Turismo de Galicia

This celebration coincides with the patron saint festivities of Arnoia

Although there are festivals, concerts and also tastings of fried peppers from Thursday night, the big day of the Festa do Pemento de Arnoia (Arnoia Pepper Festival) is celebrated on the first Sunday of August. More than four thousand kilos of peppers are served in the traditional style (fried), stuffed or in tortillas, washed down with O Ribeiro wines, in the carballeira (oak grove) de A Queixeira, in a day enlivened at all times with charanga music. The area is decked out with tables, bars, product exhibition stands and all kinds of services, from attractions and booths for children to a large car park.

Defined in some tastings as "a high-quality product, an authentic delicatessen", the pepper grown in these lands bathed by the Arnoia River is distinguished by its colour (range of greens that turn to a soft red when ripe), its shine and smoothness, the finesse and consistency of its flesh, its smell and, especially, its flavour, which is at its best at this time in August.

This popular festival, launched in 1980, coincides with the patron saint festivities and with the return of emigrants during the holiday season, so, full of cultural and sporting events, religious, official and formal acts, it represents the reunion of the Arnoians in a very endearing popular festival that exceeds the expectations of people coming from all over Galicia every year.

Highlight: A Mass with a procession from the Parish Church, offering of the fruits of the land.