San Mateo festival in Oviedo
Music, parades and street food during Oviedo's big festival week.
The essentials
- The patron-saint festival of Oviedo: the official programme usually runs 15 to 21 September, according to asturias.com.
- 19 September is Asturias' America Day, with a parade and floats; it has been held since 1950 and is a Festival of National Tourist Interest.
- On 21 September people eat bollu preñau outdoors and the festival ends with fireworks.
What to do
- Free concertsJazz, flamenco, folk or Cuban music in Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza del Paraguas or Plaza de Feijoo.
- Street atmosphereOpen-air bars, terraces and street theatre in the old town: a festival to enjoy on foot.
- America Day in Asturias (19th)A morning parade of folk groups and bands, then an afternoon parade of floats with American countries. Vintage cars, the «haigas», are a classic.
- Picnic day (21st)Traditionally in parks and gardens, with bollu preñau (bread stuffed with chorizo) and paxarinos, little figures of flour and saffron, per asturias.com.
- FireworksThey close the festival and, according to asturias.com, have been held since 1920 at Parque de Invierno, with over 100,000 spectators a year.
Check the programme
The programme changes every year. Check it on the Oviedo tourism website and book accommodation early.
Take the chance to see Oviedo and its pre-Romanesque art and try the food. More dates in the festival calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When is the San Mateo festival?
The official programme usually runs 15 to 21 September; America Day in Asturias is on the 19th.
What do people eat on 21 September?
Traditionally bollu preñau and paxarinos at an outdoor picnic.