Palo Alto Market Fest

Palo Alto Market Fest, an ideal event for everyone

The fact that it is an open-air space, considered an urban island, with areas to enjoy good music and others where you can relax while savouring excellent street food, makes Palo Market Fest one of those events in Barcelona that caters to everyone.

Even so, the best way to experience Palo Alto Market Fest is probably with a group of friends, which is why they tend to be the majority among attendees. That said, there are also many families with children and couples who sometimes go on their own or meet up there with other friends or relatives to enjoy the day.

Morning or afternoon/evening session?

One of the particularities of Palo Alto Market Fest is that, both on Saturday and Sunday, it has two sessions. The first session, from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, which we could call the morning session even though it extends into the early afternoon, and the second session, from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm, which we could define as the afternoon-evening session.

In reality, in terms of offerings, there is little difference between the two sessions, since in both the first and second session there is music, and the pop-up market exhibitors, food trucks, and other street food stalls are all operating. So the final choice will depend on how you want to organise your day.

Tickets to attend Palo Market Fest

Tickets to attend Palo Market Fest can be purchased online in advance. It is also possible to buy them at the box office on the day of the pop-up market, provided there is availability.

The price does not change whether tickets are purchased online or at the box office, but if you already know you are going to the Palo Alto Market, it is advisable to buy the tickets online as soon as possible. This way, you ensure availability and avoid the queues that sometimes form at the box office.

What will we find at Palo Alto Market?

Pop Up Market

The central element of Palo Market Fest is the pop-up market, which features various exhibitors showcasing and selling their items. Most of them focus on clothing, fashion accessories, and jewellery or costume jewellery, as well as decoration and design items. The market stalls are set up both in outdoor areas of the venue and inside some of its buildings.

Music

Music usually accompanies almost the entire duration of Palo Alto Market Fest, both during the first and the second session. The ones in charge of providing the musical atmosphere for the pop-up market are usually DJs and artists performing live, in this case through initiatives such as Street Music Experience by Aperol and Vermuts Musicals by Moritz.

Workshops

For each edition of the festival, the organisers prepare a different workshop with the aim of bringing a particular craft technique closer to anyone who wishes to take part. In most cases, these workshops revolve around paper and the various printing and stamping techniques and processes.

Gastronomy

Some of the best food trucks and local spots in Barcelona are present during Palo Alto Fest. Therefore, it’s possible to enjoy almost any kind of street food and more — empanadas, Mexican food, sandwiches, tapas, sweets, coffee…

When is the Palo Alto Market held?

First weekend of the month: The chosen date for each edition of Palo Alto Market Fest is, in principle, the first weekend of every month, meaning Saturday and Sunday. However, in some cases, depending on the calendar, the event may be moved to the second weekend.

Special editions: With the arrival of certain times of the year, such as Christmas, special and/or themed editions of the Palo Market Fest are usually organised.

History and facts about the Palo Alto Barcelona building and space, former Gal i Puigsech factory

The former Gal i Puigsech factory takes its name from textile manufacturers Ramon Gal and Joan Puigsech, who began operating on what was then an abandoned plot in the Poblenou district.

The construction of the former Gal i Puigsech factory was entrusted to architect Antoni Vila i Bruguera, who carried out the work starting in 1875.

Over the years, the textile complex changed hands several times and had different uses.

In 1990, the famous designer Xavier Mariscal set up his studio, which ended up attracting other designers and studios to the complex.

Thanks to the studios that invested in this space and a series of renovations, the former Gal i Puigsech factory came back to life.

Since 1997, the Palo Alto Foundation has managed this urban island and transformed it into a centre for cultural and artistic creation.

The first edition of this street market, under the Palo Alto Market initiative, took place on the weekend of 6–7 December 2014. Since then, its success has continued to grow. In the spring of 2017, the Palo Market Fest was held at Fabra & Coats, the seed, together with Palo Alto Market, of what is now Palo Market Fest.