The Vilanova de Arousa (Pontevedra, Galicia) Mussel and Cockle Festival celebrated its main day today following three days of intense activity and thousands of visitors to the various events. The highlight was the reading of the opening address for the event – which has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest – and the presentation of the Gold and Brilliant Badges, the highest honour awarded by Vilanova de Arousa Town Council.
Earlier, the Sunday programme began with the sale of stock items at the 22nd Bargain Fair, followed by a parade by the Mekánika Rolling Band brass band. The band performed again once the official part of the celebrations, which took place in the Plaza de O Castro, had come to an end.
Chaired by the mayor of Vilanova, Gonzalo Durán, the event was attended by a large number of regional, provincial and local officials, led by the President of the Xunta de Galicia, Alfonso Rueda; the Regional Minister for Education, Science and Vocational Training, Román Rodríguez; the President of the Pontevedra Provincial Council, José López Diéguez; and the Regional Government of Galicia’s territorial delegate for the province of Pontevedra, Pablo Fernández.
Showcasing the fishing and shellfish sector
José Pereira, editor-in-chief of Diario de Arousa – a newspaper celebrating its 25th anniversary – delivered the opening address at the event. In his speech, he used a stroll through Vilanova de Arousa as a central theme to highlight the town’s main attractions, including its tourist sites, natural beauty, heritage and, of course, its cuisine. In this regard, Pereira praised the work of the bateeiros, describing it as “a tough trade that strives every day” to improve and which “is committed to quality” in its produce.
He also made reference to shellfish gathering, represented in this culinary celebration by cockles. On this point, the speaker took the opportunity to ask the numerous visitors gathered in the Plaza de O Castro “not to poach in their swimming trunks”, as those bivalves taken from the beaches “provide a livelihood for many families”.
Pereira concluded his speech by praising the work carried out by the Town Council to promote the celebration, whilst encouraging locals and tourists alike to enjoy everything the municipality of the Rías Baixas has to offer. The mayor of Vilanova, for his part, highlighted the work carried out by Diario de Arousa over the past quarter of a century, emphasising the efforts made in the regions of Arousa, O Barbanza and Ulla-Umia.
Gold and Brilliant Badges
The councillor then proceeded to present the Gold and Brilliant Badges, which, in addition to the town crier himself, were awarded to two further individuals and one organisation. The latter was, in fact, A Cofradía-Taberna Cultural, a gastro-cultural venue which, in Durán’s words, “has put Vilanova de Arousa on the map” with an annual programme of activities, made possible thanks to the effort and hard work of “a group of young people from the town who decided to launch this project five years ago”.
The promotion of Vilanova was also one of the reasons why José María Leal Bóveda, who was recently awarded the Valentín Paz Andrade Prize for Research in Galician Economics by the University of Santiago de Compostela, received the Town Council’s highest honour. “He has championed the history of our region,” said Gonzalo Durán, praising the honouree’s research career.
Finally, following the presentation of the award to the town crier, the Vilanova councillor took the floor to announce the presentation of the final Gold and Brilliant Badge to the President of the Xunta de Galicia, Alfonso Rueda. Gonzalo Durán highlighted the approachability and clarity of the head of the Galician Executive, as well as the support shown to the Town Council in carrying out projects that have led to an improvement in the quality of life for residents. For his part, Rueda highlighted the work carried out by Durán over more than two decades at the helm of the Vilanova Town Council, which has led to the municipality seeing significant improvements at all levels.
End of the music festival
The 32nd Vilanova de Arousa Mussel and Cockle Festival drew to a close with a performance by Roi Casal at sunset. The artist took to the stage at the town’s Jardín Umbrío, which was packed with spectators.
Meanwhile, sales continued at the Bargain Fair, organised by the Vilanova Centro Association, and tastings of the festival’s star products took place in the food marquee in Plaza de O Castro until midnight. The organisers expressed their satisfaction at the positive public response to the event in its first year as a Festival of National Tourist Interest.
