The wide range of festivals in Asturias which take place throughout the year are a strong reflection of the region’s rich cultural heritage. Events such as the Descent of the Sella, the International Bagpipe Festival and the Vava Cider Festival offer a deep connection to the history and culture of Asturias. These much anticipated annual fiestas which preserve ancient traditions whilst embracing contemporary influences are a key element of modern-day Asturias.
Annual Festivals in Asturias
Fiestas de San Mateo (Oviedo)
Celebrated in Oviedo each September, the Fiestas de San Mateo are the city’s most important and popular festivals. Traditionally held in honour of the city’s patron saint, Saint Matthew, the festivities span over a week, with the main celebrations typically starting around 14th September and culminating on the 21st, the official feast day. While originally a religious festival, it has evolved into a broader cultural celebration which mixes religious traditions with modern entertainment and community events.
One of the festival’s main highlights is the ‘Día de América en Asturias’ parade, a colourful procession which honours Asturias’ ties with the Americas, featuring floats, costumes and music from various Latin American countries. There are also free outdoor concerts in plazas around the city which showcase both local and international artists.
San Mateo is also known for its lively street parties, with bars and food stalls set up across the city, offering traditional Asturian fare like ‘chorizo a la sidra’, ‘bollos preñaos’ and cider. Fireworks displays, sporting events and activities for children are also a key part of the festival.
Descenso Internacional del Sella
The Descent of the Sella is an international canoe competition which is perhaps one of the most unique festivals in Spain. Held annually on the first Saturday of August, this event combines sport with festivity in a manner that is distinctly Asturian. The origins of this festival date back to 1930 when a group of friends decided to navigate the Sella River for fun. Over the years, it evolved into an international sporting event, attracting participants and spectators from around the world.
The competition begins in the town of Arriondas and ends in Ribadesella which is one of the must-see places to visit in Asturias. The race which covers a distance of 20km attracts thousands of spectators who support competitors in a party atmosphere from the riverbanks. As well as the canoe race, the event is also a full day of celebration with plenty Asturian food, drink and traditional music.
Nava Cider Festival
Cider is an integral part of Asturian culture which is celebrated at the annual Cider Festival in Nava every July. The event features cider pouring competitions, where skilled ‘escanciadores’ demonstrate the traditional Asturian technique of pouring cider from a great height into a glass held low. This method aerates the cider, enhancing its flavour and creating a unique drinking experience. The event has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest which attracts thousands of visitors from around Spain and overseas.
Fiesta del Bollo (Avilés)
The Feast of the Bollo, which is celebrated in Avilés during Easter week, is one of oldest and most revered festivals in Asturias. Its origins can be traced back to the 14th century when local bakers would offer bread to the poor on Easter Sunday.
The centrepiece of this festival is the ‘bollo’, a traditional Easter bread often filled with chorizo or bacon. On Easter Monday, known as ‘Lunes de Pascua’, locals gather in parks and countryside areas to enjoy their ‘bollos’ with family and friends.
The festival has evolved to include a range of cultural activities, including concerts, art exhibitions and sporting events. A highlight is the colourful parade featuring floats, traditional costumes and music, which winds through the streets of Avilés.
Fiestas de Santa Rita (Llanes)
The Festival of Saint Rita takes place on 22nd May 22 in Llanes. It honours Saint Rita of Cascia, a figure with deep historical and religious significance in the town. The devotion to Santa Rita dates back to 1662, when a convent of Augustinian Recollect nuns was founded in Llanes, where the Hotel Don Paco now stands. This connection to the Augustinians is rooted in Rita’s life, as she spent decades in an Augustinian convent after becoming widowed in the 15th century.
The festival begins with a Mass and the blessing of roses, a symbol of Santa Rita, representing healing and hope. A procession follows, where the image of the saint is carried through the streets of Llanes. The event brings together the community and reflects centuries of devotion, with participants often linked to local families with historical ties to the former Augustinian school in Llanes. Alongside the religious aspects, the celebration includes music, traditional food and festivities, blending faith and culture in a vibrant display of local heritage.
Fiesta del Pastor (Vega d’Enol)
The Festival of the Shepherd takes place in July in the Vega d’Enol. It pays tribute to the traditional pastoral lifestyle which has shaped much of Asturias’ rural culture. The festival aims to preserve and celebrate the customs and traditions of Asturian shepherds. It includes competitions in traditional shepherding skills such as sheep shearing and herding dogs trials. Visitors can also watch demonstrations of cheese-making using age-old methods and sample a variety of local cheeses from the Picos de Europa.
