The 30th Mussel and Cockle Festival of Vilanova de Arousa celebrated today a day marked by the people of the sea. The waters of the town were covered with about half a hundred boats decorated to participate in the traditional maritime procession in honour of the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of sailors.
The celebration began in the morning with the solemn mass in the parish church of San Cipriano at 12:00 noon, but the moment of greatest emotion was experienced this afternoon. Around 6:30 p.m., the image of the Virgen del Carmen left the parish to be transferred to the Mar de Santiago Ferry Terminal. The authorities, headed by the mayor of Vilanova, Gonzalo Durán Hermida, who was accompanied by the territorial delegate of the Xunta de Galicia in Vigo, Ana Ortiz; the deputy mayor and provincial deputy, Javier Tourís; the maritime captain, Juan Andrés Pérez, and the head of the Local Police, Diego Díaz, made the journey on foot to the Vilanova dock.
There, about half a hundred decorated boats were waiting to start the traditional journey to the Seixo Lighthouse. At this point, a stop was made to complete the emotional floral offering in memory of the victims of the sea.
Tonight the concert “Juntos por la música,” by Antonio Barros and Lis Pardo, is planned. The event will take place in the Plaza del Castro (where the gastronomic tent is located) from 10:00 p.m.
Throughout the day today there was no shortage of numerous diners who came to the gastronomic tent. There they were able to taste dishes made with mussels and cockles at popular prices, as well as other proposals such as seafood paella, empanadas and octopus at the fair. The opening hours of the facilities, with capacity for between 350 and 400 people, are from 12:00 to 16:30 and from 20:00 to 00:00.
Meanwhile, on Avenida de O Recheo, the Fair of Opportunities received a constant trickle of visitors interested in finding a summer bargain. The event continues today from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. In the afternoon a playroom service is offered for children.
Crowded night fiesta
Thursday night was especially crowded. The O Cabo Park became a hive of people wanting to enjoy an evening open-air dance, enlivened by the Panorama Orchestra. Songs for all tastes, modern and traditional, filled the Vilanova park with music on a multitudinous night of pleasant temperatures.
Awarding of Gold and Diamond Badges
Tomorrow will be the big day of the 30th Mussel and Cockle Festival of Vilanova de Arousa. The central act, chaired by the mayor, will include the reading of the festival’s opening speech, by Fernando Casal Tacón, founder of Milladoiro and a musician, as well as the awarding of the Gold and Diamond Badges.
On this occasion, the work in favour of culture carried out by the opening speaker himself, María del Carmen Del Valle Vago and the Association of Friends of Valle-Inclán will be recognized.
The event is expected to be attended by the Regional Minister of Education, Román Rodríguez; the president of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra, Luis López Diéguez, and the Spanish MP, Juan Andrés Bayón. Also attending this event will be the general director of Fisheries Development, Marta Villaverde; the vice-president of the Provincial Council of Pontevedra, Rafael Domínguez; the deputy mayor and provincial deputy, Javier Tourís; provincial deputies Isabel Couselo, Jesús Vázquez, Sandra Bastos and Manuel Alejandro Lorenzo.
In addition to the tastings in the gastronomic tent and the Fair of Opportunities itself, a musical performance will be offered in the Umbrío Garden. Roi Casal will round off the festival with a free concert at 9:30 p.m.