5 Most Popular Festivals in Moaña, Galicia.

 Music, Culture and Gastronomy... Here is our list of the 5 Most Popular Festivals in Moaña, Galicia:

1. Festival of San Martiño
2. Festival of the Virgen del Carmen
3. Mussel Festival in Moaña
4. Interceltic Festival of Morrazo
5. Moaña Carnivals – Entierro de la xoubiña o sardiña

Moaña is a municipality located on the banks of Vigo Bay, in the northwestern part of Spain, Galicia. Nowadays the traditions are still maintained through its popular festivals that are worth going to if you are visiting the O Morrazo peninsula. A great way to get to know about all the history and taste the gastronomy of this charming fishing village. In every region of Spain, in each of the different town councils, they celebrate their own festivals full of local culture and flavours. In the coastal town of Moaña, these festivals are of great tourist and traditional significance, which is why it is important that they continue on for years to come!

Besides its festivals, Moaña has a wide range of leisure activities, restaurants with varied gastronomy, and accommodations to offer you during your stay in these Galician lands. Walks through enchanted forests full of magic and legends such as the A Fraga Walking Trail where you will enjoy nature in all its essence, or if you prefer more of a coastal experience you can walk along the promenade all the way to the golden Xunqueira Beach. Admire works of art along the way such as the monument of O Fisgón statue, a symbol of this fishing village. Take a boat ride and enjoy the views of the wonderful Vigo Bay and Sustainable Mussel beds (Bateas).

Here are details of each of the 5 Most Popular Festivals in Moaña, Galicia, Spain:

1. Festival of San Martiño

This festival takes place every November (the important day of the festival is the 11th, but festivities start already around the 9th) in the parish of San Martiño (St. Martin), a parish located up in the hills, and is in fact where the village of Moaña originated. To discover the history of this town you must visit San Martiño and what better time of year than the festival! A place where you can admire old centennial houses that become the scene for these festivities. The furanchos are very important in this celebration, they are small taverns or wine cellars located in the traditional houses and where each of the owners makes home-made wine from their own family production. Lots of wines to taste and they are all served in the tazas (small ceramic bowls), pairing it with other products of the Galician gastronomy such as chorizos (sausages) and empanada gallega (Galician pie).

The procession of the saint San Martiño begins from the Historic 12th century Romanesque Church of San Martiño carrying the biblical statue of San Martiño with the Virgen del Carmen. Many people assist this event every year, and follow the procession through streets until reaching the Cruceiro de San Martiño (Wayside Cross of St. Martin), making the way back to the church where the procession ends.

2. Festival of the Virgen del Carmen

Discover the region of O Morrazo and the municipality of Moaña through one of its most important religious festivals held from 16 to 20 of July. The festival is in commemoration of the Virxe do Carmen (Virgin of Carmen), the patron saint of Moaña the fishermen, and the seas.

During this festival, there is a special mass devoted to the Virgin of Carmen, then in the afternoon, the fishermen with family, friends, etc.. do a procession leaving from the Church until they reach the bay of Vigo getting in their boat decorated with flowers and flags where the procession continues by the sea in the boats with one carrying the statue of the Virgin of Carmen. A very emotional religious festival celebrated as well by other villages in the coastal areas of Galicia.

3. Mussel Festival in Moaña

Get to know the coastal town of Moaña in Galicia, Spain, through the flavors of the sea! The Moaña Mussel Festival is held on the first Sunday of August, and during this festival, they steam over 5,000 kilos of Mussels, you will have the opportunity to taste this delicacy, a star dish of the region, freshly harvested from sustainable mussel bed farms on the Vigo Bay. A traditional method using the bateas (Mussel Beds) that are dotted on the coastline of Moaña.

What is a Batea? It is a rectangular floating Mussel bed made of eucalyptus wood where 500 ropes are tied to and where the mussel is cultivated. This method has been in use for generations, since 1940´s in fact on the Bay of Vigo.

The production of mussels is considered one of the most valuable resources of Moaña, that is why they celebrate this festival every year dedicated to this tasty mollusk from the Galician Bay of Vigo.

Photo Credit: Diego Seixo @diegoseixo

4. Interceltic Festival of Morrazo

Visit Moaña at the end of July and the first week of August to enjoy some of the Best Celtic Music! This famous music festival brings Celtic Musicians together from various countries every year. Moaña has produced some excellent local Gaiteiros (Bagpipers),  Xose Manuel Budiño, and Anxo Lorenzo. Other important Galician Musicians like Susana Seivane have performed at the event.

It is one of the oldest festivals of the O Morrazo peninsula where Scottish, Breton, and Irish music groups have also taken part over the year. It was inaugurated on August 15, 1985, as the Celtic Night Festival of O Morrazo which was organized by the Semente Nova Bagpipe School of Moaña, but nowadays the municipality of Moaña is in charge of its organization. Come experience live shows of traditional Celtic folk music!

 This year is the 38th edition and takes place on the 29th, 30th, and 31st of July. We will take you virtually to the amazing festival on 6 different live-streaming shows with different Celtic Music Artists exclusively on Heygo! 

Celtic Music Festival Event Featuring Artist: Treixadura (Galicia) - Interceltic of Morrazo
Celtic Music Festival Event Featuring Artist: Elephant Sessions (Scotland, UK) - Interceltic of Morrazo
Celtic Music Festival Event Featuring Artist: Yves Lambert (Canada) - Interceltic of Morrazo
Celtic Music Festival Event Featuring Artist: Xurxo Fernandes (Galicia) - Interceltic of Morrazo
Celtic Music Festival Event Featuring Artist: Os D’Abaixo (Galicia) - Interceltic of Morrazo
Celtic Music Festival Event Featuring Artist: Kathryn Tickell (Northumbria, UK) - Interceltic of Morrazo

Photo Credit: Concello de Moaña

5. Moaña Carnivals – Entierro de la xoubiña o sardiña

The Burial of the Xoubiña (small sardine) or popularly known as the Burial of the Sardine takes place from February 22 to March 1. During this carnival, all children, adults, and visitors come to Moaña to enjoy dancing, parading, and tasting typical Galician food such as orellas (pastry ears) and filloas (crepes). There are also performances of musical groups which liven up the festive atmosphere and as well as the best costume contests.

The final stage of these carnivals is what marks its popularity, the burial of the sardine, one of the most exquisite delicacies of the bay and to which these carnivals are dedicated to, where a funeral procession is carried out throwing it back to the sea. An event that is worth attending if you are in Moaña this time of year.

Would you like to visit Moaña and see a local Festival?

We invite you to visit the Concello de Moaña and enjoy the 5 Most Popular Festivals in Moaña, Galicia, Spain, plus you can see other festivals on the tourism website of Moaña where you will learn in detail the history, culture, gastronomy, and traditions of this town. A charming and welcoming place where you will feel at home thanks to the tranquility that the coast, the bay, and its abundant nature transmit.

If you need help arranging your next vacation, or have some questions about Moaña, you can get in touch with us here. Join our Facebook community of E&W Food Wanderers to meet like-minded Food, Wine, and Walking Lovers!

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