Gastrofest in Binissalem: "Ja Era Hora" fills the school park

Gastrofest in Binissalem: 'Ja Era Hora' instead of the Christmas market

A full day of food, dance and neighbourhood spirit

The parking lot of the Escola Graduada in Binissalem is not an ordinary parking lot today. Stalls line up side by side, children run around with freshly painted faces, and now and then you hear the rhythmic stomping of the Ball de Bot. Under the motto 'Ja Era Hora' the municipality has swapped the usual Christmas market routine for a gastrofest — and you can feel it in every corner.

In the afternoon the air fills with smells: grilled meat, homemade tapas and baked sweets. Vendors from the area have set up pots and pans, tasting plates are handed out, and on several corners there are stands with beers from the island. It is not a loud big event, but one of those where you arrive, meet someone, stop and order more than once.

Children return from face painting with colourful faces, older people lean on the barriers, praise the music selection and recall past festivals. Between the stalls you see small groups chatting: neighbours, tourists with a city map in hand and a few tables where young families share the warmth of blankets. The atmosphere is approachable, a bit rustic, and that's exactly the charm of the day.

Of course the programme also has traditional aspects. The Ball de Bot brings dance couples together who perform the steps in traditional dress. A festive parade winds through the square, joined by both young people and long-time locals. Then, as evening falls and the DJ set is started, the tempo changes: string lights stand out more, voices grow louder, and the music carries on until midnight.

What makes this format special for Mallorca is the mix of preserving tradition and trying new things. Local producers can show their goods directly without large distribution, and visitors get an immediate impression of what the island has to offer culinarily. Creating such encounters in the low season is not a luxury: it is a liveliness that holds villages together and makes small businesses visible.

For visitors a simple approach pays off: come with an empty bag, try small portions, ask who is behind the stall. Curiosity pays off — often it is the conversations with the producers that make a tasting memorable. If you prefer to relax, bring a blanket, find a warm spot on the pavement and watch the activity while the lights brighten around you.

In conclusion: events on the island do not always have to be pompous to have an impact. They are places for sharing and getting to know one another. The Gastrofest in Binissalem is exactly such a place today — simple, open and with a touch of Mallorcan warmth. So: if you have the chance, stop by, try a taste of the island and stay a little longer than planned.