Ham festivals

There are professional trade fairs, gastronomic events, congresses and local festivals centred around Iberian ham in the areas all along Route that give ham a festive quality that attracts thousands of visitors.

Meat Industry Fair in Guijuelo

At the beginning of June the Meat Industry Fair is held in Guijuelo (Salamanca) with its 16th edition in 2014, a showcase for the leading brands in the sector where you can try their products; it is a meeting place for professionals and trade people, providing the fair with great commercial value. The festival dedicated to the Traditional Pig Slaughtering has been declared to be of Tourist Interest and it is held in Guijuelo on the last weekend of January and every weekend in February when visitors can try the produce.

Montánchez gastronomic festival

Every December there is a gastronomic festival in Montánchez (Cáceres), one of the cradles of Iberian ham, a Gastronomic festival when the local people take part in the pig slaughtering rite and also a chance to try the different pork products.

Iberian Ham Show in Jerez de los Caballeros

In May, one of the most prestigious events takes place in Jerez de los Caballeros (Badajoz) centred around ham and the route: the Iberian Ham Show, a monographic event that has quality ham playing the leading role with at least 150 stands. There are ham slicing competitions, gastronomic events and ham tasting.
Visitors can see and try the products offered on the numerous stands.

Day of Ham in Monesterio

In Monesterio (Badajoz), where there is also a Ham Museum, each September (the first week), a gastronomic day is organised which attracts over 10.000 people from all over Spain to visit the stands where they can try typical products like ham, pork loin, Iberian ham shoulder. Around this day there are ham sampling, competitions for the best ham slicer, cycling routes, technical workshops and other leisure activities.

Ham and Iberian Pig Regional Fair

During the third weekend in October each year, the Ham and Iberian Pig Regional Fair is held in Aracena (Huelva) it is a meeting place that serves as a forum for debate on Iberian pork products for the pig farming sector. There are varied activities: a competition for the best ham slicer, a raffle for "your weight in ham", you can try products from the pig slaughter, etc. An excellent opportunity to visit the Ham Museum.

Trade Fair of acorn-fed Iberian Ham in Los Pedroches

Another great fair centred around Iberian ham is held in the month of October in Villanueva de Córdoba, one of the towns that forms part of the Protected Designation of Origin area of Los Pedroches (Córdoba). It is the Trade Fair of acorn-fed Iberian ham in Los Pedroches. The fair includes a competition for the best ham slicer, approved by the Spanish Association of Ham Carvers and the Competition for the best acorn-fed Iberian ham from Los Pedroches.