Open your eyes wide! The biggest portion of polbo á feira (Galician-style octopus) in the world! Where? At the Feira do polbo do Carballiño (O Carballiño octopus festival), in the Plaza Mayor. When? On August 6th. That Tuesday, from 7 in the evening, a giant portion of octopus á feira is cooked, based on 600 kg of octopus, 50 liters of oil, 7 kg of salt and 3 kg of paprika. The festival lasts from August 2 to 10, with performances, concerts, pulpeira feasts and samples of Ribeiro wine. There is even a friendly match of Arenteiro against Pontevedra, a T-shirt party and, perhaps the most out of the usual festivities, a night walk to see the petroglyphs of Cangues. The day of the festival itself is the 11th, which is loaded with music: charanga, folk festival of traditional music and dance, accordion concert and a performance by Óscar Ibáñez e Tribo. It can be said that it is a consolidated festival, as it is in its 62nd edition and, in addition, it is of international tourist interest.
A little younger is the Festa do mexillón e do berberecho de Vilanova de Arousa (mussel and cockle festival), which celebrates 30 years this summer. The big tasting tent is open from the 8th in the square of O Castro and, on the 9th, opens the fair of opportunities. Between festival and fair, there is also room for the maritime-terrestrial procession of Carmen. The most important day is Sunday August 11, with proclamation and delivery of gold and brilliant badges. Of course, the fair is an excuse for the tasting of new recipes from the catering workshop based on the best raw materials of the summer. August 8, 9, 10 and 11: four intense days, with performances by Panorama and Roi Casal.
Other festivals last only one day, such as the Festa da Ameixa de Carril (Carril clam Festival), but what a day, even with honorees! No less than 3,000 kg of clams, japonica in this edition, come together on Sunday 11 to be devoured joyfully by the crowd in the Alameda. All this, enlivened by traditional and non-traditional music by Cristian Silva, Os Xirifeiros, Pablo Balseiro and The Verbenian Orquestra and Brisas do Ulla. The prizes of the photography contest “Carril Clam” will also be awarded. The ration includes a dish to take away as a souvenir. By the way, this is the 29th edition.
On August 15 we have an important date in the Carballeira de Cacharedo, in A Cañiza. In A Cañiza? Then there must be ham! Of course, the 58th edition of the Feira do xamón da Cañiza (A Cañiza ham festival) will be held. This high-altitude land, dry and cold when it has to be, is ideal for curing ham, which is why it is known as the “land of Galicia’s good ham”. This year’s edition features the 9th competition of professional ham cutters, from whom you can always learn something. Although the fair itself is on the 15th, the 13th and 14th are also days of revelry. On Tuesday the 13th there will be a giant ham sandwich and nightly musical performances, and on Wednesday the 14th there will be a parade with cabezudos, a master class in ham cutting and wine tasting, a soccer match and a verbena (street party).
We already know what to eat on the penultimate Saturday of August: empanada (Galician pie). Where? At the Festa da empanada da Bandeira (A Bandeira Galician pie Festival). In this place in the parish of Manduas, in Silleda, the meeting has been held since 1974, and this year marks the XLVIII edition. What began as a snack of friends in the carballeira (oak grove), has become a massive celebration that lasts for five days. The festival itself is on Saturday, August 24, with a proclamation, competition and auction of empanadas, lunches and dinners, and a lot of charanga and verbena. And the rest of the days? Wednesday: brilé (ball game), route of the empanadillas, soccer, tennis, summer carnival; Thursday: children’s parties, route of the empanada, IV Bandeirap, Bandeirock; Friday: traditional games, tug of war, Esmorgafolk; Sunday: parades, sung mass, band concert and theater. And every day: music and dance!
We go from carballeira to carballeira. This time, we stop at the carballeira de Turbela, where the Festa da Lamprea seca de Arbo (Arbo dry lamprey festival) is held, a festival of national tourist interest. A perfect occasion to taste this delicacy, which is only eaten in a few places and on a few occasions. The date is August 9th, 10th and 11th. A party in which we take the opportunity to know many corners of Arbo, thanks to the popular walk, the bicycle party, or guided tours to the interpretation center of wine and lamprey of Arabo. There is also the “Arbomostra”, a fair of local products, and the craft and antiques fair.
In Valga there is not only a gastronomic festival, but a whole gastronomic August. The XXXIV Festa da anguía e mostra de caña do país (eel festival and sample of sugar cane brandy of the country) starts on the 1st with the children’s cooking workshop. This year we have the master classes of the chef Álex Iglesias, who will show throughout the month, recipes based on eel and cane, ending on the 27th with a cocktail session. There will be a photography contest and a cooking competition, with teams of four people competing in the heats on August 22 and 23. The big day is August 31.
Whatever the delicacy, a companion that is always there to support it is the bread. The Festa do pan de Neda (Neda bread festival) takes place on the promenade, where the craft market is also installed. It starts on the 1st of September, although the big day is the 3rd, with a proclamation, empanadas contest, workshops… and lots of music! and lots of music!
From August 14 to 17, the Association Airiños do Xunco organizes the Queimada popular de Cervo (Cervo popular queimada. It is a typical alcoholic hot drink). It starts on the 14th with the Festa do ovo frito; on the 15th, mass and procession, vermouth session and Festa do bolo preñado (stuffed buns festival). On the 16th, mass, procession, vermouth and Festa dos torresmos de Porco Celta (Celtic pig bacon festival) and, Saturday 17th, the XLVI Queimada popular de Cervo. That night there is a parade to the Plaza do Souto, which ends in a representation of the forces of good and evil that leaves the body ready for the magical brew. After the queimada, music and dancing for everyone.
Don’t know what to do on August 23rd, 24th and 25th? Then head for Salvaterra de Miño, where the LXV Festa do Viño do Condado do Tea (Tea Condado wine festival) awaits us. This year, the stage is extended to the entire wall and the castle square. Beforehand, at the Casa do Vinho, free tastings are offered (from the 19th to the 23rd). In the festival we find popular tastings, the Wine Tunnel, food stalls, concerts (Luar na Lubre, De Vacas, Roi Casal…). All activities complete the program of the Cultural Summer of Salvaterra.
On the last Sunday of August, this year 25, the Festa da Vendima de Leiro (Leiro grape harvest festival), in the middle of the region of O Ribeiro, takes place. There are a lot of activities: proclamation, parade of floats of the grape harvest, food, popular performances, contest of red and white wine, craft market, classic car show, sample of Ribeiro wines, popular food in O Salgueiral and children’s activities …
