The Secretary of State for Tourism has awarded the Villaviciosa Apple Festival, held in Asturias, the distinction of National Tourist Interest Festival. This measure recognizes the rich historical trajectory of the festival, its uniqueness, its social roots, and its contribution to the tourist and cultural promotion of Spain.
Since its foundation in 1960, the festival has played a crucial role in the preservation and dissemination of heritage related to apple cultivation, becoming one of the most emblematic events in the festive calendar of the Principality. The Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez, highlighted the importance of the work carried out by generations of neighbors, producers, and institutions to make this celebration a benchmark of Asturian cider culture.
The Festival, which is held biennially in October coinciding with the apple harvest, not only seeks to promote the Asturian apple and improve cultivation techniques but also boosts tourism in the region. With a combination of cultural, gastronomic, and professional activities, it has established itself as an important tool for territorial promotion and an example of the conservation of rural cultural heritage. The next Festival will be held in October 2027, although the town keeps its cider tourism offer alive throughout the year.
When it is celebrated, the streets of the urban area of Villaviciosa are flooded with a festive atmosphere with proposals for all ages: Exhibition and Contests: the historic Exhibition Contest of Table Apples and Cider Apples is organized, along with awards for the best plantations in Asturias. The First Must: one of the most solemn and emotional moments is the consecration, blessing, and offering of the first must of the season to the Virgin of the Portal (la Portalina), accompanied by the traditional local dance. Autumn Market: artisanal and agri-food exhibitors set up in the Villa to offer cider, apple derivatives, and other typical products. Popular Tastings: open tastings for the public in key venues such as the Plaza de Abastos to savor local ciders from various cider houses. Leisure and Dissemination: concerts, technical days led by agricultural research organizations such as SERIDA (technical days on the apple sector), tourist train, theatrical shows, and children’s workshops.
