Falces Garlic Day
In July, Falces celebrates the Red Garlic Festival, a tribute to the star product of the town, with gastronomic events, craft market and local products, workshops and exhibitions.
What does the Garlic de Falces festival consist of?
It is a tribute to the star product of the locality, a product that differs from the others, firstly because the garlic is pulled later than usual, secondly, its characteristic red color, its intense flavor and the endurance it has throughout the year. And, last but not least, the craftsmanship in the work of braiding the garlic pitchforks.
A woman prepares a pitchfork of garlic
This festival that is celebrated in the month of July (after the Sanfermines, which is the harvest season), is full of activities for adults and children, in which the traditional Garlic Day Fair is never missing, which houses the exhibition and sale garlic from local producers and craft products. A day in which attendees can taste its famous garlic soup and get to know the town with guided tours or participate in the garlic fork workshop.
In addition, the town's bars will delight us with "Ajo-Pintxo", recipes made with garlic from Falces that will surprise our palates.
Why is this holiday celebrated?
The objective of this celebration is none other than to value this product, so humble, and its producers, experts in the cultivation and craftsmanship of garlic horqueado, to make the town, its people and traditions known with this festival.
Ajo de Falces is a registered trademark that has its distinctive. During the day two awards are given. In 2022, to the chef Josema García Martínez with more than 30 years of experience at the "La Cepa de Estella" Restaurant. And to Araceli Larumbe Méndez for tribute and recognition to women in the production and elaboration of garlic forks.
Origins of Garlic Day in Falces
Falces is known as the Garlic Coast and garlic dates back to the 18th century when the Falcesinos, fed up with paying tithes for their crops to the Marquis and the church, decided to introduce garlic which, being a new fruit, was not subject to any payment, making this town one of the pioneers and most important in its production.
In the past, all the residents of Falces grew garlic for their own consumption and the streets were filled with pitchforks of garlic drying in the sun. For this reason, at this time the entire town gave off the unmistakable smell and atmosphere of garlic.
Falces currently has 10 garlic producers, but only one has been producing and cultivating garlic since 1898, 5 generations.
What places to visit in Falces?
If you are going to see the Garlic festival in Falces, you can take a guided historical tour and also very interesting a visit to the "Olite Tainta" Ecological Garlic Warehouse, a local producer, which performs a demonstration of garlic cultivation and forking. .
