Great success for the 10th World Ham Festival “Popi” in Estepona (PHOTOS)
The event, held on the seafront promenade, is drawing thousands of visitors, a huge critical hit, with 65 exhibitors and free concerts.
The X World Ham Fair ‘Popi’ Estepona City kicked off this Friday on the seafront promenade with a large turnout. From this weekend until August 17, 65 exhibitors will offer the best of Iberian gastronomy, accompanied by a varied musical program featuring artists such as La Húngara, Joana Jiménez and Mojinos Escozíos.
The event organizer, José María Téllez ‘Popi’, emphasized that they expect an influx of more than half a million visitors, which highlights Estepona’s growing importance as a key culinary destination on the Costa del Sol.
The Festival not only promotes Iberian ham but also highlights professional ham cutters, an essential figure in Spanish culinary culture. In addition, the event has become another tourist attraction, with a wide variety of parallel activities such as free concerts every night, adding a touch of fun and culture to the event.
The mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, emphasized that this event has become established as one of the country's main culinary highlights, assuring that the City Council will continue to support initiatives that promote traditional products and local culture.
Critical Success and High Social-Media Score
The X World Jamón ‘Popi’ Contest has been a resounding success, not only in terms of attendance but also in the ratings and reviews it has received on platforms such as Google Maps. With an overall score of 4.5 out of 5, the event has been highly praised by visitors, who highlight the quality of the products and the festive atmosphere.
Several users have pointed out the excellent quality of the hams, cheeses and other products, as well as the lively atmosphere and the live performances. Below are some standout comments:
Encarnación O. L. (Local Guide) said: “Every year the best Spanish ham companies gather to offer tastings. The stalls are on the seafront promenade and are ideal for enjoying products from different parts of the country. Highly recommended, especially at night.”
Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5
Cristina B. (Local Guide) commented: “We come back every year to the ham fair. The atmosphere is great, the concerts on the beach are a fantastic addition, and the ham is exquisite. The only drawback is that it’s hard to find a place to sit because of the huge crowd, but otherwise it’s totally recommendable.”
Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5
Javier C. B. (Local Guide) noted: “If you want to eat Iberian ham at a more than competitive price, this is the place. The quality of the ham is excellent and the promenade atmosphere is perfect for enjoying the event. Although it’s hard to find somewhere to lean on while eating, it’s definitely worth it.”
Food: 5/5 | Service: 4/5 | Atmosphere: 4/5
Sharon C. (Local Guide) said: “Stalls on the seafront promenade, great atmosphere and live concerts. The food is delicious and everything is at popular prices. A fantastic experience.”
Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5
Despite the excellent reception, there were also some criticisms about the difficulty of finding tables or space to eat, especially because of the large influx of visitors, which has been mentioned in several reviews. Israel J. (Local Guide) commented: “The seating is somewhat limited and demand for space is high, but the quality of the products makes up for any inconvenience.”
Overall, the ratings show that the Contest remains a must-visit for anyone who enjoys Spanish gastronomy in Estepona, with a vibrant atmosphere and a level of organization highly appreciated by attendees.
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Musical programme
In addition to the gastronomic offerings, the event features a varied programme of free concerts for all tastes. On the first nights, attendees were able to enjoy artists such as Joana Jiménez with her moving copla performances. In the coming days, highlights include performances by Long Play (day 12), La Húngara (day 13) and Mojinos Escozíos (day 17), among others.
Hours and prices
The Festival is open from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., allowing visitors to enjoy the local cuisine at an affordable price of five euros per plate of ham, accompanied by wines with the Denomination of Origin of Málaga and Malaga beers. In addition, attendees can purchase products such as Iberian ham, cheeses, and artisan breads.
How to get there:
Estepona continues to establish itself as one of Andalusia’s most important culinary destinations, and the World Ham Fair ‘Popi’ has become one of the Costa del Sol’s standout summer events. Over the coming days, visitor numbers are expected to keep rising, cementing this year’s edition as a resounding success.