La Palma’s Annual Craft Fair

Traditional embroidery

Every year on La Palma they hold a craft fair. This year it’s in Barlovento, in the large building on the main street with all the flags outside.

Jewellery made from dragon tree seeds

There are over 80 stands, displaying a huge variety of products. Lots of traditional embroidery and baskets, of course, but also things I’d never seen before, like tied-dyed baby-clothes and ceramic-and-feather dragons.

Handmade glass beads

Several stalls have people working on their crafts, so you can see glass beads being made, or rye straw twisted into baskets.

Woven palm leaves

In some cases, it’s fun to try to work out what traditional tools are for. The giant tongs are for picking prickly pears (they don’t call them “prickly” for nothing). The wooden or metal tubes with air -holes at the end are for carrying a ferret so that you’re both comfortable.

Handmade paper

At the entrance level, there are lots of stalls selling food and drink: biscuits, doughnuts, cheese, jam, wine and rum. Several offer free samples – decide who’s driving before you sample the rum!

Sheet metalwork

The fair is open from 5 pm to 8 pm, Monday – Friday, and 11 am – 9pm Saturday and Sunday. Entrance is free.

Handmade tiles

Posted by sheila

Sheila came to La Palma with a six month contract and has stayed 24 years so far. She used to work as a software engineer at the observatory, but now she's a writer and Starlight guide.