The 30th Mussel and Cockle Festival of Vilanova de Arousa opened its doors this morning in the Plaza de O Castro to give way to four intense days of activities. The opening was presided over by the mayor, Gonzalo Durán, who was accompanied by the Councillor for Culture, José López Campos. The event was also attended by the second vice-president of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra and deputy for Sports, Economy and Promotion of Employment, Luisa Sánchez Méndez; the deputies of Environment and Sea, Marcos Guisasola Padín; of Public Infrastructures, Mobility and Contracting, María Isabel Couselo, and of Tourism, Nava Castro, in addition to the deputy mayor and deputy, Javier Tourís, and the second deputy mayor and councillor Eliana Vidal, as well as other provincial and local authorities.
The councillor highlighted the renewed image of the event on the occasion of its thirtieth year, bringing “modernity and freshness to an event that is already a benchmark in the summer festive calendar. We have four days ahead of us full of gastronomic, cultural, traditional and leisure options that make Vilanova the ideal place to enjoy these summer days and discover the wide range of tourist activities that we have in our municipality,” he said.
Gonzalo Durán took the opportunity to thank the Xunta and the Provincial Council of Pontevedra for their support of the event. “Administrations and residents must go hand in hand when it comes to valuing two products of such quality as mussels and cockles, which make up, together with the canned and wine sectors, the main economic engines of Vilanova de Arousa,” he said.
Gastronomic versatility
The authorities made a tour of the gastronomic tent installed in the Plaza de O Castr,o where the attendance of more than 5,000 people is expected between today and Sunday. In this sense, the Vilanova councillor hopes “that in this year’s festival we will break participation records. In fact, the tent had to be opened earlier to the public due to the great expectation and queues to start tasting the varied dishes served here,” concluded the mayor, who also encouraged residents and visitors to savour the gastronomic versatility of these bivalves.
There are a total of 13 gastronomic options offered in the tent of the Plaza de O Castro, with prices per portion from € 4 –“empanadas” (Galician pies)- to € 14 – octopus “á feira” (Galician style). Steamed, vinaigrette, pickled and spicy mussels; steamed cockles; corn and Galician “empanadas”; mussel and cockle croquettes, and seafood paella complete the succulent menu that can be accompanied with some of the typical wines of the area, with the Albariño grape as the main exponent. The gastronomic tent will be open until Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 8:00 p.m. to 00:00 a.m.
Options in different parts of the town
The program of the 30th Mussel and Cockle Festival will take its activities to different parts of the capital of Vilanova. Thus, from tomorrow until Sunday, Avenida de O Recheo will host the 20th Opportunities Fair, in which twenty commercial establishments associated with Vilanova Centro will offer their products and services at very reduced prices.
The official opening of this activity will take place tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. The opening hours of the sales booths will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. A playroom service will be offered for children on three days from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
At night, the activity will move to the O Cabo Park. There will be the great concert of the Panorama Orchestra, from 11:00 p.m. and with free admission.
Saturday 10 will stand out for the seafaring tradition, with the celebration of the day in honour of the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of sailors. The Fishermen’s Guild organizes the mass in the parish church of San Cipriano at 12:00 p.m. In the afternoon, the image of the saint will be transferred to the Mar de Santiago Ferry Termain.
From there, at 7:00 p.m., the traditional sea procession will depart, in which the Virgin will be guarded by more than half a hundred decorated boats that will complete a symbolic journey to the O Seixo Lighthouse. At this point, there will be a stop to make the floral offering in memory of the victims of the sea and then return to land.
The activity will return at night to the Plaza de O Castro, where the concert of Antonio Barros and Lis Pardo will take place. It will begin at 10:00 p.m. and admission is free.
Main day
Sunday, August 11 will be the main day of the 30th Mussel and Cockle Festival. The central event will be the awarding of Gold and Diamond Badges, which will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Plaza de O Castro and will be presided over by the mayor of Vilanova. In this thirtieth year of the event, the Town Council wanted to value the work carried out in favour of culture by María del Carmen Del Valle Galbán, Fernando Casal Tacón, and the Association of Friends of Valle-Inclán.
The festivities will end in the Umbrío Garden with the concert of Roi Casal. The last event of the festival will begin at 9:30 p.m. and access is free.