Galicia expands its recognized festive heritage with four new additions to the catalog of Festivals of Tourist Interest. This was approved last week by the Regional Government of Galicia, bringing the total number of celebrations with this distinction to 142, which highlights the deep roots, uniqueness, and appeal of these events as drivers of tourism and local culture.
The festivals now receiving this official distinction are the Fair of the Horses of San Martiño in Francos, in Teo; the Festival of the Floats of San Cidre in Boqueixón; Holy Week in O Carballiño; and the traditional fair of Os Remedios in Ponteareas.
Each of them stands out for authentically preserving popular traditions, encouraging neighborhood participation, and attracting a growing number of visitors. During the evaluation process, aspects such as the originality of the proposal, environmental conservation, visitor attendance, and infrastructure were taken into account.
Holy Week in O Carballiño, with more than a century of history, has developed its own identity through its processions and unique musical accompaniment. Meanwhile, the San Martiño Horse Fair, held every November 11th since no less than 1557, keeps alive the trade of horses and other products linked to the Galician rural world. In Boqueixón, the Festival of the Floats of San Cidre pays tribute to the work of the countryside with floats made by hand and made from recycled materials, all accompanied by local gastronomic products. Finally, in Ponteareas, the Os Remedios Fair revives early 20th-century Galicia, recreating traditional trades and scenes from everyday life in a setting that blends history, community, and tourism.
These distinctions not only recognize the cultural value of the festivities but also represent an opportunity to strengthen their tourism presence and contribute to the revitalization of the regions that host them. The official declaration will be published in the Official Gazette of Galicia in the coming weeks.