The successful Shopping Night (or shopping night), which came to concentrate 80,000 visitors on Passeig de Gràcia, had to be canceled in 2020 due to the limitations of the pandemic. His instigator, the Passeig de Gràcia Association (APG) –which brings together associated shops, restaurants and hotels–, has chosen this year to evolve this recreational-commercial concept towards a Christmas campaign that will last throughout the month of December. It will include various shows and activities that serve as a claim for the area.
The president of the entity, Lluís Sans, has been “optimistic” this Wednesday about the evolution of trade in the area and the expectations for the coming weeks, after a “very good” Black Friday, where it has been possible to verify the tendency to “recovery” and the “desire to buy from people“. Despite the” restrictions on access and circulation of vehicles in the city center “, with which commerce is critical, they are satisfied with the response of locals and visitors from the rest of Catalonia and Spain. He also underlined that the European visitor is returning.
This year’s initiative recovers the spirit of Shopping Night, which was later called The Night of Passeig de Gràcia, and that he was concentrating on a great night of shopping, culture and leisure. Only now it is amplified in the calendar, in various pills and without large concentrations. A formula that fits better in times of rebound of infections, but that also facilitates the logistics of the events, since the regulations Municipal authorities made many of the assemblies they designed that night on public roads unfeasible. “In the end it was very lackluster for a few ordinances designed for 365 days a year and 24 hours “, he stated.
Giant tree
Instead, this year’s proposal debuts on Friday the 3rd with the installation of a big Christmas tree nine meters high presiding over the walk, with the sponsorship of Casa Seat, which will also pay for a large part of the proposals and will host a photographic exhibition with the 20 winning images of a contest that the APG will launch from social networks. Specifically, contributing 45,000 of the 65,000 euros budgeted for the different activities. They add to the successful lighting that has been decorating the promenade since last 24.
Sans has detailed that the activities will be scheduled every Friday and Saturday until Christmas, plus on December 6 and 8. The options will be varied, aimed at all audiences. Visually highlight the montage with lights of the dance company Brodas Bro, which will move along the entire street every Friday, at 6.30 p.m., as well as the proposal for Big Dancers, with a number of illuminated puppets four meters high on the 4th and 8th at the same time.
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Light horses will offer a performance with huge illuminated horses on December 6, 10, 11, 17 and 18, while the group Gospel ladies will sing ‘a cappella’ typical Christmas pieces from the balconies of the Pedrera and the Hotel Majestic. All the details and calendar can be consulted on the web www.barcelonapaseodegracia.com.
The president of the APG has claimed the “centrality” trade that the axis represents, given that 53% of the Eixample client does not live in Barcelona. For this reason, he believes that eliminating lanes without providing a transport alternative “sends a negative message.” And he has emphasized that Passeig de Gràcia is not a road focused on the luxury offer, since this segment represents 40% of establishments, compared to 60% at affordable prices and is aimed at a more varied audience.
Reference-www.elperiodico.com