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Yecla is ready to welcome the annual Wine Harvest Festival and National Folklore Festival on September 6 and 7, bringing together the best of the region’s culture, traditions and gastronomy. Held in Constitution Park and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the event is organised by Yecla’s Tourism and Culture Departments along with local folk groups and the Yecla Wine Route.

 

The weekend begins on Saturday evening with an official reception for the choir and dance groups taking part, including the Francisco Salzillo groups from Yecla and Murcia and the La Esteva Dance Group from Segovia. The celebrations get lively at 8pm with the traditional grape treading ceremony, welcoming the new harvest season, followed by tasting the first must (fresh grape juice).

 

This year’s special toast will be made by Doña Carmen Rodríguez Tomás, a long-time member of the Francisco Salzillo Choir. At 95 years of age, she has always belonged to this group, helping since the 1940s in the research and recovery of our city's costumes and dances.

 

The folklore performances by these esteemed groups continue the festivities, while visitors can enjoy wine tasting from the Yecla Denomination of Origin paired with local tapas. The Yecla Wine Route offers tasting packages that include three tapas and two wines, specially priced and available to book online in advance.

 

On Sunday from 12pm, the three groups will celebrate a sung Mass featuring the blessing of the first grape must, followed by a final folklore show in the Atrium of La Purísima. Wine tasting returns to round off the festival, leaving guests with a memorable experience of Yecla’s rich heritage.

 

Councillors involved highlight how the festival keeps the local culture alive by combining music, dance and the grape harvest. Daniel Jiménez Ortiz, the Councillor for Culture commented that this festival aims to “keep folklore alive, which is the essence and identity of our town, essential to keeping our traditions alive.”

 

It’s a perfect chance for residents and visitors alike to savour the flavours and spirit of Yecla in early September.

 

 

 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Yecla