Next weekend (specifically, October 1–4), Moratalaz will host the inaugural La Castiza Food Fest, a food festival that aims to highlight the neighborhood’s identity through activities organized by local organizations and live music. It will be held at the Cuña Verde Fairgrounds, and admission will be free.
As for the food that will be available from the fair’s food trucks, the organizers describe it on their social media as “time-honored flavors, traditional recipes, and dishes with their own unique character.”
Based on this premise, the culinary offerings at the La Castiza fair include Palique’s minutejos , the famous tortillas from La Platera, Galician empanadas from Empanarte, torreznos from Soria, and marineras from Vinateros 28, as well as the bomba de cocido from Los Cuñados. Also featured are gildas from Aceitunas Hilario, croquettes from La Croquetoneta, and tripe stew from La Fábrica de Asturias, along with free tastings.
The festival will also feature the participation of numerous local groups and associations, such as the Somos Agua Association, ABS Baile y Salud, the Moratalaz Chess Club, Futbolchapas Madrid, and Mi Tesoro Juegos. Each of these groups will present different activities at La Castiza Food Fest: flamenco and bachata classes, face painting, brass bands, tournaments… Most of these activities are designed for the whole family to enjoy.
The program for the La Castiza Food Fest
The festival will begin on Thursday, October 1, and end on Sunday, October 4. On both Thursday and Friday, the venue will be open from 6:00 p.m. to midnight, while on Saturday and Sunday it will open a little earlier, at noon, and will also close at midnight.
In addition to enjoying the food and drinks offered at the fair (which, however, will require payment), visitors to La Castiza Food Fest will be able to participate in free wine, vermouth, and beer tastings, provided they register in advance on the festival’s website, as spaces are limited.
Other activities will have free admission until capacity is reached, namely Thursday’s table-top soccer tournament and Friday’s simultaneous chess match organized by the Moratalaz Chess Club. However, most activities (including dance classes and concerts) have no capacity limit and do not require prior registration.
During the first three days of the festival, concerts will be held on the Somos Agua Stage starting at 8:30 p.m. On Thursday, Medias Tintas will perform pop-rock; on Friday, Lagartijas Colorá will perform flamenco; and on Saturday, Resultones will perform a greatest hits set. Starting Sunday at 5:00 p.m., Moratalaz will bid farewell to the La Castiza festival with the brass band La Pícara.