The Mar de Santiago Ferry Terminal hosted this morning the presentation of the program of the 30th Mussel and Cockle Festival of Vilanova de Arousa. The event was attended by the mayor of Vilanova, Gonzalo Durán; the Provincial Deputy for Tourism, Nava Castro, and the Deputy Mayor and Provincial Deputy, Javier Tourís.
In his speech, Gonzalo Durán highlighted the importance of this event and hopes that “this thirtieth Mussel and Cockle Festival will break all records of participation and attendance.” With a full program of activities, which will take place between August 8 and 11, the mayor encouraged citizens and visitors to come to Vilanova de Arousa to enjoy this event.
For his part, Javier Tourís also encouraged residents and visitors to participate in the planned activities and, above all, to delight their palates with the gastronomy of the town. “Vilanova is the first mussel unloading port in Europe and during our festival it becomes the epicentre of the sale of seafood from Pontevedra,” he said, highlighting the great importance that “the sea sector has in the GDP of the Town Council.”
Finally, Nava Castro congratulated the promotional work carried out by the Town Council in favour of this event. “It is one of the examples where gastronomic products such as mussels and cockles are the ones who become the great protagonists and put a destination like Vilanova on the map,” said the Deputy for Tourism of Pontevedra.
Precisely the work carried out to value two of the reference products of the municipality results in the fact that “over the years, attendance at this event is growing and attracting a greater number of tourists.” A promotional work that is also reflected in the Rías Baixas 61 Tourism Strategy, presented this past Monday.
Programming of the 30th Mussel and Cockle Festival
The Mussel and Cockle Festival will take place in Vilanova de Arousa between August 8 and 11. About the festive program, the mayor, Gonzalo Durán, declared that it will begin “with the opening of the gastronomic tent in the Plaza del Castro, in which we hope to exceed 5,000 diners who will come to taste different recipes with our cockles and mussels.” If this forecast is fulfilled, a record number of attendees will visit the space, which year after year attracts more visitors from all over Spain and even from abroad.
The event will continue with the traditional Opportunities Fair, which will bring together more than twenty local businesses in Vilanova on Avenida do Recheo. Attendees will find great discounts on clothing, footwear and accessories, among other items.
On a musical level, the Mussel and Cockle Festival will feature the performance of the Panorama Orchestra on Friday, August 9 at 11:00 p.m. in the Parque del Cabo; with the concert of Antonio Barros & Lis Pardo on Saturday, August 10 at 10:00 p.m. in the Praza do Castro, and with the show of Roi Casal on Sunday, August 11 at 9:00 p.m. in the Umbrío Garden.
As usual, the main day of the 30th Mussel and Cockle Festival of Vilanova de Arousa will be on Sunday, August 11. The central act will include the reading of the opening speech and the awarding of the Gold and Diamond Badges, which will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Praza do Castro.