A unique event, with over 200,000 visitors every yearmés

The event now known as the Fira d’Espàrrecs was first held on 22nd May 1932, and began as an asparagus growing competition at which local farmers could exhibit a product that was only produced in the fields near Les Sorres de Gavà.

The fair is organised by the IMPAC (Institut Municipal per a la Promoció i Activació de la Ciutat - Municipal Institute for the Promotion and Mobilisation of the Town) with the collaboration of the Cooperativa Agropecuària de Gavà (Gavà Farmer’s Cooperative), responsible for the agricultural side of the Fira.

The fair, which in 2003 held its 50th edition, is an agricultural, commercial, industrial and gastronomic show, with over 200,000 visitors from Gavà and Barcelona every year.

The 1930’s were the golden age for the cultivation of white asparagus, with over 6,000 tonnes produced annually.
From 1932 to 1936, the Asparagus Competition was held each year. The Spanish Civil War and the post-war period prevented this initiative of the Gavà farmers from continuing.

It was next held again in 1943, with two further interruptions; it was not held again until 1948 and then again 12 years later. In 1961, the tradition was once again restored, and has continued ever since.
Throughout this period, the Fira has been held in a number of different places: the Casino, Torre Lluch, the Jacme March pavilion, the Can Tintorer sports hall and, since 1995, Plaça Francesc Masià.

Every year in the fair ground in the Plaça, three interconnected, pressure controlled marquees, unique in Spain, are set up; one is 1,500 m2, in which commercial exhibitors are based, the second is 1,300 m2 and houses the agricultural show, and the third, 200 m2, is the headquarters for live broadcast by Gavà TV and Ràdio Sellarès during the fair. The cookery show, which is held every year in Plaça Jaume Balmes, is organised by the Agrupació de Restauradors de Gavà (Gavà restaurant-owners association).

The social and economic transformation of Gavà is reflected in the fair. While maintaining its agricultural tradition, such as the much-appreciated decorative agricultural product baskets and batches of asparagus, further aspects have been incorporated, such as the industrial, commercial and culinary events. Furthermore, during the fair (always on the first weekend in May), numerous other leisure and cultural activities are held.

Nowadays the fair is an excellent shop-window for a wide range of industries, which, every year, come to exhibit their products, not just from Gavà, but also from surrounding area and Catalonia as a whole.