White asparagus is very popular this time of year in Germany. Spargel Samstag, or Asparagus Saturday, occurs this weekend in Schwetzingen. (iStock)
For many tourists in Europe, the chance to indulge in local cuisine ranks highly as a deciding factor in their choice of destination. Should that area host an event centered around a local foodstuff, that’s all the more reason to plan a trip there sooner than later.
Asparagus in Germany: Schwetzingen, located close to both Mannheim and Heidelberg, is one of a handful of places where the highly-prized white asparagus is cultivated. Love for the country’s favorite seasonal veg will be on full display May 9, the date of this year’s edition of Spargel Samstag, or Asparagus Saturday. From 10 a.m., the pedestrian zone and castle square will be awash with market stalls, activity zones and stands selling dishes featuring asparagus, from stuffed crepes to paellas. Visitors keen to sample treats from Schwetzingen’s twin cities in Hungary, France and Italy can make way to the Kleine Planken. Competitions in asparagus throwing or peeling, or the chance to compete in a human foosball tournament, are open to all. By day, local schools, clubs, dancers and choirs take to the stage; as evening falls, an open-air, Ibiza themed party gets underway, followed by a cover band playing classic rock hits. Entry is free. Online: tinyurl.com/4w7hz9su
Fish festival in Italy: The lovely seaside town of Camogli, on the Ligurian coast just south of Genova, welcomes all comers to its annual Sagre del Pesce, always held on the second Sunday in May. By some accounts, the festival can trace its roots to the days of World War II, when local wives reunited with their husbands gave thanks to the local patron saint, St. Fortunato, for having protected their spouses.
Prior to the big event, two towering, thematic sculptures begin to take shape on the beach. Old furniture and disused objects often find their ways into these massive pyres. Two neighborhoods, the Porto and Pinetto districts, will compete to see who can build the better blaze. On the eve of the feast, a statue of St. Fortunato is paraded through the streets by members of a religious brotherhood, and fireworks light up the skies before the bonfires are finally set alight.
The following day, a massive, custom-built frypan is filled with sardines, anchovies and other local catches, its contents steadily replenished and fried to tasty perfection. From 10 a.m., some 30,000 portions of the dish will be handed out, free and on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The 2026 edition of the sagra is slated for May 8. As traffic along this stretch of coast is described as nightmarish, public transportation might prove the better option. Foodies in town should be sure to sample the area’s specialty, Focaccia di Recco, crisper and thinner than traditional focaccia and stuffed with a mouthwatering, gooey cheese. Online: lamialiguria.it/eventi/sagra-del-pesce
Snail Festival in Spain: Each year in spring, the inland Catalonian city of Lleida some 100 miles west of Barcelona hosts “L’Aplec del Caragol,” a culinary event based around the consumption of snails, long a standard ingredient in local cuisine. In a typical year, some 200,000 people come together to sample up to 13 tons of snails, traditionally roasted in shallow metal trays over hot coals, seasoned with olive oil, salt, pepper and herbs and served with a garlicky aioli or vinaigrette sauce. The snails and other dishes are cooked up by local clubs known as collas and consumed while seated at long tables conducive to comingling with old friends and new acquaintances.
This year’s festival runs May 22-24 at its usual venue, the Champs Elysées, on the banks of the Segre River. In addition to snacking on tasty gastropods, guests can enjoy live music, including the sounds of the Cuban dance music known as charanga, along with various light-hearted competitions and shows, including the human pyramid-building acrobatics of the castells. Entry is free. Online: aplec.org
Cheese rolling festival in England: High on a hill near the village of Brockworth, just outside Gloucester, the annual Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling event centers not around the consumption of a locally produced cheese but the pursuit of it. What might sound at first like a harmless endeavor is actually rather dangerous, with so many injuries ensuing each year that the event’s status remains unofficial.
The competition involves chasing a seven-pound wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down the 590-foot-high Coopers Hill, the steepest slope in all Gloucestershire County. Loose branches, stones and the occasional stinging nettle lend additional bother to the already formidable task of laying hands on a cheese wheel rolling at a speed of 70 mph. The first participant to either catch the cheese wheel or cross the finish line at the bottom of the hill is crowned the winner. In addition to the glory, the victor gets to keep all the cheese.
This year’s event is set for May 25, a local public holiday that happens to coincide with US Memorial Day. The races typically begin at noon with the first men’s competition and then take place every 15 minutes across various categories based on age and sex. Participants in the downhill races must be age 18 or over. The races are free to enter and no registration is required. All competitors are warned that they participate at their own risk. Insofar as the event is not a festival in the traditional sense, side activities are limited, although the chances of finding a stall or two selling the cheese in question are quite good, and first-time visitors will no doubt be charmed by the villages and natural beauty of the Cotswolds. Online: tinyurl.com/4pyyf7ms
