From October 19 to 27, Arouca will host the 13th edition of the Chestnut Festival, an event that celebrates the chestnut tree, chestnuts, honey and mushrooms, promoting their production and encouraging their use in regional cuisine.

The program includes interpreted tours and visits to organic farms, gastronomic competitions, competitions for the best honey and the best chestnut, magustos, a hiking trail, a mycological outing, activities for children, showcooking, a workshop to build miniature schist houses, concerts with the band Anaquim and Carolina de Deus, sales of regional and agricultural products and handicrafts, among others. See below for the full program.

The 13th Chestnut Festival is organized by the Municipality of Arouca, ADRIMAG, the Entre Douro and Vouga Forestry Association and AGA – Arouca Geopark Association.

13th Chestnut Festival | October 19 to 27.2024

 

 

Program

October 19th (Saturday)

9h00-12h30 and 14h00-17h00
Interpreted visit “Wild mushrooms: from the field to the laboratory”
Cost: €15/participant
Prior registration required by October 16 at https://forms.gle/d4UBPy8DfwzcimvAA
Granja (Moldes), Arouca Secondary School

 

October 21st to 23rd

Gastronomic competition | Tastings – Restaurant mode
Competing restaurants

 

October 23rd (Wednesday)

17h30
Talk “In conversation with Lourdes Fernandes – Autumn, Chestnuts, Nutrition and Movement”
Chave Parish Council

 

October 24th (Thursday)

14h30
Talk “Food Identity – The Case of Olive Oil Valorization”
Elisa Morais – President of AICNAS – Associação do Interior Centro e Norte de Agricultura Sustentável
Ana Helena Pinto – Nutrition for Happiness
Terreiro de Santa Mafalda

17h00
Gastronomic Competition | Tastings – Private Modality
Burgo School

 

October 25th (Friday)

10h00
Opening of the exhibition “They grow like mushrooms” – Arouca Geopark Association
Arouca Monastery

12h00
Opening of the gastronomic areas
Municipal Park

14h00
Kids Mycological Tour
Alhavaite Farm

14h30
Intergenerational Magusto – socializing over chestnuts
Terreiro de Santa Mafalda

15h00
Contest for the best chestnut in Arouca
Terreiro de Santa Mafalda

16h00
Opening of the cakes and homemade bread sales area
Municipal Park

Competition for the best honey in Arouca
Terreiro de Santa Mafalda

19h00
Announcement of competition winners
– Gastronomic
– Best honey from Arouca
– Best chestnut from Arouca
Terreiro de Santa Mafalda

Opening of the Regional Products, Agriculture and Handicrafts Fair
Av. 25 de Abril

21h30
Concert: Anaquim
Brandão de Vasconcelos Square

24h00
Chestnut Night
Terreiro de Santa Mafalda

 

October 26th (Saturday)

09h00
Walking Route: PR 10 – Aromas Route
Walk: 11 km
Prior registration required (until October 24) at https://forms.gle/G1Ux5YoSFzjnztnWA
Departure: Church of Espiunca

9h00-12h30
Visit to organic passion fruit production
Prior registration required (until October 24) at https://forms.gle/i6mrzQcqyQrW364eA / 256 940 254
Spiracol – Fermêdo

09h30
Mycological outing led by José Pais
Prior registration required (until October 21) at https://forms.gle/LmDeNZafH2nLDi7i7 / 968 514 950
Registration limited

14h00-16h00
Field trip: medronho picking
Prior registration required (until October 24) at https://forms.gle/cdkhEcU5QSQCoz3k6 / 256 940 254
Canelas

15h00
Identification of the “Arouca Mushrooms” collected during the mycological outing
Terreiro de Santa Mafalda

16h00
Bebeteca – Reading session for babies based on the book “Autumn, my favorite season”
Free participation, limited to 10 babies (aged 6 to 36 months) accompanied by their parents
Registration: 256 940 400 / biblioteca@cm-arouca.pt
Arouca Monastery

16h30
Showcooking “Mushrooms and arbutus”
Terreiro de Santa Mafalda

22h00
Concert: Carolina de Deus
Brandão de Vasconcelos Square

23h30
Traditional Magusto
Av. 25 de Abril

24h00
Chestnut Night
Toque Social Group
Terreiro de Santa Mafalda

 

October 27th (Sunday)

9h00-13h00
Autumn interpreted tour of the Arda Ecovia
Cost: 10€/participant
Limited to 28 participants. Prior registration required (until October 24) at https://forms.gle/ZzWE3h2H9MfNP1Jb9 / 256 940 254
Ecovia do Arda

15h00
Family Sundays “Workshop – Building Miniature Schist Houses” with José Gilde
Free participation with compulsory registration (until October 25 at 5pm) at museu.municipal@cm-arouca.pt or 256 940 250
Arouca Municipal Museum

15h30
Traditional Magusto followed by a folklore workshop
Partnership: Casa do Povo de Arouca
Brandão de Vasconcelos Square

16h30
Hedgehog dance
Terreiro de Santa Mafalda

Program subject to change

Organized by

Arouca City Council
ADRIMAG – Integrated Rural Development Association of the Montemuro, Arada and Gralheira Mountains
Forestry Association of Entre Douro and Vouga
Arouca Geopark Association

Support
Arouca Senior Academy
Seed of the Future
Arouca School Group

Schedule
Cake and homemade bread sales area (Municipal Park)
Friday: 16h00-23h00
Saturday: 11h00-23h00
Sunday: 11h00-19h00

Regional Products, Agriculture and Handicrafts Fair (Av. 25 de Abril)
Friday: 19h00-23h00
Saturday: 10h00-24h00
Sunday: 10h00-19h00

Patio dos Petiscos (Municipal Park)
Friday: 12h00-04h00
Saturday: 12:00-04:00
Sunday: 12h00-19h00

Castanha Noite Dentro (Terreiro de Santa Mafalda)
Friday: 24h00-04h00
Saturday: 24h00-04h00

[Updated on 18.10.2024 at 16h11 with speakers from the talk “Food Identity – The Case of Olive Oil Valorization”]