Autumn in Mallorca

In autumn a large variety of mushrooms grow in the holm oak and pine forests. They are the most delicious ingredients of the season. Mallorca has a great wild mushroom tradition and many restaurants organize gastronomic events in which they serve tasty dishes made with this product.

One of these events is the Wild Mushroom Fair held in Mancor de la Vall in late November. The fair is devoted to the local milk cap and its different recipes. The fair also includes a handicraft exhibition, a parade and a “glossadors” event (rhyming).

Many fairs take place in Mallorca in this time of the year. The mild temperatures invite you to enjoy outdoor activities. The autumn fair programme runs from the beginning of October to mid December. Over forty fairs are held all over the island, thus there are very few days without a fair.

Some fairs are devoted to local country products. For instance, the Caimari Olive Fair, which is held in November and centres on olive oil and all its varieties; the Esporles Sweet Fair, which takes place in October and is devoted to sweets and pastries; the Llubí Honey Fair, which is held in November and showcases honey products; and the Sineu “Matances” Fair, which takes place in December. The latter is a livestock and handicraft fair in which you can see the slaughter of the pig and the making of sausages like “sobrasada”.

Another important gastronomic event in autumn is “Tapalma”, an international tapas fair that takes place in October. Many restaurants in Palma take part in the event with imaginative, elaborate recipes.

Dijous Bo, one of the most important fairs in Mallorca, is held in Inca in November. It is an agricultural, handicraft, industrial and food fair that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors in each edition. One of the most interesting fairs is the Montuïri Partridge Fair. It takes place in December and includes the popular partridge competition and bird calling contest.

One of the most traditional festivals in Palma is La Beata parade. It take place since 1792 on the third Saturday of October. Catalina Thomàs was beatified in that same year. She was born in Valldemossa in 1531 and died revered as a saint in Palma in 1574. A cart parade is held on the same day. The parade splashes with colours the streets of the city centre. Folk musicians and dance groups from all over the island perform traditional music and dances.

You can buy the perfect gift for your loved ones at two events taking place in December, just before Christmas. The first event is Baleart, an indoor handicraft fair displaying the work of local, Spanish and international artists. The second event is the Christmas and Three Kings’ Fair held in two squares in Palma city centre. It finishes just after the Three Kings Day (6 January).