Leon Gastronomy
Each year on 18th July, Santa Marina del Rey, situated in the province of León, organises a garlic fair, somewhat paradoxically, as garlic is not actually grown in this area.
In fact, this garlic festival has its origins in what used to be a cattle fair, a tradition that it is trying to recover, but with a new focus on horses.
The Plaza del Paredón, next to the church, is the setting where more than 100 ajeros (garlic sellers) gather in Santa Marina del Rey. Most of these garlic sellers come from Fresno de la Vega and Villares del Órbigo.
The market is not limited to the square, as the
town's main streets welcome other fruit and vegetable stalls.
During the festivities, visitors also enjoy traditional music
and dancing as well as the tasting of marinated products, octopus
and roast ribs.
The cultural side of this fiesta takes place in one of the town's large halls, where exhibitions of arts & crafts and farming products are held.
One of the oldest fiestas celebrated in Sahagún (León) is the Feria del Puerro de Sahagún. This fiesta, recognized throughout the region is today known as the Feria de San Simón. This name change is, to a large extent, due to the fact that it is no longer exclusively a leek fair but instead it has become a market covering many sectors where pork products, cakes and pastries, cheese, wine and honey from the area as well as machinery and local handcrafts are to be found. However the life and soul of the fiesta is still the leek both in its fresh and preserved form along with other garden products.
The fair takes place the last weekend in October when people from all over the area, region and even Spain come to buy and sample this typical garden product.facundina
The village of Vegacervera, in León, celebrates the Fiesta de la Cecina de Chivo de Vegacervera every year, dedicated the local dry cured goat meat. This festivity, which has been declared of official regional interest, aims to reinforce the standing of the indigenous product - cecina - a flagship of Leonese gastronomy.
The fiesta begins on the Saturday with the Diana del Chivo, which gives way to the street parade that begins the afternoon's activities. A stand organised by industrial meat processors provides an opportunity to taste and purchase cecina de chivo. In this way, visitors can also taste the famous goat soups, Preñaos con longaniza de chivo (goat sausage dish), liquors, buns and wines that are offered on both Saturday and Sunday.
These activities are completed with a the raffle of a goat, on Sunday at noon, folklore shows, and Leonese dancing which lasts all the weekend.
Leon guide