This is a popular folk festival and gastronomic festival known as "A XIRA" which has been held every year since 1965 on the first Sunday in August, although it was previously held without a fixed date.

It is organised by the Asociación Amigos da Gaita Galega, which has also erected a monument to the Gaiteiro (the bagpiper), the only one of its kind in our Autonomous Community, on Santa Cruz hill, the place where the pilgrimage is held and an incomparable watchtower from which the whole region can be seen.

The programme of the festival begins on the eve of the main event with the celebration of the proclamation, which is traditionally given by a character linked to the town of Ribadeo and our culture. Afterwards, the schools of the Asociación offer a complete folkloric show.

On the day of the festival and from early in the morning, traditional groups fill the town with the sound of the bagpipes and at midday a new folkloric show is held in Cantón dos Moreno, followed by the climb up the mountain to celebrate the pilgrimage. There the bagpipes do not stop playing while thousands of pilgrims share empanadas, tortillas and other delicacies. At mid-afternoon, the offering of flowers in front of the monument to the Gaiteiro gives way to the folklore show and the festival goes on until nightfall.

This is a festival in which thousands of people from very diverse backgrounds develop strong bonds and in which all the symbols and essence of Galician identity and culture are paid homage to.

Proclamation, pilgrimage, offering of flowers to the Gaiteiro and folkloric show.