Planning your Camino de Santiago trip? Many interesting festivals take place along the different Camino routes throughout the year, as most towns and villages host annual festivals to honour their patron saint, as well as to celebrate their local food, wine, and other special events.
Whether they are world-famous, such as San Fermin in Pamplona, local gastronomic feasts, or small village ‘fiestas’, these festivals will reveal a unique side of local culture and traditions; you will be part of celebrations that have, in many cases, been taking place for generations.
Here’s a selection of some of the most popular and best-loved Camino festivals (you can find a full list on our Camino Culture page: Camino Festivals Calendar):
CAMINO FRANCES
Arzúa Cheese Festival – February/March
Bread and Cheese festival in Sahagún – April
Firewater festival in Portomarín – early April
O Cebreiro cheese festival – April
May Festival – Festa do Maio in Villafranca del Bierzo – May
San Fermin running of the bulls and the city’s most famous festival in Pamplona – July
San Cristobo Festival in Palas de Rei – July
Estella festival – Estella/Lizarra – early August
Santa Marta festival in Astorga – end of August
San Zoilo festival in Carrión de los Condes – end of August
Rioja Harvest Festival in Logroño – September
Romaria Virxe do Cebreiro, dedicated to the patron saint of O Cebreiro, early September
Fiestas de la Encina in Ponferrada, the city’s biggest annual festival – September
Music Week in Melide – November
Finisterre Way
Easter in Fisterra – March/April
Festa da Praia – Beach festival in Fisterra – July
Virxe do Carme in Fisterra, in honour of the patron saint of fishermen – September
Romaria da Virxe da Barca in Muxia – September
Camino Portugues Central
Oyster Festival in Arcade, Galicia’s oyster capital – early April
San Telmo Festival in Tui – mid-April
Freedom Day, Dia da Liberdade, across Portugal – 25th April
Fish and Seafood festival in Lisbon – April
San Joao, midsummer in Porto – end of June
Santo António festival in Lisbon – 12th June
Padrón Pepper festival in Padrón – early August
Festas da Peregrina, festival of the Pilgrim Virgin in Pontevedra – mid-August
Feira Franca in Pontevedra – First weekend in September
Portuguese Coastal Way
Arribada in Baiona, a medieval-inspired festival celebrating the discovery of America – March
Reconquista festival in Vigo, another period festival celebrating the victory of the locals over Napoleon’s army, 28th March
Freedom Day in Portugal – Día da Liberdade – 25th April
San Joao, midsummer celebrations in Porto – June
Romaria da Nossa Senhora da Agonia in Viana do Castelo – end of August
Camino del Norte
La Folía’ Marine Festival in San Vicente de la Barquera – early May
Virgen de la Guía in Ribadesella, honouring the patron saint of local fishermen – July
Ribadeo town festival – end of August
Flower battle in Laredo – end of August
San Sebastian International Film Festival – September
San Lucas, a traditional agricultural fair in Mondonedo, mid-October
Camino Ingles
Easter festival in Ferrol, one of the most traditional in Galicia – March/April
Medieval Fair at the Andrade Tower in Pontedeume – early July
Camino Primitivo
Arde Lucus, doing like the Romans in Lugo – mid-June
San Mateo (Saint Mathew) festival in Oviedo – end of September
San Froilan, the most traditional festival in the walled city of Lugo – October
Lugo Jazz Festival – November
Vía de la Plata
Festa do Cocido, a classic boiled meat festival in Lalín – end of February
Carnival in Laza – February/March
Easter in Seville – March/April
Feria de Abril in Seville, the city’s most colourful festival – April/May
Os Maios May festival in Ourense city – early May
Bread festival in Cea – July
Tortilla and Empanada gastronomic festival in Silleda – early August
Santa María de la Vega festival in Salamanca – early September
Magosto in Ourense city, a sweet chestnut feast to welcome winter – 11th November St Martin’s Day
Le Puy Camino
Roi de l’Oiseau medieval-inspired festival in Le Puy en Velay – end of September
Geneva Camino
Fetes de Geneve month-long festival in Geneva – July/August
Catalan Way
Diada de Sant Jordi – St George’s Day across Catalonia – 23rd April
Diada – Catalonia’s National Day – 11th September
El Pilar festival in Zaragoza – week up to 12th October
Saint Narcís in Girona, featuring the famous Catalan human castles – end of October
Santiago de Compostela
Easter – March/April
Galician Literature Day – 17th May
Ascension Festival – end of May
St James Festival, the city’s most important festival – Last two weeks in July
Cineuropa monthly film festival – November
Santiago é Tapas, tapas restaurant competition – November
For more information about the Camino de Santiago routes, Camino festivals and to book your Camino trip, contact our travel specialists
