Origin

The Shellfish Festival was born in 1963, driven by the initiative of a group of locals – including fishermen – with the aim of exalting and promoting the local shellfish of The Grove. At that time, some of the estuary's emblematic shellfish (such as spider crab, prawns and spiny lobster) had little commercial outlet or presence in restaurants, so the festival was created to introduce them and showcase their value. The main objective was to promote that product from the estuary, which until then had had no profile beyond the local area. Thus, the first edition of this gastronomic festival was held on Sunday, 6 October 1963, in a modest morning event dedicated to tasting the estuary's seafood.

From its inception, the festival had a humble but very endearing character. Only a few pans of seafood were prepared at that debut in 1963, but enthusiasm was not in short supply. The people of Grove built simple wooden stalls from pine from the local woods to serve the produce, and threw themselves into promoting the event: in the early editions, it was common to see locals stationed at the entrance to the peninsula, handing out small dishes of prawns and spider crabs to visitors as a welcome gift. This gesture was intended to surprise outsiders with the quality of the local seafood and invite them to enjoy the festival. In those early years, the celebration was concentrated over a single weekend and had a family-friendly, almost impromptu atmosphere, but it laid the foundations for a tradition that would soon take firm root.

Over the years, the Seafood Festival grew in size, duration and impact. As its popularity increased, the Town Council decided to giv

Over the years, the Seafood Festival grew in size, duration and impact. As its popularity increased, the Town Council decided to give it an institutional boost to turn it into the major event it is today. During the 1970s, for example, a picturesque Shellfish Song Festival was added, inspired by music contests like San Remo or Benidorm, which gained some renown at the time. Fairground rides, folk groups and other leisure activities were also incorporated, enriching the programme. From being a two-day festival, it grew to last several more days and subsequently more than a week, with performances and entertainment for all audiences. In this process, the celebration's identity also became consolidated: the spider crab was adopted as the official graphic symbol – depicted holding a cup of wine in its claws – and the annual presentation of the Golden Crabs was established, an award recognising individuals and institutions distinguished by their connection to the town. (Interestingly, the spider crab is the great absentee from the festival's dishes, as it is out of season in October due to its breeding period and its capture is prohibited).

The crab was adopted as the official graphic symbol – depicted holding a wine cup in its claws – and the annual presentation of the

Since the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the Shellfish Festival has become more professional and gained national renown. The infrastructure was expanded (installing large marquees for mass tastings) and the cultural component was enhanced with mass concerts, cookery competitions, exhibitions and activities for children and adults. The evolution culminated in a significant official recognition: in 2013, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the event, the O Grove Seafood Festival was declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest. This title gave a boost to its profile outside Galicia. In recent years, the local council and the Galician community have been working to achieve the distinction of International Tourist Interest Festival, a category the festival is already aiming for given its growing renown beyond Spanish borders. In fact, following the success of the 60th edition in 2023, the council expressed its confidence in soon obtaining this international category. The Seafood Festival has thus consolidated its position as a key event in the Galician festival calendar, maintaining its original essence while adapting to new times and audiences.