This weekend, a small town in northern Spain is celebrating autumn the traditional way, with roasted chestnuts, freshly pressed cider, folk music and a lively village atmosphere. On 7 and 8 November, Arriondas, in the heart of Asturias, hosts its annual Chestnut and Local Produce Fair, offering visitors a wonderful excuse to discover one of Spain’s most beautiful regions at its most atmospheric.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
There is something rather special about northern Spain in November. The forests turn shades of amber and gold, mist settles over the mountains, and the scent of woodsmoke drifts through quiet villages.
In Asturias, autumn is not simply a change of season. It is something to be celebrated, preferably with good food, a glass of cider and plenty of company.
And few places capture that spirit quite like Arriondas.
On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, this small Asturian town, best known as the starting point of the famous Sella River canoe descent, will host the 35th edition of its Certamen de la Castaña y Productos de la Huerta, a traditional fair dedicated to chestnuts and locally grown produce.
For two days, the town centre will come alive with market stalls, regional delicacies, music and the sort of warm, unhurried atmosphere that makes rural Spain so appealing.
The Simple Pleasure of Roasted Chestnuts
At the heart of the celebrations is the amagüestu, one of Asturias’ most cherished autumn traditions.
The idea could hardly be simpler: chestnuts are roasted over a fire, shared among friends and neighbours, and enjoyed with a glass of sidra dulce, the sweet, freshly pressed apple juice produced during the autumn harvest.
Unlike the region’s famous alcoholic cider, which is traditionally poured from a height, sidra dulce is fresh and unfermented.
For generations, the amagüestu marked the end of the harvest and brought rural communities together before the arrival of winter.
Today, it remains a wonderfully authentic expression of Asturian culture, one that visitors are warmly invited to experience.
A Weekend of Food, Music and Local Traditions
The festivities take place in Plaza Venancio Pando, in the centre of Arriondas.
The fair opens on Saturday at 11 am, with stalls showcasing chestnuts, seasonal vegetables and other regional products. Visitors can also enjoy an exhibition of local livestock, traditional music and competitions celebrating Asturias’ agricultural heritage.
Later in the afternoon, there will be a presentation devoted to Asturian honey, which enjoys protected designation of origin status, followed by a cookery demonstration by chef Lluis Nel Estrada.
Sunday begins at 10 am, with more opportunities to browse the market and enjoy performances by traditional musicians and folk groups.
At 5 pm, attention turns to one of Asturias’ most distinctive customs: the art of pouring cider.
During the regional escanciado competition, participants demonstrate their skill at pouring cider from above their heads into a glass held low in the opposite hand.
The technique is not simply for show. It helps aerate the cider, briefly releasing its aromas and flavour.
The celebrations continue with the traditional public amagüestu, bringing together roasted chestnuts, cider and music.
Why Chestnuts Matter So Much in Asturias
Long before potatoes became a staple of the European diet, chestnuts played an essential role in feeding communities across northern Spain.
In the mountainous villages of Asturias, they were boiled, roasted, dried or ground into flour, providing an important source of nourishment throughout the colder months.
Ancient chestnut groves still cover parts of the Asturian countryside, reminders of a time when the annual harvest was vital to everyday life.
Today, the humble chestnut has found its way into contemporary regional cooking, appearing in everything from hearty stews and soups to desserts and more inventive restaurant dishes.
The Arriondas fair is therefore about much more than seasonal food. It is a celebration of the region’s rural roots and the traditions that have shaped its identity.
The Perfect Excuse for an Autumn Escape
Arriondas sits in a particularly beautiful corner of Asturias, close to the dramatic landscapes of the Picos de Europa and within easy reach of the Cantabrian coast.
In summer, the town attracts visitors eager to canoe along the River Sella. Come November, the atmosphere is altogether different.
The roads are quieter, the hillsides glow with autumn colour and local restaurants serve the kind of comforting food that tastes even better after a long walk in the crisp mountain air.
Visitors could easily turn the chestnut fair into a weekend escape, combining the festivities with a drive through the surrounding countryside or a visit to one of the region’s picturesque coastal villages.
And with the summer crowds long gone, this is an ideal time to discover a slower, more traditional side of Spain.
