Autumn Festivals in Mallorca: Sweets in Esporles, Botifarró in Sant Joan and Crafts in Alaró

Where the villages celebrate: A Saturday full of scents and crafts

I was briefly in Esporles in the morning, the air had that clear, cool October breeze (around 16–18°C) and on the main street the scent of honey mixed with the smell of fresh oil. Everywhere there were tables with small jars of jam, homemade ice cream in plain cups and plates still crumbling with buñuelos. This is what autumn in Mallorca feels like: down-to-earth, loud, delicious.

Esporles: Fira Dolça – Sweets on the Paseo

The Fira Dolça on the Paseo started around 10 a.m., families and locals wandered between the stalls. I listened to an old gentleman who, with a reserved smile, talked about the best sobrasada — while secretly nibbling on a piece of almond pastry. Honey from the Tramuntana, marmalades with bitter oranges and those fried buñuelos — a classic that always attracts the children. Small tip: try the stall at the front left; the woman there serves her own liqueur with the sweets.

Sant Joan: Sausage, tradition and loud discussions

In Sant Joan the atmosphere was a bit more rustic. Here the market is called Festa del Botifarró, and stalls with botifarró and other Mallorcan sausages fill the plaça. There is grilling, cooking and discussion — often about the right way to fry the sausage (charcoal proponents versus gas “modernists”). I saw neighbors who have been meeting for years and, despite debates, always stick together. For those who like to sample: the bites at the stall near the church are surprisingly well seasoned.

Alarò: Handicrafts meet a cozy village atmosphere

Alarò hosts the Feria Germial; small workshops display ceramics, textiles and jewelry. Unlike the loud food stalls in Esporles and Sant Joan, Alarò is quieter, almost contemplative — a perfect spot if you’re looking for gifts for the next celebration. I almost stumbled over a potter who was signing plates and casually shared an anecdote about the village wood ovens.

Such markets are more than stalls: they are voices, little quarrels about recipes, children running on the paving stones, and people taking a break. If you stroll through the villages today, bring cash, wear comfortable shoes and plan time to sit down. And yes: a piece of buñuelo never hurts on a cool October afternoon.