A slice of Serón: celebrating 30 years of ham, heritage and community

Just down the road from Albox, Serón is setting up the tents, preparing the stage and sharpening the knives, ready to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Serón Ham and Sausage Fair.

For thirty years, on the first weekend of July, people have gathered in Serón to sample its most important exports: ham, sausage and cured meats. Each year the festival has grown, from hundreds of attendees to thousands filling the streets for a weekend of delicious food, great music and even better company.

Serón Ham and Sausage Fair celebrates 30th anniversary edition

This year, on July 3 and 4, the festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary, a milestone Serón’s Mayor, Manuel Martinez described as a “special and significant” moment for the town. As such, organisers have some big surprises up their sleeves for what is sure to be the biggest edition yet.

Beyond potential surprises, Serón’s Ham and Sausage festival is defined by three exciting activities.

Spain’s finest ham carvers compete

Firstly, on Friday, ham carvers from across Spain will demonstrate their precision and skill in a traditional ham carving competition. Serón’s ham carving competition serves as a qualifying round in the national contest, meaning this isn’t just gastronomic exhibition, it’s a high-stakes battle as carvers compete to secure their spot.

With technique, speed and presentation all under scrutiny, the event promises plenty of drama as each participant aims to impress both judges and spectators alike.

Taste local produce at the Serón Food Festival

The party really gets going on Saturday. Spend the evening perusing stalls and sampling a wide selection of produce, everything from cured meats to artisanal honey and local wines. Serón’s cured meat is some of the best in the world. This annual festival serves not only to promote the product, but to share its prestige with the whole town.

Hundreds of kilos of ham will be served throughout the weekend, but organisers have done their best to keep prices affordable, set to cover costs rather than maximise profits.

Live music and entertainment at Serón Rock Festival

Finally, with a full stomach and high spirits, attendees will “go ham” at the mythic Rock Festival. Vintash, a new concept orchestra, returns as the leading act to keep the celebration going long into the night.

It is the perfect finale to a weekend that celebrates Serón’s culinary heritage, community spirit and lively atmosphere.