Asturcón Festival in the Sierra del Sueve

Celebration date

The party takes place in the second half of August. It is a full day that begins in the morning and continues during the afternoon. The specific date must be confirmed in the official agenda before going up to the mountains.

It is not a typical public holiday: its relevance derives from the livestock and cultural celebration and its tourist recognition.

Majada de Espineres, scene of the festival

The appointment takes place in the Majada de Espineres, in the Sierra del Sueve, within the council of Piloña. It is a mountain camp, not an urban enclosure. Final access and parking depend on the rules published by the organisation; It is advisable to provide suitable footwear, water, protection from the sun and clothing for changes in weather.

Origin and recovery of the asturcón

The festival was born in 1980, when the breed was going through a critical situation, to make it known and support its conservation. The Conservation Association of Asturcones del Sueve (ACAS) promoted its recovery from a very small group of animals and continues to be linked to breeding and organizing the meeting.

The Asturcón is a small horse, resistant and adapted to the relief and climate of Sueve. The animals live a good part of the year in semi-freedom, so the festival allows you to observe the environment that has shaped the breed and the work of those who preserve it.

Main events and traditions

• Campaign mass in the sheepfold and opening of the day.
• Institutional interventions, proclamation and presentation of distinctions linked to race and the festival.
• Bagpipe bands, brass bands, tunes and regional dance.
• Country or brotherhood food in the mountains.
• Horse descent and presentation, equestrian demonstrations and dressage exhibitions.
• Marking of the foals born in the year, one of the central moments of the celebration.

The exact order, times and complementary activities may vary. Only the programme published for each edition allows us to know what events will be held that year.

Organisation and public

ACAS and the Sueve ranchers play a central role, with institutional support and local services. Breeders, management and dressage specialists, musicians, dance groups, authorities, families and the public interested in rural culture and the Asturcón horse participate. The livestock nature of the day requires keeping distance from the animals and following the organisation and civil protection instructions.

Festival of National Tourist Interest

The Asturcón Festival was declared of Tourist Interest in the Principality of Asturias in 1994 and obtained the title of Festival of National Tourist Interest in 2019. The recognition highlights both the uniqueness of the day and its contribution to disseminating a native breed and the cultural landscape of Sueve.

Sources

• Asturias Tourism: institutional file of the Asturcón Festival.
• Government of the Principality: official list of festivals of tourist interest.
• Colunga Tourism: Asturcón breed, conservation and relationship with the Sueve.