The upward trend in visitors to Vilanova de Arousa does not cease and this has been the case in the latest Mussel and Cockle Festival. In this thirtieth year of the gastronomic festival, attendance figures have exceeded those of previous years, which augurs well for the coming summers.
Thus, between August 9 and 11, Vilanova became the epicentre of leisure in the area, with tourists from different parts of the autonomous region and from the rest of Spain. Not surprisingly, occupancy during the days of the event in the municipal district was at 100%, exceeding that of 2023. It should be noted that the visitor profiles included families, who took advantage of the summer holidays to enjoy the municipal region’s wide range of tourism and leisure activities.
The festive program featured numerous activities centred on mussels and cockles. In the food tent, installed in the Plaza de O Castro, last year’s produce figures were exceeded, increasing by 42% compared to 2023. The menu included a dozen gastronomic proposals, including steamed mussels and cockles, spicy mussels, seafood paella and Galician-style octopus.
Music, tributes, a fair of opportunities and the sea procession dominated the four days of festivities in Vilanova de Arousa, which culminated on Sunday 11. The main day of the event feature the awarding of Gold and Diamond Badges, which, on this occasion, focused on promoters of culture in the municipal district. The winners were the musician Fernando Casal Tacón; the art restorer MarÃa del Carmen Del Valle Galbán and the Association of Friends of Valle-Inclán.
