Fira de la Sardina of Palma: programme from15 to 18 of May

Moll de Pescadors transforms from 15 to 18 May into the epicentre of local produce and seafaring tradition with the celebration of the first edition of the Fira de la Sardina de Palma (First Sardine Festival). This initiative, promoted by the Fishermen’s Guild in collaboration with the Palma City Council, aims to highlight the value of the Mallorcan sardine, encourage the consumption of oily fish and give visibility to the traditional fishing of the Balearic Sea.

Image from the presentation of the first edition of the Fira de la Sardina de Palma. Photo: Palma City Council.

The fair features more than 40 tents offering tastings, gastronomic displays, cultural activities and spaces dedicated to promoting the fishing trade. This proposal answers a historic demand from the sector, which has long sought a dedicated space to showcase and celebrate one of the island’s most representative products.

Uniting the fishing sector and local hospitality

“This fair is a great opportunity to bring together Palma’s fishing sector and the local hospitality industry, and to highlight a product of ours like the Mallorcan sardine,” stressed the president of the Fishermen’s Guild, Domingo Bonnin, while also thanking all the institutions that made it possible, such as Palma City Council, “which laid the first stone.”

The Fira de la Sardina de Palma is designed for all audiences, with a programme including family activities, workshops, performances and exhibitions linked to seafaring culture. The institutions have called on citizens to join the event and participate in an experience that combines history, flavour and commitment to the environment. This fair is not just a gastronomic event but represents much more and “brings us closer to tradition, culture, traditional fishing, and above all, to this product we all know and appreciate: the Mallorcan sardine,” said during the event presentation the first deputy mayor and councillor for Tourism, Culture, Sports and Municipal Coordination, Javier Bonet.

Programme of the Fira de la Sardina de Palma

Thursday, 15 May

12:00 pm – Opening of the fair: arrival of fishermen with sardines and lighting of the grills.
1:00 pm – SER Foodies: Cadena SER.
7:00 pm – Maritime parade and street band: featuring performances by ‘Los Burruños’ and artists Andy Hughes and Rocío Contreras.
8:00 pm – Concert of habaneras and burnt rum: by the group Arpellots Havaneres Band.
10:00 pm – DJ session: with vinyls by Miquel Font.

Friday, 16 May

9:00 am – First Sustainable Fishing Conference in Palma: for fishing professionals.
12:30 pm – Performance by Mallorcan xeremies players.
4:00 pm – DJ session: with T-Mark.
6:30 pm – Concert: with the group The Ramonells.
8:00 pm – DJ session: with Antto Cabanellas and Biel Castell.
10:00 pm – DJ session: with Jaume Colombàs.

Saturday, 17 May

9:30 am – Visit to the fishing dock and fish market: ‘Between fish and nets: discover the Palma fish market and dock’. Registration: espaisnaturals@palma.es
12:00 pm
- Face painting and children’s entertainment.
- EMAYA information point: waste management, water and cleaning in Palma, and children’s activities related to water treatment issues.
- CreaMar: imagine, play and care for the sea.
1:00 pm
- Street entertainment: with stilt walkers and jugglers.
- Workshop related to fishing and seafaring culture: Maritime Museum.
3:00 pm – Palma Aquarium activities: activities for children and the general public focusing on sea protection.
6:00 pm – party: Generation X.

Sunday, 18 May

12:00 pm
- Guided visit of the dock: ‘The city and the sea’ (Serra de Tramuntana Consortium).
- Performance by Mallorcan xeremies players.
- Face painting and children’s entertainment.
1:00 pm – Presentation of the Sardina de Oro Awards.
2:00 pm – Habaneras concert: with the Son Dameto Choir.

More information at this link.

Municipal interest

The Governing Board of Palma City Council has approved declaring the first Fira de la Sardina as being of municipal interest. This declaration highlights the official recognition of the fair’s value, and with this measure, the Council strengthens support for a public, free event open to all citizens, which is shaping up to be an essential date for local culture and economy, while also promoting the consumption of oily fish in the Mediterranean diet.

Martínez Llabrés inaugurates the Fira de la Sardina

On Thursday 15 May, the mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez Llabrés, inaugurated the Fira de la Sardina de Palma, a pioneering event in the Balearics. “The fair is much more than a gastronomic event; it is a commitment to sustainability, the local economy and the defence of our traditions,” emphasised the first councillor of Cort, also recognising the essential role of this initiative in Palma’s cultural festival calendar. Martínez Llabrés wished to especially thank the work of the Fishermen’s Guild of Palma and its president, Domingo Bonnin, “for their perseverance, commitment and vocation, which have been fundamental for this fair to become a reality today.”