A tasty tour of the best international food and wine festivals in Spain
In any of Spain's fairs and festivals there is always a place for traditional meals, tastings of typical products and food markets. There are even celebrations dedicated exclusively to one type of recipe, wine or food. Some attract huge crowds of people every year and have been declared festivals of international interest for tourism. They are perfect celebrations to experience new flavours and to join in the local merriment. You will find most of them in Galicia. Do you fancy it?
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Feira do Cocido in Lalín (Pontevedra)
This festival pays tribute to one of the classic winter dishes in the Rías Baixas: cocido gallego. The big day of the Feira do Cocido takes place in February, on the Sunday before Carnival, and it attracts more than 50,000 people. In addition to tasting the famous cocido of Lalín, you can enjoy concerts, a lively parade of floats, troupes and brass bands; and the streets of the town are decorated with colourful “porquiños”, artistic sculptures of pigs that become the undisputed photographic protagonists for visitors. During the weeks before and after, workshops, sports competitions and cultural activities related to the fair are also held, and the Mes do Cocido is also celebrated, with around thirty Restaurants in the area offering this dish on their daily menu.
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Lamprey festival in Arbo (Pontevedra)
It prides itself on being the oldest gastronomic festival in Galicia. It is true that lamprey is a culinary tradition in Arbo, where they have been cooking this fish from the Miño river for centuries. Lamprey can be prepared in multiple ways: Roasted, battered, stewed a la “Arbense”, stuffed, with noodles... The result is a delicacy that, due to its texture, colour and powerful flavour, is sure to make a lasting impression. The festival is celebrated on the last weekend of April, coinciding with the end of the lamprey season. At the different stands, you can taste all kinds of recipes accompanied by local wines belonging to the Designation of Origin Rías Baixas. Music, brass bands and bagpipers contribute to the festive atmosphere, in addition to the activities for young and old. Don't worry if you can't go in the month of April, because in summer the Dry Lamprey Festival is also celebrated the second weekend in August.
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Octopus Festival in O Carballiño (Ourense)
It emerged in 1962 as a one-time gathering of friends and has now become one of the largest gastronomic fairs in Galicia. With the passage of time, this event in honor of the delicious “Pulpo á Feira” has preserved the essence of the traditional Galician country festivals. The festival is celebrated on the second Sunday of August in O Carballiño, in the town's municipal park, a large wooded area set up that day with tables and benches for the thousands of attendees. The octopus is not the only star of the show, since there are many other typical products of Galician gastronomy, such as Cea bread, empanada, and soup, cooked meat, ladyfingers, and more – all accompanied by Ribeiro wines, moonshine, liqueurs and the popular “queimada”. Bagpipers are always playing, enlivening the party with their music. Throughout the day, you can also enjoy different performances by folk groups, as well as traditional Galician dance competitions.
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Albariño wine festival in Cambados (Pontevedra)
This is another of the most important events on the calendar of gastronomic fairs in Galicia. It is celebrated the first week of August, in the town of Cambados, which welcomes around 150,000 people during this time. One of the central points is A Calzada street, where food stalls and booths are set up where you can drink wine and purchase it directly from the winemakers. Although, without a doubt, the soul of the party is the local “peñas”: The groups of friends who, in matching t-shirts and with their wineglass tied to a string, liven up the streets, bars and squares with their merriment. Alameda Park is usually the place they gather to eat and drink. There are also courses, talks and workshops related to Albariño and wine culture, as well as activities like musical shows, fireworks, exhibitions and sports competitions. Concerts and festivals are usually held in Fefiñáns Square and O Concello Square.
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Wine Harvest Festivals in Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz)
At the end of summer, if you travel to Andalusia, you will have the opportunity to enjoy this another fantastic event dedicated to wine culture. It takes place during the first half of September in Jerez de la Frontera, and it is a tribute to the city's famous winemaking tradition, which has already become one of its hallmarks. They hold activities such as the grape treading ceremony to extract the new juice, or different competitions and winemaking workshops where you can learn how to use the utensil for extracting wine from the vat in small quantities. There are also guided tastings, open house days at wineries and guided tours. That's not to mention the concerts, exhibitions and tourist routes through the old quarter.
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