Festivals in San Mateo de Logroño

The San Mateo festivities transform Logroño around wine, the grape harvest and coexistence in the street. Its traditional name coexists with the Riojan Harvest Festival and brings together institutional ceremonies, clubs, tastings, music, parades and activities for audiences of all ages.

Usual date and duration

The celebration is organised in the second half of September alrededor del 21 September, Saint Matthew's Day. The specific interval changes each year and must be confirmed in the municipal programme for each edition.

21 September is a festive and religious reference, but it does not in itself constitute a general public holiday throughout Spain. The local Logroño work calendar is approved for each year and must be consulted separately.

Venues

The centre of Logroño concentrates a good part of the activity. The Paseo del Espolón traditionally hosts the offering of the first must; The Town Hall Square, parks, streets and squares host concerts, performances and activities of the clubs. The exact routes and venues may vary between editions.

Also check out the festivals of Logroño.

Origin and history

Municipal documentation dates back to 1352 the history of the fairs linked to San Mateo. Ferdinand VII in 1818 and Isabel II in 1845 endorsed the celebration of those fairs, already located in the last part of September.

In the middle of the 20th century the festival adopted its current grape harvest character. The first Riojan Harvest Festival was held in 1957 and consolidated a ceremony in which wine and the representation of all of La Rioja occupied the centre of the celebration.

The treading of the grapes and the offering of the must

The most emblematic act is the treading of the grapes and the offering of the first must to the Virgin of Valvanera, patron saint of La Rioja. The grapes from different Rioja locations are placed in the vat and the grape harvesters of the festival tread them before offering the first jar of must.

The representative figure was born in 1957 as Queen of the Harvest. Since 1991 the festival has had Vendimiadora and Vendimiador, who participate in the main institutional events.

Acts and traditions

  • Rocket launch and festive proclamation.
  • Trampling of the grapes and offering of the first must to the Virgin of Valvanera.
  • Parade of floats and presence of groups, bands and clubs.
  • Degustaciones populares, chamizos y zurracapote.
  • Conciertos, verbenas, folclore riojano, fuegos artificiales y propuestas infantiles.

The programming changes every year. Partial events announced in advance do not replace the complete official programme.

Organisation and participation

The Logroño City Council coordinates the municipal programme with the collaboration of clubs, associations, cultural entities, social groups and participants from different parts of La Rioja. Neighbourhood, visitors, grape harvesters, musicians, artists and public services staff share a party that occupies numerous spaces in the city.

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