| Date: 2025/01/28 | File Size: 189.07 MB |
| Duration: 00:01:18 | Frame Size: 3840 x 2160 |
On January 26, 2025, the town of Valls became the vibrant heart of Catalonia, hosting the 43rd edition of the Gran Festa de la Calçotada. The event welcomed more than 30,000 visitors who gathered to celebrate a day rich in tradition, local cuisine, and cultural heritage. Highlights of the festivities included live demonstrations of calçot grilling, exciting eating contests, and competitions for growers. The celebration also marked the launch of Catalonia's recognition as a World Region of Gastronomy, further elevating the region’s culinary prestige. This year, the Valls Chamber of Commerce and the IGP Calçot de Valls, celebrating its 30th anniversary, unveiled plans to promote the calçot tradition internationally. Upcoming initiatives include simultaneous calçotadas in ten European countries, a dedicated forum, and a culinary symposium. With the sector anticipating a strong harvest of over 18 million calçots, organizers are optimistic about a season full of promise. Among the festival's standout moments, Adrià Wegrzyn dominated the Valls Calçot Eating Contest once again, securing his 13th victory by consuming 195 calçots weighing a total of 3,275 grams. Wegrzyn, who set a record in 2018 by eating nearly 6 kilograms of calçots, reflected on the challenges of the competition: "The first twenty minutes are great, but after that, it gets tougher." Surrounded by family and friends, he celebrated his achievement with a barbecue, reinforcing a beloved tradition that continues to showcase the cultural and gastronomic richness of the region.