Walk through Barcelona on the last weekend of October and you'll smell it before you see it: the smoky, sweet aroma of roasted chestnuts drifting out of small street carts wrapped in orange flames. You'll pass bakery windows full of tiny marzipan balls covered in pine nuts. You'll see older locals carrying paper cones of sweet potatoes home from the market. This is La Castanyada — the Catalan autumn tradition celebrated around October 31. And it gives Barcelona a very different atmosphere from a typical Halloween night.
If you're visiting Barcelona around Halloween, there are two celebrations happening side by side. Halloween has become increasingly visible in parties, clubs, schools and family activities, while La Castanyada remains the traditional Catalan way of marking the end of October. This is a local guide to what actually happens in Barcelona on October 31, what to eat, where to experience it and how Halloween and La Castanyada coexist in the city.
What Is La Castanyada?
La Castanyada is a traditional Catalan autumn celebration associated with the night of October 31, on the eve of All Saints' Day (Tots Sants) on November 1. Food, family and seasonal traditions are at the heart of the celebration.
Families traditionally gather to eat roasted chestnuts, sweet potatoes and panellets, accompanied by a small glass of moscatell. The tradition is closely connected with All Saints' Day and the remembrance of deceased relatives, although today it is also simply one of Catalonia's most recognisable autumn food traditions.
You'll find La Castanyada celebrated at home with family, in schools — where children often learn about la Castanyera, the traditional chestnut-seller figure — and around bakeries, markets and seasonal chestnut stalls.
Like our other great Catalan seasonal celebration — Sant Joan in June — La Castanyada connects food, tradition and the changing seasons. If Sant Joan marks the arrival of summer, La Castanyada is one of the clearest signs that autumn has arrived.
Halloween vs La Castanyada: What's the Difference?
Both are associated with October 31 in modern Barcelona, but the atmosphere and traditions are very different.
Today, the two traditions coexist. Bars, clubs and family attractions may organise Halloween events, while bakeries, markets and homes across the city continue celebrating La Castanyada with chestnuts, panellets and moscatell.
What Locals Eat During La Castanyada
If you want to experience La Castanyada properly, food is the place to start. These are the four classics associated with the celebration.
Castanyes (Roasted Chestnuts)
Roasted chestnuts are the food most closely associated with La Castanyada. They are roasted until the shell blackens and the inside becomes soft and slightly sweet, then served hot in paper cones.
From October onwards, the smell of roasting chestnuts becomes one of Barcelona's most recognisable signs that autumn has arrived.
Panellets
Panellets are small traditional sweets made primarily from an almond-based dough, with different varieties covered or flavoured with ingredients such as pine nuts, almonds, coconut or chocolate.
The classic panellet de pinyons, covered in pine nuts, is the version we would try first. Traditional bakeries across Barcelona fill their windows with trays of panellets in the weeks around La Castanyada.
If you want to explore more of the city's food culture, read our guide to the best tapas in Barcelona.
Boniatos (Sweet Potatoes)
Roasted sweet potatoes are another classic. Soft, sweet and warming, they are traditionally eaten alongside roasted chestnuts and are especially common around the end of October.
Moscatell
Moscatell is the traditional drink to accompany panellets: a sweet wine made from Muscat grapes. A small glass of moscatell with a pine-nut panellet is one of the classic combinations of La Castanyada.
Want to discover Barcelona through its bodegas, tapas and local food culture?
See the Tapas & Wine TourWhere to Experience La Castanyada in Barcelona
La Castanyada isn't centred around one official event or location. It is a seasonal tradition that appears throughout the city, especially in markets, bakeries and neighbourhoods.
Mercat de Sant Antoni — Food and Market Culture
Sant Antoni is a great neighbourhood to experience Barcelona's autumn food culture. Around the market you'll find bakeries, food stalls and local businesses selling many of the seasonal products associated with La Castanyada.
If you want to explore the market with a local guide, see our Sant Antoni Market & Fork Breakfast Tour.
Gràcia — Neighbourhood Atmosphere
Gràcia's squares, bakeries and residential streets make it one of the most enjoyable neighbourhoods for experiencing Barcelona in autumn. Around La Castanyada, local bakeries fill with panellets and seasonal products.
El Born and the Gothic Quarter — Traditional Bakeries
The historic centre is another good place to look for traditional pastisseries. Around late October, their windows are often filled with different varieties of panellets.
Castanyeres — Barcelona's Chestnut Stalls
During autumn you'll also see seasonal stalls selling roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes around different parts of Barcelona. Buying a hot paper cone of chestnuts while walking through the city is one of the simplest ways to experience the season.
