On November 29 and 30, the Castle of Vila-seca will host the 1st Festival de l’Oli, an initiative organised by the Municipal Tourist Board of Vila-seca and the Agricultural Cooperative of Vila-seca, with the support of the Town Council.
The festival was created with the aim of paying tribute to farmers and to the region’s olive-growing tradition, while highlighting the quality and distinctive character of the olive oil produced in Vila-seca. As Mayor Pere Segura points out, “this festival is intended as a tribute to well-done work and to the strength of cooperation that keeps our identity alive.”
Meanwhile, Lluïsa Clavé, President of the Tourist Board, emphasises that “through the Festival de l’Oli we want to give visibility to the territory and showcase our essence to everyone who visits us.” The President of the Agricultural Cooperative, Carme Salvadó, adds that “it is an opportunity to share the value of our product and reaffirm the Cooperative’s commitment to agriculture and the region.”
A weekend full of activities
Throughout the weekend, the Castle’s garden will host the sale of Escomes olive oil (PDO Siurana) and other local products, along with competitions, workshops and activities for all ages. There will also be a bar service and a relaxation area.
The prelude to the festival will take place on Friday, November 28, at 8:00 p.m. in the Espai Jove of Vila-seca, with a painting workshop using wine and olive oil — a creative and sensory proposal combining art and gastronomy.
The 1st Festival de l’Oli will officially open on Saturday, November 29, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a guided olive oil tasting led by a specialist from the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) at 10:30 a.m. Starting at 12:00 p.m., there will be a stone-pit throwing contest and children’s workshops to discover olive oil through play. At 12:30 p.m., a charity vermouth featuring local products will be offered by Sosciathlon.
In the afternoon, attendees will be able to take part in the family gymkhana “In Search of Liquid Gold” at 5:30 p.m., enjoy a musical performance by the Vila-seca Conservatory of Music at 6:00 p.m., and attend a talk by Vila-seca-born chef Eduard Xatruch at 7:00 p.m., exploring the emotional and creative connection with olive oil from a gastronomic and cultural perspective.
On Sunday, November 30, the day will begin at 9:00 a.m. with breakfast organised by the Agricultural Cooperative, followed by the competitions “The Perfect Allioli” at 10:30 a.m. and “Blind Olive Oil Tasting” at 12:00 p.m. There will also be children’s workshops at 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Admission to the Festival de l’Oli is free. All activities require prior registration at entrades.vila-seca.cat. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, the full programme is available at lapinedaplatja.info.