Vilafranca del Penedès is preparing to host a new edition of the Rooster Fair
The Rooster Fair reaches its 360th edition in Vilafranca del Penedès, an event that highlights tradition and local gastronomy.
This year, Vilafranca del Penedès is celebrating the 360th edition of the Feria del Gallo, a long-standing event that returns on 21 and 22 December to the Sant Julià park and the Exhibition Pavilion. This poultry market, with medieval roots, stands out for the presence of the Gallo del Penedès with IGP, a native breed of bird recognised for its quality and unique flavour, which becomes the true star of the event. The fair not only offers the opportunity to buy poultry at Christmas, but also hosts a display of poultry cuisine and a selection of wines from the DO Penedès, creating a complete experience for food lovers.
With a programme full of activities, the Rooster Fair is one of the most deep-rooted traditions in Vilafranca, bringing together thousands of visitors every year to enjoy the festive atmosphere and the best local cuisine on the weekend before the Christmas holidays.
Rooster from Penedès with PGI
The Penedès Rooster is a slow-growing, very rustic bird with good vitality, a Mediterranean body type, light and with a heavy meat production. It is characterized by its black plumage and legs, its white skin, and its reddish meat with a good taste, with firm muscles, but tender and juicy at the same time.
Raised in freedom, this rooster incorporates 5% grape seed in its diet, a component that, according to expert poultry farmers, provides a sweeter touch to its flavor, increases the presence of unsaturated fatty acids and makes it healthier.
Poultry cuisine with wines from the DO Penedès
During the Feria del Gallo, visitors can enjoy a wide range of poultry dishes, combining traditional recipes with more innovative proposals prepared by local restaurateurs. These dishes, designed to be tasted at the fair itself or to take away, will be accompanied by a selection of wines from the DO Penedès. The 2024 edition has a wide variety of activities, including showcookings and wine tasting sessions.
This year, the show also includes a new highlight: "El Galliner". Under the slogan "It's not an afternoon, it's the afternoon of the Feria del Gallo " (Rooster Fair), it is a new activity that transforms the afternoon of Saturday 21st into a unique event, combining humour, gastronomy and music. With the show "Jarana", the comedian Guillem Estadella will be in charge of adding a touch of humour, accompanied by tastings of wine from the DO Penedès and products made with Gallo del Penedès with IGP. The party will end with a music session by DJs.
The fair's aperitif will be the opening speech, which will be given by the chef and content creator Jacint Carafí, known as Cintet. With almost 85 thousand followers on Instagram and 16.5 thousand on TikTok, he is a defender of traditional Catalan cuisine and local products, which he shows on social media with delicious recipes. Cintet will talk about the properties and benefits of the Rooster of Penedès and will give us ideas for cooking it.
The fair also offers activities aimed at families, including the 27th Festive and Feathered Bestiary Exhibition, which shows a good representation of the country's feathered and winged beasts: poultry, birds and birds of prey, as well as fantastic and mythological beings. This year's festival, which will be held on Sunday 22nd December, will feature El Gallo Tomasot, Gallina Ballarica, Águila del Barrio de Sant Julià and Aligueta Tramuntana, playing host to the invited feathered beasts. The festival programme will start at 10am, with the arrival and planting of the bestiary on Avenida de Catalunya, in front of the food tent. At 11am children will be able to bring their pacifier to Gallina Ballarica in exchange for a sweet souvenir, and at midday there will be a parade to Plaça de la Vila, where the show-stopping dance will take place.
With more than 40,000 visitors each year, the Feria del Gallo is the perfect meeting point to experience tradition and discover the best of Penedès gastronomy. Through the fusion of the Penedès Rooster, local wines, cultural activities and a festive atmosphere, this event becomes a unique experience to enjoy with family or friends.
360th edition of the Vilafranca del Penedès Rooster Fair.
December 21 and 22, in Sant Julià Park and in the Exhibition Hall.
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