Generations of Barcelona residents filled the Tibidabo amusement park on Monday morning to mark its 125th anniversary, celebrating a milestone for the city’s historic mountaintop attraction.
A Historic Procession Through the Park Grounds
Festivities kicked off with a large parade winding through the park grounds, featuring performers dressed in period costumes from the Associació la Garriga Modernista riding the traditional carousel. Organizers distributed 2,400 commemorative t-shirts to attendees, causing a slight delay to the start of the rua as crowds gathered along the route. Children cheered as historical characters passed by, including puppets from the Marionetarium, the automated La Moños figure, and official Tibidabo mascots Ti, Bi, Da, and Bo. Performers from the Hotel 666 horror attraction also joined the procession, startling unwary adults and prompting younger visitors to seek shelter behind their parents.
Official Remarks and City Leadership
City officials attended the anniversary celebration to underscore the municipal significance of the mountain venue. Maria Eugènia Gay, second deputy mayor and councillor for the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district, stated that the city council remains committed to improving Tibidabo and highlighted plans to soon restore the historic Tramvia Blau. Albert Batlle, third deputy mayor for security and councillor for Ciutat Vella, noted that the park belongs to all citizens, recalling his own childhood visits with his grandparents and his current tradition of bringing his grandchildren.
A Century and a Quarter of Mountaintop History
Opened in 1901, Tibidabo stands as the oldest operating amusement park in Catalonia and Spain, and the second oldest in Europe. Founded by Dr. Salvador Andreu i Grau with the vision of transforming the mountain and integrating it with the city, the site has served five distinct generations of visitors, with its iconic airplane ride offering many residents their first airborne experience. Barcelona City Hall manages the facility through BSM, a role it has held since 2002.
Rides Open to the Public Following Anniversary Ceremonies
Following speeches and the cutting of a large cake created by pastry chef Christian Escribà, which showered the grounds in confetti, park gates opened to the public. Queues quickly formed at major attractions, including the Giraboa observation wheel, the Tibidabo Express, the Merlí free-fall ride, and the Hotel 666 walkthrough.
Worth a look
