks and avoid fires, learning through play activities. Another workshop will see medical staff from the corps explaining basic first aid for children. These activities last around 15 to 20 minutes and capacity is limited.
Space for toddlers and an app with the full programme
This year’s Children’s Festival comes with some new features and changes: the Espai Mini offers a section for toddlers up to the age of 4, with games adapted to their needs. There’s also a new mobile app for visitors to get real-time information on wating times for different activities and to check the programme.
All the activities are available on the festival website. Tickets start at 7 euros and can be purchased directly at ticket booths or via this link.
The festival is part of the Christmas programme for the city, which features over 300 representations, eighty formations, companies and cultural stakeholders, plus over two hundred artists all over the city. You can find the programme on the Christmas website.