Thanks to the initiative of the association SOM Sant Antoni, a quarter of a century later the Fira de Reis de Sant Antoni returns to Barcelona.
The historic and popular fair filled with life for 65 years Christmas in the neighborhood of Sant Antoni, but since 1996 it had to close because of the works that were being carried out on the road.
Now it is back to brighten up these dates by opening its doors to the public from January 2 to 5, and on the last night the event will last until the early hours of the morning.
The initiative has been well received by merchants and neighbors in the neighborhood.
The Fira de Reis de Sant Antoni is modernized
The traditional fair was formerly held by exhibiting items on the ground. But now it has been modernized and will have well-equipped exhibition stands.
At the fair you can find a variety of handicrafts, toys and local commerce from the neighborhood itself as well as from invited businesses from the city and the surrounding area.
The objective is to offer good items so that attendees can make quality purchases in a point of good proximity.
The event will feature establishments offering Christmas refreshments and other representations of the popular culture of Sant Antoni.
During the week of the fair there will also be children’s activities such as face painting, workshops, chocolate and a royal page boy to deliver the letters to Their Majesties.
A sustainable fair
Another important novelty of the event is that this year’s edition will focus on sustainability.
In fact, the fair will have its own currency thanks to the collaboration of the Plàstic Preciós platform and SOM Sant Antoni.
They will create around 400 of their own tokens worth €3 from the collection of plastic caps. The tokens can be used at the 30 to 50 stops at the fair.
With this and throughout the month of December, Plàstic Preciós will collect plastic caps and will advance an awareness campaign with attendees.
They will also have their own stand at the fair where they will conduct workshops for families.
Another of the objectives of this edition is to recover the memory of the old fair, which was very much loved and accepted by the family and neighborhood atmosphere that characterized it.
Incidentally, SOM Sant Antoni launched a campaign to recover the photographic memory of the fair.
Although the photos of the stops have not yet been recovered, the organizers have received some photos of the Baby Piggies, an attraction that for more than half a century was the entertainment for the little ones of the time.
This new initiative has been linked to local commerce as it is a good stimulus for the neighborhood merchants and for the whole neighborhood.
