Just down the road from Albox, Serón is setting up the tents, preparing the stage and sharpening the knives, ready to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Serón Ham and Sausage Fair.

For thirty years, on the first weekend of July, people have gathered in Serón to sample its most important exports: ham, sausage and cured meats. Each year the festival has grown, from hundreds of attendees to thousands filling the streets for a weekend of delicious food, great music and even better company.

Serón Ham and Sausage Fair celebrates 30th anniversary edition

This year, on July 3 and 4, the festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary, a milestone Serón’s Mayor, Manuel Martinez described as a “special and significant” moment for the town. As such, organisers have some big surprises up their sleeves for what is sure to be the biggest edition yet.

Beyond potential surprises, Serón’s Ham and Sausage festival is defined by three exciting activities.

Spain’s finest ham carvers compete

Firstly, on Friday, ham carvers from across Spain will demonstrate their precision and skill in a traditional ham carving competition. Serón’s ham carving competition serves as a qualifying round in the national contest, meaning this isn’t just gastronomic exhibition, it’s a high-stakes battle as carvers compete to secure their spot.

With technique, speed and presentation all under scrutiny, the event promises plenty of drama as each participant aims to impress both judges and spectators alike.

Taste local produce at the Serón Food Festival

The party really gets going on Saturday. Spend the evening perusing stalls and sampling a wide selection of produce, everything from cured meats to artisanal honey and local wines. Serón’s cured meat is some of the best in the world. This annual festival serves not only to promote the product, but to share its prestige with the whole town.

Hundreds of kilos of ham will be served throughout the weekend, but organisers have done their best to keep prices affordable, set to cover costs rather than maximise profits.

Live music and entertainment at Serón Rock Festival

Finally, with a full stomach and high spirits, attendees will “go ham” at the mythic Rock Festival. Vintash, a new concept orchestra, returns as the leading act to keep the celebration going long into the night.

It is the perfect finale to a weekend that celebrates Serón’s culinary heritage, community spirit and lively atmosphere.

La Organización Meteorológica Mundial (OMM) ha señalado este miércoles que los pronósticos apuntan a que el evento de calor por encima de lo normal que está afectando a gran parte de la Europa occidental continuará durante dos semanas. A través de una nota, la OMM ha advertido de que el continente se está enfrentando a “una ola de calor sin precedentes a finales de junio” que está afectando “a millones de personas en Europa, con repercusiones en las actividades económicas, las infraestructuras, la agricultura y los ecosistemas”.

Seguir leyendo

A rare and heart-warming event took place on Mojácar’s Rio Abajo Beach this Monday, June 15, when 27 loggerhead turtle hatchlings made the journey across the sand dunes towards the ocean, returning home for the first time.

The hatchlings were first found on Piedra Villazar beach in June 2025 as part of a nest of 99. Due to a high risk of flooding, the nest was moved and monitored until eventually the hatchlings emerged in August.

A year of intensive care and monitoring

For their first few months of life, the hatchlings were constantly monitored ensuring they were healthy and developing correctly. The young turtles were transferred to the Andalusian Marine Environment Management Centre (CEGMA), where specialists carried out weekly weight checks, veterinary examinations and monthly growth assessments.

Experts from the Roquetas de Mar Aquarium and Selwo Marina were involved in their care, proving conservation is a collaborative effort. Some turtles were even temporarily housed at these facilities to ensure their healthy development.

Although the project achieved significant success, it was not without challenges. Four hatchlings died shortly after emerging, and a further 25 were lost following an infectious outbreak in January 2026. Rapid veterinary intervention and strict health measures helped contain the outbreak and protect the remaining turtles.

Successful release marks conservation milestone for Almería

Once the hatchlings reached 1.2 kilos, they were deemed fit to return to the sea. Monday’s release is only the fifth nesting event to take place along the Almeria coast in the last 25 years, following previous nesting events recorded in Vera, Pulpí and Mojácar itself.

The release attracted a large crowd, including local schoolchildren, conservation groups, environmental officials and residents, all eager to witness this important moment. The event highlighted the growing success of marine conservation efforts in Andalucía and the importance of public awareness in protecting vulnerable species.

Loggerhead turtles return home to the ocean

Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) are known for their remarkable migrations, travelling thousands of kilometres during their lifetime before returning to nesting beaches as adults.

When they next return, these hatchlings will be fully grown and likely come ashore to lay their own eggs, continuing the cycle of life.  For those gathered on Rio Abajo Beach, the sight of 27 young turtles disappearing into the waves was a powerful reminder that coordinated conservation efforts can make a real difference for one of the Mediterranean’s most threatened marine species.