Trabazos is set to host the 20th Chestnut and Alistan Mushroom Festival on Sunday, 1 November. This event will also include the traditional Magosto, the fifth provincial honey fair, and the presentation of the Alveare 2026 Awards.
The festival aims to bring together hundreds of locals and visitors to celebrate the natural, gastronomic, and cultural richness of the Aliste region. The programme will feature mycological education, promotion of local products, popular contests, and traditional music.
Activities will commence at 10:30 AM with participants gathering for a mycological route at the Multi-Purpose Pavilion in Trabazos. At 11:00 AM, a field trip will begin to collect and identify various mushroom species, guided by an expert. By 1:00 PM, the collected species will be classified and prepared for a mycological exhibition.
At 2:00 PM, the restaurant Los Castaños, known for its mycological distinction, will offer a special tasting menu priced at €25, with prior reservation required. Interested individuals can register by calling 980 681 068 or 980 681 000, or by emailing hrestauranteloscatanos@gmail.com.
One of the main attractions of the day will be the fifth provincial honey fair, which will officially open at 4:00 PM. The fair will provide an opportunity to taste and purchase honey packaged by local beekeepers, showcasing the diversity and quality of honey production closely linked to the natural and rural environment.
Exhibitors will begin setting up at 3:00 PM, with the fair opening an hour later alongside a market for autumn products. A popular honey tasting will also take place, highlighting the challenges faced by beekeepers this year, with production losses estimated between 70% and 80% across the province and nationally.
These adverse conditions have particularly affected certain honey varieties, with limited production due to poor heather flowering. The situation varies by region, with some areas producing lighter honeys while others have seen little to no production.
Despite these challenges, participation in the fair remains consistent with previous years, reflecting the commitment of beekeepers to quality and the promotion of Zamoran honey. The Alveare 2026 Awards will be presented during the fair, featuring 33 honey samples from various locations in Zamora competing in three categories: light honeys, amber honeys, and dark honeys. Each category will award gold, silver, and bronze medals to the best entries.
This year introduces a new amber honey category, allowing for better representation of the diverse honey produced in Zamora. A jury will evaluate the samples before the winners are announced during the fair.
The awards, crafted by Nuria Martínez of Numa Cerámica, continue to highlight local craftsmanship and the festival's identity. The Alveare Awards serve to recognise the hard work of beekeepers and the significance of their products for the rural economy and biodiversity.
The festival will also feature traditional activities such as the preparation of lumbrón (a type of stew) and roasted chestnuts starting at 4:00 PM, reviving one of the region's most cherished autumn customs. Attendees can participate in various culinary contests, including those for chestnut and autumn fruit desserts, Spanish omelette, and homemade liqueurs.
Prizes will be awarded for the top four dessert entries, while the omelette and liqueur contests will recognise the top three and two entries, respectively. A special prize will be given for the best dessert presentation.
Traditional aguardiente (a type of spirit) will be prepared at 4:00 PM, followed by the making of the traditional queimada at 5:00 PM. The deadline for contest entries will be at 6:00 PM, with honey contest winners announced at 6:30 PM, followed by the remaining contest awards at 7:00 PM. A gift draw from participating businesses will occur at 7:30 PM, with winners required to be present to claim their prizes.
The fair is set to conclude at 8:00 PM, coinciding with a tasting of hornazos (a type of pastry), tortillas, and contest desserts, alongside roasted chestnuts and queimada. The event will be accompanied by traditional music from the Aulas de Música de Aliste and Tras Os Montes, enhancing the cultural ties of this border region.
