Rooster Fair 2025 in Vilafranca del Penedès: gastronomy, DO wines and popular culture
The Rooster Fair returns to Vilafranca del Penedès on December 20th and 21st, 2025, stronger than ever . Organized by the City Council's Tourism Department, this century-old event reaches its 361st edition as one of the highlights of the Christmas calendar in the Penedès region.
A festival with deep roots, revolving around a true gastronomic treasure: the Penedès Rooster with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), a unique bird with a seal of quality and an unmistakable flavor. But the Rooster Festival is much more than that: it's culture, tradition, celebration, and a gathering place. It's where good food, wine, and village life come together to create an experience worth living firsthand.
Over time, the Fair has incorporated a diverse offering: a space to showcase wines from the Penedès DO and a gastronomic tent with tastings and dishes prepared with Penedès rooster. This fusion of tradition and innovation keeps the Fair vibrant, attractive, and relevant for a wide range of audiences. Furthermore, the program of activities, workshops, cooking demonstrations, and wine tastings reinforces the festive, cultural, and gastronomic dimension of the event, creating a welcoming atmosphere for both residents and visitors.
The Rooster of Penedès with PGI
With its black plumage and legs, reddish meat, and intense flavor, the Penedès Rooster is a free-range bird fed on grape seeds, enhancing its taste and nutritional value. This traditional variety is protected by the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), which certifies the product's quality and origin.
It's a food deeply rooted in the land and the way of life of the people of Penedès. And if there's one place to discover and taste it properly, it's the Rooster Fair.
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Photograph: La Fachenda
The Fair, a world of flavors and sensations
The Rooster Fair has evolved without losing its essence. It offers a space dedicated to wines from the Penedès Designation of Origin and a gastronomic tent where you can sample dishes cooked with Penedès Rooster and other farm birds.
The combination of traditional cuisine with culinary innovation makes the Fair a feast for the palate. Workshops, tastings, and cooking demonstrations complete a program that invites you to experience gastronomy as a celebration for all the senses.
DO Penedès: the wine that best accompanies
Penedès wines are the perfect pairing for the IGP-certified rooster. At the fair, visitors can sample a wide range of white, red, rosé, and sparkling wines in two key areas: the Gastronomic Exhibition and the Celler Penedès.
Furthermore, at the Gastroshop you can buy bottles to take home a taste of that liquid landscape. A great opportunity to discover the winemaking potential of Catalonia's oldest DO (Designation of Origin).
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Photograph: La Fachenda
Gastronomic Fair and Gastroshop
The cuisine of the Penedès region comes to the table thanks to the five restaurants participating in the Gastronomic Showcase. Dishes made with Penedès rooster and other poultry, designed to be enjoyed standing up or taken home.
These products, perfect for sharing with family during the holidays, can also be purchased at the Gastrotienda.
Featured activities
Opening speech of the Rooster Fair 2025 (December 17 at 6:45 p.m.)
The opening address for this year's festival also aims to appeal to a wide audience. It will be presented as a collective narrative recounting the story of Tomasot the Rooster and Ballarica the Hen, two figures from Vilafranca's festive bestiary linked to the Rooster Fair. It will take place on Wednesday, December 17th, at 6:45 p.m. in the Vinseum Auditorium. Hosted by actress Clara Cols, the event will feature sculptor Dolors Sans, dancers from both past and present, costume designer Maria Rosa Casulleras, musician and composer Paton Felices, and choreographer Neus Fransi.
The event will begin at 6:45 p.m. in Jaume I Square with a solemn dance by the two figures, accompanied by the Maria Dolors Calvet Municipal School of Music Band. This will serve as a prologue and link to the opening proclamation. After the dance, the two figures will remain at the entrance to the Vinseum.
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Photograph: La Fachenda
Opening of the Rooster Fair (Saturday, December 20 at 8 a.m.)
The Fair kicks off with the traditional opening parade. The authorities leave the Plaça de la Vila, preceded by the Rooster Tomasot and the Hen Ballarica, accompanied by grallers (traditional Catalan musicians), heading towards the fairgrounds in Parc de Sant Julià.
It's the starting gun for an intense weekend, with the best atmosphere to experience the spirit of the party on the street.
The Galliner and the shop window competition (Saturday, December 20, afternoon-evening)
Following last year's success, the Galliner returns with the aim of establishing itself as the highlight of the Feria's evening, combining the humor of comedians Oye Sherman and Alba Segarra with a wine tasting featuring wines from the Penedès DO and music by renowned DJ John Jacobsen. The window display game and competition will also be back, this year entitled "Where are the Crests?", an initiative that encourages visitors to explore the most emblematic shops and spaces in the town center and vote for the best-decorated displays. Voting is open until December 21st.
XXVIII Exhibition of Festive Feather Bestiary (Sunday, December 21, all morning)
As the grand finale of the celebration, Sunday will feature another edition of the Feathered Festive Bestiary Show, which this year will include the participation of the Diables de la Vall del Corb, the Griu Petit de Tarragona, and the Garrafó de Premià de Mar. Designed especially for families, the day will also offer children's workshops for painting and personalizing a rooster's comb and a Catalan bowling activity. Throughout the weekend, visitors can also explore more than 90 craft stalls located along Avenida de Catalunya.
At 10:00 AM the traditional setting up of the float will take place, and at 11:00 AM the Ballarica will collect pacifiers from the children in the "Porta'm el xumet!" game, with a gift included. At 12:00 PM the parade will begin through the streets, featuring Tomasot, Ballarica, and other invited animals. The parade will end at 2:00 PM with a grand finale ballad in the Plaza de la Villa.
A morning full of color, rhythm and symbolism, perfect for coming as a family.
