Melon Festival in Vilafranca de Bonany: A Day of Sweetness, Sun, and Tradition

A Festival That Tastes of Summer

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Earlier this morning I wandered through the small center of Vilafranca de Bonany — and everywhere hung that sweet, slightly green scent that only ripe melons release. The streets are adorned, the small square in front of the town hall fills with market stalls around 10 o'clock, and the mood is relaxed, almost as if the village has decided to give everyday life a break.

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Market, Melon Weigh-Ins and Hands-On Activities

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At the melon market you'll find varieties I usually only know from grandmother: small honeydews, massive watermelons with dark rinds, and even a few organic-certified specimens. Around 12:30 the traditional melon weighing begins — the winner earns applause from the entire plaza. For families there are children's workshops, craft stalls, and a small stage with live music; occasionally a vendor loudly calls out prices, just as on authentic markets.

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If you're hungry from tasting, you can fill up at the local food stalls: pa amb oli with tomatoes, small plates with sobrasada, and of course melon desserts. Tip from me: bring cash—some stalls only take euros by hand.

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Why Vilafranca and these melons?

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Vilafranca de Bonany has been a center for honeydew and watermelon cultivation on Mallorca for decades. The soils here are special, the sun keeps helping, and the farmers know their fields like the back of their hand. The festival is therefore not just a fair, but a small day of agriculture: conversations with producers, information on cultivation and harvest, and a small exhibition about traditional varieties are part of it.

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If you plan to come: The main activities run during the day, usually until about 6 pm. Parking can be found on the outskirts, which makes a ten to fifteen minute relaxed walk. Bring a light jacket — in the evening a cool breeze sometimes sweeps through the streets.

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A Sense of Village Life

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What I particularly like: The festival feels genuine. No exaggerated commercial facade, but neighbors meeting, children running around the fountains, and farmers proudly showing off their heaviest fruits. For a Sunday outing, this is exactly the right thing — loud, friendly, a little chaotic, and very Mallorcan.

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For those who cannot be there today: It is worth keeping Vilafranca on your radar for one of the coming weekends. Such village festivals are often the best way to experience the island beyond beach promenades.