What to Do in Barcelona on October 31
If you're visiting Barcelona on October 31, you don't need to choose between Halloween and La Castanyada. You can experience the local tradition during the day and still find Halloween events at night.
- Start at a market in the morning. Visit Sant Antoni, La Boqueria or Mercat de la Llibertat and look for seasonal foods such as panellets, chestnuts and sweet potatoes.
- Explore the city on foot. Late October is a great time to walk through neighbourhoods such as El Born, the Gothic Quarter, Gràcia or Sant Antoni.
- Look for roasted chestnuts. If you pass a seasonal chestnut stall, buy a paper cone and eat them while exploring.
- Stop at a traditional bodega. Autumn evenings are perfect for vermouth, wine and a few plates of tapas.
- Try panellets. Visit a traditional bakery and order a mixed selection. Make sure at least one is a classic pine-nut panellet.
- If you're travelling with children: check local neighbourhood programmes, markets and family attractions for Castanyada or Halloween activities taking place around October 31.
Is Halloween Celebrated in Barcelona?
Yes. Halloween has become increasingly popular in Barcelona, especially among younger people, families, international residents and visitors.
Around October 31 you'll usually find Halloween-themed activities such as:
- Halloween parties in bars and clubs, particularly in nightlife areas.
- Costume events and themed nights.
- Children's activities organised by schools, neighbourhood associations and family venues.
- Halloween programmes at attractions and theme parks during October.
So if you're looking specifically for Halloween in Barcelona, you'll find it. But October 31 is also an opportunity to discover something much more closely connected with Catalan culture: La Castanyada.
The Day After: All Saints' Day (Tots Sants)
November 1 is All Saints' Day — Tots Sants, a public holiday in Catalonia and throughout Spain.
Traditionally, families visit cemeteries to remember deceased relatives. For visitors, it can also mean a quieter day in Barcelona, so it's worth checking opening hours for shops, attractions and restaurants before making plans.
La Castanyada marks one of the transitions from autumn towards Barcelona's winter celebrations. A few weeks later, the city's Christmas season begins. You can read more in our Christmas in Barcelona local guide.
A Local Food Tradition, Not Just a Party
What makes La Castanyada interesting for visitors is that it isn't simply an event scheduled for one night. The weeks around October 31 bring small seasonal changes across Barcelona: panellets appearing in bakery windows, roasted chestnuts on the streets and autumn ingredients returning to restaurant menus.
This is what makes Barcelona in autumn so enjoyable. The weather becomes cooler, the pace slows down and food once again becomes closely connected with the season.
If you're here in late October, take some time to explore markets, traditional bakeries and neighbourhoods away from the busiest tourist streets. Buy some panellets, try roasted chestnuts and see a different side of the city.
And if you want to spend a day beyond the city, autumn is also one of the best times to explore the surrounding countryside. See our guide to the best autumn hikes near Barcelona, including Montseny, Montserrat, forests, waterfalls and easy day trips.
FAQ: Halloween and La Castanyada in Barcelona
Yes. Halloween is increasingly popular in Barcelona, particularly through parties, family activities and themed events. However, October 31 is also associated with the traditional Catalan celebration of La Castanyada.
La Castanyada is a traditional Catalan autumn celebration associated with October 31 and All Saints' Day. Traditional foods include roasted chestnuts, panellets, sweet potatoes and moscatell.
Panellets are small traditional Catalan sweets made from an almond-based dough and prepared in different varieties. One of the most traditional versions is covered with pine nuts.
During autumn, seasonal stalls selling roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes appear in different parts of Barcelona. You can also find Castanyada products in markets and traditional bakeries throughout the city.
Yes. November 1 is All Saints' Day, or Tots Sants, and is a public holiday in Catalonia and the rest of Spain. Some businesses and attractions may operate on reduced hours or close for the day.
Yes, especially if you want to combine Halloween events with a local Catalan tradition. You can find Halloween parties and family activities while also experiencing La Castanyada through markets, bakeries and traditional seasonal foods.
Families can visit markets and bakeries, look for local Castanyada activities and check family attractions or neighbourhood programmes for Halloween-themed events. Activities vary each year, so check current programmes before visiting.
Usually by mid to late October. Evenings become cooler, seasonal foods appear in markets and bakeries, and roasted chestnuts begin returning to the streets.
Come for Halloween. Discover La Castanyada.
Markets, bakeries, neighbourhoods and Catalan food traditions make late October one of the most interesting times to experience Barcelona.
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