Palma Son Ferriol Agricultural Fair 2016

There were plenty of things to see at the Son Ferriol Agricultural Fair, from agricultural machinery, vintage cars and animals to arts and crafts, live music and more food than you could possibly ever imagine (absolutely compulsory at any Spanish occasion).

Let’s talk agriculture! World famous farming brands like John Deere, New Holland and Claas all made an appearance in the form of new and used tractors, ploughs, drills and combine harvesters. Farmers (Granjeros in Spanish) are able to buy this agricultural machinery as well as products like seats for tractors and other farming related products. Not a farmer? Perhaps a sit on lawn mower or hand held plough for your vegetable patch might tempt you?

The arts and crafts part of the fair was just as (if not more) impressive. It featured many typical Mallorcan products such as pottery and ceramics, hand-carved wooden kitchen utensils, handmade jewellery, leather goods and textiles such as tablecloths, towels, cushions, hats and espadrilles. Personally, I have a weakness for shabby chic home décor, so was particularly drawn to these stalls, where beautiful duck egg blue vintage clocks, quirky candleholders and beautiful boxes were all on offer at reasonable prices.

Now for the food; so as a tourist you would find the typical Mallorcan food stalls particularly attractive. The assortment of Spanish cheeses, cured meats and olives would be my top picks. I purchased a famous Mallorcan Sobrasada (15€ per kilo) and it was extremely tasty! Some well-presented Pinchos (from 1.50€) caught my eye and you could pick up freshly baked Empanadas (1.75€) from various stalls

For those with a sweet tooth, there were homemade cakes and naughty pastries at various food stalls ready for the picking. Freshly baked large Ensaimadas (8€), Palmeras Chocolate (1.30€), chocolate cake (from 1€) and much more. The usual fast food was of course available for those who fancied something hot, you could choose from burgers (from 3€), Churros (4€), hot dogs (3€), crepes (from 3€) and soft drinks (1.50€).

The fresh fruit juices (3.50€) and the alcoholic cocktails prepared with real fruit were a favourite later in the afternoon! I chose a scrumptious looking Mango Mojito (5€) from a lively looking stand called Toy Mojito. The Mojito made with fresh mango, was like a fruit explosion in my mouth. Having watched the cocktail mixologist create this fabulous concoction with a blender, I would love to try and make it at home, although I doubt it would taste the same!

Exhausted after enjoying the various attractions this fair had to offer, it was great to grab some of the delicious food and join the crowds who gathered in the main square. Here you could sit and watch fantastic performances by the Escuela de Música Soldofá throughout the day. For those visiting with children, there were plenty of activities to keep the little cherubs entertained for the day, from sitting on the different tractors to looking at some rather large real life falcons and other such magnificent birds. Face painting and a small fairground with the typical game stalls were all on offer too.

This is a fantastic day out for all the family. You could quite literally spend the whole day walking around and absorbing it all. I will definitely be returning next year!

Opening Times: This event takes place annually at the end of March. Saturday evening and Sunday all day. Locals recommend the Sunday as it is the biggest day for the fair.

Entry: Free entry for adults and children.

Transport: I would suggest going by car if this is an option, free parking is available within the town but can be a struggle as it’s mostly residential, so I would recommend arriving before lunchtime. Alternatively, bus number: 400 (towards Maria) can be taken from Palma’s Plaça d'Espanya and takes just 10 minutes. The stop is called ‘Son Ferriol Ctra Sineu’