Día de Asturias
The Day of Asturias is celebrated on 8th September in a different town each year. It commemorates the victory of Don Pelayo at the Battle of Covadonga in 722 AD which began the Reconquista against Moorish rule. The celebration typically features includes traditional music and dance performances, parades and religious ceremonies centred around the Virgin of Covadonga.
Avilés Interceltic Festival
Held every July in Avilés, the Interceltic Festival is celebration of the shared Celtic heritage of regions across Europe. The event features traditional music, dance and performances from Celtic nations and regions including Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and Galicia. Alongside concerts, the festival includes parades, craft fairs and food stalls showcasing Celtic culture. It has become a vibrant meeting point for lovers of Celtic traditions, drawing both locals and international visitors to experience the rich folklore and artistic expressions of the Celtic world.
Fiesta de la Sardina (Candás)
The Candás Sardine Festival, held annually on August 1st, is a key event in the summer celebrations of this coastal town in Asturias. As part of the larger Fiestas de San Félix, honouring the town’s patron saint, the festival transforms Candás into a hub of gastronomic activity. The main attraction is an outdoor feast where over 5,000 kilos of sardines are grilled and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. This tradition, rooted in Candás’ fishing heritage, has grown into a much loved summer festival in Asturias.
Festival of San Juan (Foguera de San Juan)
The Night of San Juan in Asturias is a celebration of the summer solstice which takes place on the night of 23rd June. It takes place in numerous towns and cities around the region, most notably in Oviedo, Gijón and Mieres. The event usually involves concerts, parades and traditional activities which lead up to the lighting of bonfires at midnight. Many smaller towns across Asturias including Cudillero, Ribadesella and Navia with each locality bringing its own unique customs and traditions to this annual event.
Fiesta de los Nabos (Sotrondio)
The Turnip Festival in Sotrondio, San Martín del Rey Aurelio, is a unique gastronomic event in Asturias’ Nalón Valley. This celebration showcases the region’s culinary traditions, particularly highlighting the turnip in innovative ways.
Coinciding with the feast of Saint Martin of Tours on November 11th, the festival blends religious observances with cultural traditions. Key events include a solemn mass, the ‘puya’l ramu’ custom, bagpipe and drum processions, traditional dances and the presentation of the Golden Turnip award to a notable figure.
Local restaurants offer special menus featuring turnip stew as the star dish. This hearty meal combines turnips with ‘compango’ (assorted meats), often accompanied by tripe stew and traditional Asturian desserts like casadielles or rice pudding.
While its exact origins are uncertain, legend attributes the festival’s beginnings to King Aurelio of Asturias in 774 when he made the area his kingdom’s capital. At that time, turnips were already a valued part of the local diet.
Fiestas de Cudillero
Held annually from 28th June to 1st July, these fiestas are dedicated to Cudillero’s patron saints – San Pedro, San Pablo and San Pablín. One of the festival’s highlight is the L’Amuravela which takes place on 29th June (San Pedro’s day). This is a centuries-old tradition in which a humorous sermon in the local Pixueto dialect recounts the year’s notable events in Cudillero.
The four-day celebration features a diverse program of activities including parades, live music, fireworks and traditional games. Key events include the opening ceremony with bagpipes and flower offerings, evening dances (verbenas) with various musical groups, a solemn mass and procession and the ‘pixueto baptism’ on 1st July when visitors can become honorary locals. The festivities conclude with the distribution of ‘bollo preñao’ (a traditional bread) and communal dining in Plaza de San Pedro, embodying the festive and welcoming spirit of Cudillero.
Festival Internacional de la Gaita (Villaviciosa)
This Internacional Bagpipe Festival takes place in Villaviciosa in early September. The four-day event showcases the rich musical heritage of Asturias and invited regions through a diverse program of activities. The festival features concerts by local and international artists, traditional dance performances, parades through the town streets and educational components such as workshops, masterclasses and exhibitions. Musical performances span different styles, from traditional Asturian and Galician tunes to Breton and Irish music. The event culminates in folk nights featuring local and international acts, creating a vibrant atmosphere in Villaviciosa’s streets and squares.
