The Chestnut Festival, now in its 15th edition, will take place from October 23 to 25 in the historic center of Arouca, celebrating the flavors and aromas of autumn. The event will focus on products like chestnuts, honey, and mushrooms.
The program, spanning the entire weekend, includes gastronomic competition tastings in restaurants, and contests for the best honey and best chestnut from Arouca, aiming to value local production and encourage its use in regional gastronomy. There will also be traditional chestnut roasts, a seminar on sustainable bee production, a walking tour, a mushroom foraging excursion, showcookings, and concerts.
Visitors can also enjoy activities for children, such as music therapy sessions and the Bebeteca (baby library), as well as a sound toy workshop. The Fair of Regional Products, Agricultural, and Crafts, located on Av. 25 de Abril, will be a meeting point to discover and purchase local products. Gastronomic spaces in the Municipal Park and the garden next to the Municipal Museum will offer traditional flavors.
Organized by the Municipality of Arouca in conjunction with the Associação Florestal de Entre Douro e Vouga and the Associação Geoparque Arouca, the festival partners include the Academia Sénior de Arouca and the Agrupamento de Escolas de Arouca. The event aims to celebrate the chestnut tree and its associated products, promoting their production and consumption.
The detailed program includes honey and chestnut competitions on October 22, mushroom foraging excursions and walking tours on October 23, and interpreted visits, workshops, and fire shows until October 25.
