In the heart of the Picos de Europa, Arenas de Cabrales is not only a place to enjoy the mountains and nature. When its fiestas arrive, the streets fill with music, tradition and atmosphere, turning the village into a meeting point for locals and visitors alike.
The celebrations of San Juan and San Pedro, in June, are one of the highlights of the Arenas calendar. Processions, music, open-air dances, fireworks and the traditional ramo are all part of festivities deeply rooted in village life.
One of the most special moments is the Corri-Corri, the most distinctive traditional dance of Cabrales. With its traditional costumes, its tambourines and its unhurried movements, it is one of those traditions worth seeing live, and part of the cultural heritage of Arenas. It is performed both during San Juan and at the Cabrales Cheese Contest.
And if there is one date that turns Arenas into a genuine celebration, it is the last Sunday in August, when the famous Certamen del Queso de Cabrales takes place, declared a Festival of Tourist Interest. Folk music and dance, Asturian produce, tastings, traditional games and, of course, plenty of Cabrales cheese fill the streets during a day that draws thousands of visitors every year.
In 2026 the Certamen falls on 30 August, a perfect chance to discover the cheese-making tradition of Cabrales up close and enjoy the festive atmosphere of Arenas.
From El Ardinal, Arenas de Cabrales is just a few minutes away, so you can combine a mountain getaway with the experience of living its fiestas, tasting the local food and getting to know some of the traditions that make Cabrales such a special place.
Because in Arenas you don't only come to enjoy the Picos de Europa. You also come to experience Asturias.
