Festival of the Asparagus

Asparagus Festival: Pontonx celebrates the pearl of Les Landes

Every May 1st, the commune of Pontonx-sur-l'Adour pays tribute to the white asparagus from Sables des Landes, an emblematic product of the Landes region benefiting from a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). This popular and gourmet festival has become over the years an unmissable event for gastronomy and local produce enthusiasts in the department of Les Landes.

An exceptional farmers' market

The heart of the Asparagus Festival is its farmers' market, which brings together around forty stands of local producers and craftspeople. Under the Bienvenue à la Ferme label, exhibitors offer a diversity of local products from Les Landes:

• Asparagus from Sables des Landes: fresh, canned or prepared, asparagus are naturally the stars of the market
• Foie gras, confits and duck breasts: the essentials of Landes gastronomy
• Wines and Armagnac: wine productions from the South-West
• Cheeses, honeys and jams: the artisanal flavours of the region
• Pastries and sweets: Landes pastis, tourtières and other delicacies

Activities for all ages

The Asparagus Festival offers a varied program of activities from 10 am to 6 pm:

• Culinary demonstrations: chefs show different ways to prepare and enhance Landes asparagus
• Tastings: tasting of cooked asparagus and local products throughout the day
• Asparagus field tours by mini-train: a guided tour to discover asparagus cultivation directly at the producers', all day long
• Lunch on site served under the covered bullring, without reservation, with a menu featuring asparagus
• Giant asparagus omelette: the highlight of the day, a spectacular omelette of 3,000 eggs and 300 kg of asparagus cooked over a wood fire in a pan 2.5 m in diameter, which has become the festival's signature
• Musical entertainment: bandas, choirs and local groups liven up the village streets
• Activities for children: games, workshops and fun activities

An event rooted in the territory

Organised jointly by the Association Interculturelle Pontoise (AIP), the Chambre d'Agriculture des Landes and the Mairie de Pontonx-sur-l'Adour, the Asparagus Festival bears witness to the vitality of the associative and agricultural fabric of Les Landes. The event contributes to the promotion of the department's gastronomic heritage and to the support of local agriculture, in particular the asparagus sector of Sables des Landes, which represents more than 20% of national production.

3,000 to 3,500 visitors every year

The Asparagus Festival attracts between 3,000 and 3,500 visitors every year, coming from all over the department and beyond. It constitutes a privileged moment of encounter between producers and consumers, in a spirit of conviviality and sharing typical of Landes village festivals.