Winter

Fexturrón is a leisure fair that takes place in the Fexdega Exhibition Hall at Chritsmas, between the 6th of December and the 7th of January, i.e. during the complete school Christmas holidays. Its two main attractions are an ice rink, an icy slope. But there is even more: bumper cars, 3D films, carousels, handcraft workshops, storytellers among other activities. All the activities are indoors and the venues decorated with the traditional Christmas ornamentation. The prices are really affordable thanks to the sporsorship of the Town, which makes Fexturrón its main Christmas activity, alongside the Three Wise Men’s parade and some other acts aiming to enliven the streets.

Caritarte is a unique collective art exhibition in which artists present 30x30cm works. They establish the prices for each work and the money raised is partly or entirely donated to the Cáritas Interparroquial’s community kitchen- a charity organization. The exhibition starts in mid-December and finishes with the Three Wise Men’s parade, on 5th of December in the Rivas Briones Exhibition Room.

The Vilagarcíans, who wish to ring in the New Year, gather together in Plaza de Ravella to celebrate the farewell to the year. The grapes, which are given out for free as well as the cava, garlands and confetti, are tasted with the sound of the Town Council bells. Though not at 12 o’clock midnight but 12 o’clock in the afternoon.

It is, without any doubt, the most important parade of the area and, traditionally, one of the largest of Galicia. Several floats, bands, pages, escorts… with an entourage of up to 700 people participating in the parade in which 3,500 kl. of sweets are given out among the spectators. The parade finishes at Plaza de Ravella before a living Nativity and continues with the King’s reception of all the children who wish to in the Town Hall noble room.

This is an excellent excuse to get into the streets of Vilagarcía following the itinerary of tapas served in the score of bars that take part in this gastronomy route and held twice a year, one in winter (February) and the second one in summer (June). In every single edition, Vilagarcían bars and restaurants prepare with great care, quality products and imagination, numerous creative and appealing gastronomic delights to both people from Vilagarcía and tourists. “Reverse croquette of steak tartare with bechamel of mango” “cured duck breast delicacy on leak confit with a mixture of cheese and vintage wine” or “boneless lamb on a crunchy thin layer and homemade pickles on sweet potato parmentier and demi-glace” are only three examples of what we can find in this unique route.

Carnival, a celebration deeply rooted in the Catholic world, offers for a few hours, the opportunity to break free from the rules of normal order and throw caution to the wind. Although it is becoming custom to see some elaborate and carefully prepared fancy dresses, some old clothes and a bit of imagination is all you need to get into the swing of the party, and become a “choqueiro”. Carnival finishes with the popular “entierro de la sardina” – sardine’s burial-, which announces the beginning of the new phase of the year.

(Come to the Salón) it consists of a set of concerts held in the morning, performed by small groups and addressed to those who want to enjoy live music with friends and family. They take place the first Sunday of each month in February, March and April in the Salón García, an Italian-style hall built at the end of the 19th century with capacity for 250 seats. Tickets are affordable.