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”]