By midday this Saturday, Ribeiras do Lea will be crowded with visitors holding plates of broken eggs and chorizo, free to anyone who shows up. The IV Festa dos Ovos Rotos con Chourizo e Feira de Artesanía plans to serve between 800 and 900 free tapas, using over 2,500 eggs in a single day. For a rural parish in Castro de Rei, those numbers show how a local tradition has grown into a regional draw for food lovers and families.
The basic event starts at 13:00, when two egg-and-chorizo recipes are cooked live and served to the crowd. All ingredients come from local producers, while Agacal’s support keeps the focus on regional food and authenticity. La Voz de Galicia included the festival in its official September events guide as one of the most impressive happenings in Lugo province.
There’s more than food on offer. The day begins at 11:00 with a Vespa ride through the village, followed by a parade and live craft demonstrations. Blacksmithing and woodturning feature alongside clog-making and basketry, with a busy artisan market nearby. By noon, classic Vespas are on display, while musicians and street performers keep the crowd lively. The official opening is at 12:30, but the real action starts when the smell of frying eggs and chorizo fills the air.
Anyone hoping to join the Gran Xantar Popular, the communal lunch at 14:45, needed to plan ahead. Tickets, priced at 23 euros for adults and 15 euros for children aged 3 to 15, sold out before the September 9 deadline. The menu is straightforward Galician: meat empanada, huevos rotos with chorizo, potatoes, pancetta, peppers, dessert and coffee. No tickets are sold at the door. That has disappointed some latecomers, but it helps organizers keep things manageable.
El Progreso reported that the local residents' association organizes the festival. Its president, Óscar Díaz, emphasized the goal of highlighting rural life and the dish’s tradition, promoting local identity through gastronomy and crafts. The event also receives support from the Xunta de Galicia and Agacal. All communal lunch tickets were sold in advance, with none available on the day.
The afternoon continues with a vermouth session at 13:30. Dúo Belinda and Os Támega perform, and traditional games are open to all ages. The day ends at 20:00 with prizes and a final round of music, packing more into one Saturday than many towns see in a month.
The Asociación de Vecinos de Ribeiras do Lea runs the festival, with support from the Concello de Castro de Rei, Xunta de Galicia and Agacal. Last year, about 800 plates were served. This year, organizers hope the bigger program and greater amount of food will make the event a regular highlight on Lugo’s calendar.
Tradition remains basic to the festival, alongside its scale: local produce, hands-on crafts and a strong sense of community. As crowds grow and the number of eggs rises, organizers are working to keep the event authentic while meeting demand.
