An Innovative Edition
The Pirineu Game Festival, an emblematic event organized by the City Council of La Seu d’Urgell, is approaching its ninth edition. Scheduled for the weekend of April 4th to 6th, this festival not only seeks to entertain, but also highlights the educational potential of board games, with special attention to creations in Catalan.
The Importance of Play in Education
Gemma Tó, Deputy Mayor for Economic Promotion, highlighted during the presentation of the event that “gaming is a fundamental pillar in education” and added that “it is essential to be able to enjoy games in our language.” With the aim of attracting more than 12,000 visitors, the organization hopes that participation will exceed that of the previous year.
Recognizing Excellence in the Game
One of the notable new features is the awarding of the ‘Amic del Joc’ award to the NeuroPGA organization, which investigates how environmental factors influence health and education. Christina Moreno, Councilor for Education and Childhood, commented that “playing is not only fun, but it promotes vital learning and crucial social skills for children and young people.”
Catalonia Awards: Celebrating Creativity
Another exciting aspect is the return of the Catalunya Awards, which will recognize the best board games in Catalan in 2024. The festival directors, Marc Travé and Pablo Giménez, explained that the new bases for the awards have been developed in collaboration with specialized media.
Celebrating Creativity in Play
The awards will be divided into several categories, including Best Children’s Game, Best Family Game and Best Advanced Game. In addition, the ‘Tabula Awards’ gala will reward the most outstanding games of 2024, bringing an air of healthy competition and creativity to the event.
A Growing Festival
The festival is not only expanding in terms of participants, but also in the space dedicated to the game and the activities scheduled. Between March 17 and April 3, various activities related to board games will be organized, thus expanding its cultural offer.
Local Collaboration and Innovative Initiatives
Another highlight is the active participation of local businesses, with around fifty establishments taking part in the ‘Jocs dels Aparadors Enredats’ initiative. In addition, the restaurants in La Seu d’Urgell will transform their menus into playful experiences, changing the names of the dishes to references to board games.
New Editorial Proposals
This year’s edition is also characterized by a notable increase in the participation of publishers, with a 127% increase in presence compared to last year. This year, 25 publishers will show their new releases, thus increasing the diversity of games available.
Special Activities and News
Publishers such as DEVIR will celebrate their 25th anniversary with special activities, while Asmodée will present a new game linked to the world of cheese, available as a preview. Falomir Juegos and other publishers will also provide innovative proposals, some of which will include record attempts.
A Unique Sensory Experience
Finally, the festival will host the exhibition ‘The Senses of Play. A Sensory Journey Through Playful Memory’, which promises to offer an immersive experience to the public, thus broadening the understanding of play as a cultural and educational tool.
