The festival
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The festival
Menu
The festival
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The festival
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What is it?
The Mussel and Cockle Festival of Vilanova de Arousa is a food event that started in 1994 out of the interest of the producers of the municipality to promote two of their star products.
As a fishing village, working on the mussel rafts and gathering shellfish make up the basis of the local economy, which is reinforced by an important canning fabric based in this municipality.
The roots and tradition of the trades of the sea can be seen in the landscape of Vilanova de Arousa itself. This sector’s importance gave rise to the Mussel and Cockle Festival, as a tribute to the different generations of residents who work in the sea and live by and from it.
In fact, the food tent is one of the main attractions of this event. Mussel platform workers, cookers and shellfish gatherers also contribute to this festival by providing produce, thus becoming an event that combines multiple collaborations with the intention of promoting the town and its tourist attractions through its gastronomy and its sea.
Over time, the Mussel and Cockle Festival has gradually incorporated other types of activities, extending its program to almost a week. It combines food tasting with musical performances, the traditional procession in honour of the Virgen del Carmen (patron saint of the people of the sea), the awarding of gold and diamond badges, an opportunities fair and children’s activities, among other initiatives.
