The island of Ibiza will be hosting one of October’s main gastronomic events when it celebrates the Red Mullet Festival and the Autumn Fish Fair organised by the Consell d’Eivissa, Ibiza Town Council, the Ibiza Fishereman’s Guild and Ibiza and Formentera Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (PIMEEF) and the Port Authority. It will take place on 5 October in the Plaça des Martell at the Port of Ibiza.
This is the second time the festival will be held, and it will begin with the arrival of the fish at 11.30 am followed by “brulada de corn”, a ceremony in which the members of the Colla de Vila group will blow a large conch shell to signal that this delicate colourful fish has safely arrived in port. This traditional event will be followed by a procession of the Colla “balladors” or dancers, ending in the Plaça des Martell and finishing with a display of the traditional dance known as the “ball pagès” and where there will also be some environmental workshops for children.
For the second year running, a number of local restaurants will prepare special recipes featuring the fish, served in both traditional and creative ways, which visitors can taste for two euros. While these tapas featuring red mullet and other types of seasonal fish are enjoyed by the festival goers, local bands such as The Gecko Bandits, Jordi Sanou DJ and Pin Up Sound will entertain the crowd with their music.
The best way of attending the event would be to leave your car in the area of Talamanca or the Paseo Marítimo sea front zone, and to take the free ferry boat provided that crosses the bay and takes you to the Port of Ibiza.
Another possibility is to take advantage of an hour of free parking organised by Ibiza Town Council at the Es Pratet car park or in the areas provided as a deterrent to difficult parking in Es Gorg or Multicines Eivissa.