The second edition of the Tardíu festival is set to commence on 16 October and run until 18 October in Plaza Alfonso XIII, Santander. The festival will showcase over 20 local producers and more than 50 varieties of cheeses and artisan beverages.
Tardíu will feature culinary demonstrations, workshops, and live music, aimed at promoting Cantabrian artisan products. The event is organised by Cantabria Quesera and Cantabria Brinda, with support from the Agro-Food Office of CEOE CEPYME Cantabria, the Santander City Council, and the Ministry of Rural Development, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food of the Government of Cantabria, alongside other local organisations.
The festival was presented today, highlighting its mission to connect producers with the public and celebrate the region's artisan products. Key figures at the presentation included Paloma Fernández, head of the Agro-Food Office of CEOE CEPYME Cantabria; Álvaro Lavín, councillor for Innovation, Commerce, Markets, and Institutional Relations of Santander; David Martínez, president of Cantabria Brinda; and Andrés Pérez, representative of Cantabria Quesera.
From Friday to Sunday, Plaza Alfonso XIII will transform into a vibrant showcase of Cantabrian produce, featuring a dedicated market space where attendees can meet producers, taste their products, and purchase items to take home. This year’s festival maintains its focus on promoting local artisan products and the individuals and businesses behind them.
Paloma Fernández emphasised that Tardíu exemplifies the work of the Agro-Food Office, which aims to coordinate and support the agro-food sector in turning ideas and needs into tangible projects. She also highlighted the importance of visibility for producers and the creation of new promotional and marketing opportunities.
Álvaro Lavín praised the collaboration between the Santander City Council, CEOE CEPYME Cantabria, and producer associations, noting the significance of events like Tardíu in fostering direct connections between producers and consumers.
The festival's heart will be its Producer Market, designed as a space for attendees to discover new products, sample them, and purchase them directly from producers. This year, the market will feature a dedicated area for Cantabrian cheese producers and a central space for beverages, with Patatas Vallucas joining as a special guest to further showcase the region's artisan offerings.
David Martínez highlighted the opportunity Tardíu presents for small businesses in the sector to showcase their products directly to consumers. Similarly, Andrés Pérez noted the diversity of cheeses available in the region and the chance for the public to taste and learn about them directly from the producers.
During the festival, producers will offer a special tasting selection featuring 11 cheese and 11 beverage options, each priced at €2.50. This selection is just a glimpse of the variety available, with many other products also on offer.
One of the highlights of this year's festival will be a live cooking demonstration by chef Diego García from Casa Cirana on Saturday, 17 October, from 17:30 to 19:00. The festival programme also includes interactive workshops, such as a cheese cutting and pairing session on Saturday at 13:15, and a workshop on gildas, a popular local snack, on Sunday at the same time.
Throughout the three days, the festival will be accompanied by live music and DJ sessions, reinforcing a format that combines market, tasting, gastronomy, and leisure, allowing visitors to engage with local products in various ways.
