Olive Oil Festivals

After the hard work of olive picking and knowing that your supply of oil is safely collected for use during the following year it is time for celebration. There are many olive oil festivals around the world, some large, some much more intimate. If you are travelling in an olive producing region during the harvest time the chances are that you will find a festival to enjoy. These are some ideas to get you started:

Malta - Zejtun

• 24/25 September 2011

Zejtun is located in the south east of Malta high on a hill overlooking the sea.  The town name originates from the Phoenician word for the fruit of the olive tree.  The annual Olive Festival celebrates the beginning of the olive harvest and starts with a procession that includes farmers with carts of freshly picked olives escorted by drummers and flag bearers dressed in medieval costume.  There is also a blessinof the olives.  Expect to find olive trees and olive products for sale and the freshly pressed olive oil is available for tasting.  Why not watch this clip and then start arranging your visit!

Italy - Seravezza, near Lucca 

• 16/17 April 2011  

'Enolia' is an annual festival dedicated to olive oil first started in 2000. It is held in Seravezza, near Lucca each April. The event includes both the expected - tutored tastings and the unexpected - the chance to cycle through olive groves visiting both olive mills and sculptors studios. There are also concerts and street performances.

Map Showing Seravezza

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Spain - Baena, Andalucia

Spain is the world's major olive oil producer and this annual festival in Baena celebrates being one of two Denominación de Origen areas in Andalusia. Baena is is home to the Museo del Olivar y el Aceite a museum housed in an old olive mill where you can discover more about the olive in two floors of exhibitions.

 Map of Baena 

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New Zealand - Hawkes Bay

Billed as 'a celebration of all things olive' this year the annual New Zealand Olive Festival took place on 18 September 2010 at Seleni Estate in Hawkes Bay.  This one day event provided the chance to meet the producers and taste some extremely fine extra virgin olive oil. There were very popular cookery demonstrations and activities for all the family. Next year's event takes place on 24 September 2011.

New Zealand has a small but growing olive industry with producers clustered along the eastern coastline on both islands.

If you are organising an Olive Festival in 2011 and would like to have it included on this site please contact us at admin@olivepicking.com.