The Cinco Villas District has once again organized this event, which has been held since 2011 and is funded by the entity’s Department of Culture and Tourism. This year’s participating municipalities are Navardún (October 24), Urriés (October 31), Fuencalderas and Isuerre (November 1), Longás (November 14), Lobera de Onsella (November 21), Uncastillo and Castiliscar (November 22), and Lacorvilla (December 6), which is joining the program for the first time. Biel and El Frago will also take part, with their activities to be announced later.
The activities organized in each municipality do not require prior registration, except when the organizing municipality requires it or a reservation is necessary, as is the case with the community meals planned in several villages.
NAVARDÚN AND URRIÉS OPEN THE MYCOLOGY DAYS
The event will begin in Navardún on October 24 with a mountain outing at 9:00 a.m., accompanied by a mycologist from the Ultzama Mycological Park. At noon, there will be a cooking workshop and tasting featuring roasted organic lamb from the Val de Onsella (Gordún), along with a talk on organic lamb farming, its diet and the benefits of this type of meat. Half an hour later, at 12:30 p.m., mycologists from Ultzama will hold an exhibition and classification of the mushrooms collected. At 2:30 p.m., a community meal featuring mushrooms as the main ingredient will be held; reservations are required by calling 615 020 087. The day will end at 7:00 p.m. with a free concert by ‘Igualmente’, featuring Mosicaires and Inma Carne.
Urriés will take over on October 31 with a mountain outing at 9:30 a.m. starting from Plaza Nueva. Participants will return at noon to sort the specimens collected and award a prize for the largest edible mushroom found during the excursion that is in good condition. Between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m., chef Luis Berzosa will lead a cooking workshop at Sala el Calabozo. A community meal will be held at 3:00 p.m., with mandatory registration via WhatsApp at 639 777 784. The program will continue at 6:00 p.m. with a magic and comedy show by Juan Capilla, included in the ‘Al Abrigo en Cinco Villas’ program, funded by the Cinco Villas district authority. At 7:30 p.m., a DJ will provide the music for an afternoon party.
Isuerre and Fuencalderas will hold their activities on November 1. In Isuerre, chef Luis Berzosa will offer a workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Mycological Museum on how to prepare dishes with mushrooms. In Fuencalderas, the day will begin at 9:30 a.m. with an introduction to the activities and a talk on good practices. At 10:00 a.m., there will be a free mountain outing to search for mushrooms, and between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m., the specimens collected will be classified. A mushroom-themed vermouth at 1:30 p.m. will bring the program to a close.
LONGÁS AND LOBERA DE ONSELLA CONTINUE THE NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES
Longás will hold its event on November 14 with a mountain outing at 10:00 a.m., accompanied by mycologist Patxi Pérez Zugasti. After returning, participants will be able to learn about the species collected through a classification and exhibition in the square. At 4:30 p.m., the audiovisual presentation ‘The Mushrooms of Cinco Villas’ will be shown in the town hall’s plenary room. The program will end at 7:30 p.m. with the tasting ‘Fungi kingdom (yeast vs. molds),’ which will cost 10 euros per person and have limited capacity. Registration will be required between November 4 and 11 via email at asociacionculturalchinela@gmail.com.
Lobera de Onsella will host the event on November 21. Participants will be welcomed at 9:30 a.m. in the square, and at 10:30 a.m. a mountain outing to search for mushrooms will begin. In the afternoon, at 6:00 p.m., the 4th Mushroom Cooking Course will be held. The day will end at 8:00 p.m. with a tasting of migas with mushrooms.
Castiliscar will hold its event on November 22, with a mountain outing accompanied by a mycologist beginning at 9:00 a.m. The meeting point will be the porch of the Centro de Convivencia Bar. At 11:30 a.m., participants will return to the Centro de Convivencia hall, where the specialist will explain the characteristics of the mushrooms collected. At 1:00 p.m., there will be a tasting workshop featuring migas with mushrooms, prepared by a local resident who specializes in the dish. In addition, both the vermouth and the menu at the Convivencia Bar-Restaurant will include mushroom dishes. Dining reservations can be made by calling 674 075 353.
Uncastillo will also dedicate November 22 to mycology. Activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the presentation of the event and breakfast on the sports center grounds. At 10:00 a.m., Escuela Verde will give a talk on good practices and organize a free mountain outing to collect mushrooms. Between 12:30 and 2:00 p.m., Escuela Verde will classify the specimens collected at the Day Center. In the afternoon, from 4:00 to 5:15 p.m., there will be an introductory talk on mycology, including recipes and methods for preserving mushrooms. The program will conclude between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. with a children’s mushroom-themed crafts workshop, also at the Day Center and led by Escuela Verde.
The Cinco Villas Mycology Days are an initiative promoted by the Cinco Villas District since 2011 and are supported by the participating town councils, which are responsible for designing and managing the activities in each municipality. In 2017, the Government of Aragon selected the Cinco Villas Mycology Days as one of the 25 best tourism experiences at the Tourism Experience Awards gala.
