Rincon de la Victoria hands out 1,100kg of free fried anchovies at six-day fiesta

Rincon de la Victoria is firing up its Fiesta del Boqueron Victoriano from Tuesday, September 8, to Sunday, 13. Council tourism staff have packed the week with live cook-offs, free fried and vinegar-cured boquerones (unsalted anchovies), workshops and the popular pickled-anchovy contest.

Sabor a Malaga’s travelling foodie fair pitches up in Plaza Al-Andalus from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 with 32 producers from across the province.

57 restaurants get cooking

Fifty-seven eateries now belong to the Boqueron Victoriano restaurant network, 15 more than last year. Twenty are in Rincon and its neighbouring barrios; the rest stretch to Malaga city, Madrid, Estepona, Velez-Malaga and a first-time spot in Almeria. Dishes range from a couple of euros for a simple tapa to more ambitious dishes, all built around the small, punchy Alboran Sea anchovy.

The network stays live from September 5

Free portions go out in 67 local bars and restaurants plus a charity tent at the fair. Staff bought more than 1,100 kilos from town fishmongers. Look for the official sticker on the door; servings run 1pm to 2.30pm and 8.30pm to 10pm until stocks vanish.

Fair, fishing demo and live kitchens

Plaza Al-Andalus fills with oils, cheeses, wines, honey and other delicious provincial produce. Music, puppet theatre and a Saturday-morning recreation of the old copo net haul (traditional fishing techniques (don’t worry – they throw the fish back)) keep the seafaring side alive, followed by a fishermen’s breakfast at the rowing club.

Live cook-offs open Tuesday night at La Calma Playa with Channel Sur presenter Enrique Sanchez. Later sessions bring local and visiting chefs working the fish in front of the crowd; some need a free reservation via the tourist office.

Rincon’s event is still the only six-day food fiesta in Malaga province and carries official provincial tourist-interest status. Full timetable, restaurant list and booking details sit on the site turismoenrincon.es/fiesta-del-boqueron-victoriano.