Although the Vegetable Festival is best known for taking place in spring, the Winter Vegetable Festival emerged as a complementary initiative to highlight winter vegetables and demonstrate that Tudela’s agricultural sector remains active during the colder months. This initiative is part of a strategy to promote the city as a year-round gastronomic and tourist destination, reinforcing its agricultural identity and its historical connection to the Ebro River valley.
The Inverdura Festival is traditionally held from late November to February, coinciding with the peak winter vegetable season. While the dates are not fixed each year, the festival always spans several months, offering a wide and varied program of activities, allowing visitors and locals to enjoy the event at different times.
Inverdura Days 2026
For complete information on the latest edition, you can access the official program directly:
Inverdura Program 2025-2026 (PDF)
The winter vegetable garden and its star products
Tudela and its surrounding area boast a renowned vegetable garden in Spain, where produce is grown using traditional and environmentally friendly techniques. Among the most outstanding winter products are:
- Borage: an emblematic vegetable of Tudela, highly valued for its flavor and nutritional properties.
- Cardoon: one of the classic ingredients in winter cuisine.
- Artichoke and chicory: vegetables that add color, flavor and versatility to seasonal menus.
- Chard, celery and endive: complement the dishes in tapas and signature menus.
These products are not only the foundation of the local gastronomy, but also the common thread of workshops, tastings and cultural activities, creating a direct link between the visitor and the land.
Gastronomy: bars and restaurants as protagonists
During the Inverdura Festival, several bars in Tudela offer tapas featuring vegetables, combining creativity and tradition in small tastings that can be enjoyed in the city center. At the same time, restaurants create special menus made with winter vegetables as the main ingredient, allowing diners to discover new ways of preparing local, seasonal produce.
This combination of tapas and special menus makes Tudela a gastronomic landmark in winter, where the local produce is enjoyed in all its forms: from informal snacks to haute cuisine dishes.
Cultural and educational activities
In addition to the gastronomic aspect, Inverdura includes activities that reinforce its educational and cultural character:
- Sensory and educational workshops for children and families, teaching how to recognize, cook and enjoy seasonal vegetables.
- Historical and heritage routes through the city, highlighting its architectural and cultural legacy, such as the Tudela Cathedral or the remains of the old walled enclosure.
- Exhibitions and tastings that showcase the relationship between gastronomy and local identity.
- Musical events and parades that liven up squares and streets during the days.
These activities aim to help the public understand the importance of the orchard for the economy, culture and history of Tudela, as well as enjoy the gastronomic experience.
Culinary competitions and creativity
One of Inverdura’s defining characteristics is its promotion of culinary creativity using local produce. The Tudela National Vegetable Tapas Competition brings together chefs from across Spain to create innovative dishes focused on winter vegetables.
In addition, photography and social media contests are held, in which residents and visitors can showcase their artistic interpretations of the vegetable garden and its produce. This helps to increase the event’s visibility and generate tourist and gastronomic interest.
