Festa des Meló 2025 turns Vilafranca de Bonany into Mallorca’s sweetest harvest celebration on the first weekend of September, with the artisan Firó Nocturn on Saturday, September 6, and the big Fira del Meló on Sunday, September 7. The Ajuntament de Vilafranca confirms stallholder calls and dates for the 2025 artisan night market and Sunday fair, while island event calendars and local guides align on the same weekend window, highlighting melon contests, tastings, kids’ games, live music, and the fiery Melofoc as signature draws. Centered in Plaça Major and surrounding streets, the fair honors Vilafranca’s piel de sapo tradition with free tastings, a quality competition, and the classic weigh‑in for the largest melon, all wrapped in family‑friendly, small‑town hospitality.
Dates, place, and scope
- When: Saturday–Sunday, September 6–7, 2025, with build‑up activities in the days prior and follow‑on cultural programming mid‑September.
- Where: Vilafranca de Bonany, in the Pla de Mallorca, with the fair and markets around Plaça Major, plus side streets hosting crafts, agricultural displays, and food stands.
- What’s on: Firó Nocturn artesanal on Saturday night, then the full Fira del Meló on Sunday with stalls, competitions, exhibitions, and tastings that showcase Mallorcan melon heritage.
What to expect in 2025
- Melon contests: The Meló Gros (heaviest melon) and Meló de Qualitat (quality) competitions headline Sunday, with strict rules in recent years emphasizing local Mallorcan varieties; past weigh‑ins have chased records near 24 kg.
- Tastings and displays: Free tastings of local melon varieties, curated exhibitions of farming tools and historical photos, and stands selling whole melons for takeaway.
- Kids and family: Melon‑themed games and workshops such as the “Melompíades,” eating challenges, and hands‑on activities keep keiki engaged and smiling.
- Night market and Melofoc: The Saturday Firó Nocturn brings artisan stalls, traditional food, and live entertainment, culminating in Melofoc fireworks that light up the village skyline.
- Music and culture: From Melorock concerts to folk dance, street theatre, and exhibitions of Mallorcan crafts, the program blends modern fun with rural tradition.
Why Vilafranca melons matter
Vilafranca’s fertile soils in the Pla de Mallorca have long produced honey‑sweet piel de sapo melons, and the fair, founded in 1970, marks the harvest’s close while reinforcing the town’s agricultural identity. In 2025, local guides again note melon heritage as the anchor of a weekend that tastes like the land: crisp, fragrant slices handed out by growers who know every row.
Saturday: Firó Nocturn (Sept 6)
- Artisan night market: Dozens of craft stalls, local produce, and small plates line the streets. Expect handmade ceramics, textiles, honey, preserves, and island snacks.
- Live entertainment: Street musicians, small stages, and pop‑up performances set a festive tone without overwhelming the village scale.
- Melofoc: The night wraps with fireworks that have become the fair’s unofficial exclamation point. Arrive early for dinner and secure a viewing spot.
Sunday: Fira del Meló (Sept 7)
- Agricultural fair: Displays of tractors, implements, and local livestock sit alongside eco‑product stalls and traditional food stands.
- Competitions: Don’t miss the weigh‑in and the quality awards; inspectors focus on Mallorcan varieties, underscoring local seed stewardship and terroir.
- Community meals: Paella or communal lunches often appear on the program; check boards for serving times to join a convivial village table.
Practical planning
- Getting there: Vilafranca is in central Mallorca; by car, allow 40–50 minutes from Palma. Parking is limited near the center on Sunday; arrive early or use satellite streets.
- Timing: Saturday’s night market is best from dusk onward; Sunday’s fair is lively by late morning, with contests usually slated for midday.
- What to bring: Sun protection, water, small bills for stalls, and a tote for produce. If staying for Melofoc, add a light layer for the evening breeze.
Tips for families
- Start early Sunday: Hit tastings and kids’ zones before peak crowds; plan a snack stop and a shaded break around midday.
- Safety at Melofoc: Keep a moderate distance from the launch area, follow stewards’ cues, and have ear protection for sensitive children.
- Photos and backdrops: The Plaça Major façade, craft alleys, and melon display tables make great family shots — ask vendors before close‑ups of people at work.
Culture in context
- Lanterns and lore: Some editions feature a lantern procession using carved, illuminated melon shells, a whimsical nod to the fruit’s shape and the island’s folk imagination.
- Linked harvests: September on Mallorca also brings Santa Ponça’s Festes del Rei en Jaume and, mid‑month, the grape‑harvest Festa des Vermar in Binissalem — an easy way to build a harvest‑themed trip.
Food to try
- Melon with cured ham: Classic sweet‑savory pairing found at stalls and tapas bars.
- Local cheeses and bread: Pair with sliced melon for a simple picnic in the square.
- Honey and preserves: Take home jars from artisan stands to stretch the fair’s flavors into fall.
Accessibility and amenities
- Flat routes: The central streets are generally flat; arrive early to claim accessible curb space near the main stage or contest area.
- Facilities: Temporary restrooms are set near the square; ask a steward for the closest unit and diaper‑friendly options.
- Shade breaks: Duck into artisan arcades and tented areas; Sunday midday sun can be strong across the plaza.
Sample weekend plan
- Saturday: Late afternoon arrival; browse crafts; sunset snack; live sets; Melofoc fireworks to close.
- Sunday: Morning tastings and displays; quality contest and weigh‑in; communal lunch; early afternoon craft shopping; head out before the heat spikes.
Verified details at a glance
- Dates: Firó Nocturn artesanal Saturday, Sept 6, 2025; Fira del Meló Sunday, Sept 7, 2025.
- Place: Plaça Major and center streets, Vilafranca de Bonany (Pla de Mallorca).
- Highlights: Melon weigh‑in and quality competitions; free tastings; kids’ games and workshops; artisan night market; Melofoc fireworks; Melorock; agricultural and craft exhibitions.
- Local rules: Competition emphasis on Mallorcan melon varieties in recent years; prior record weights around 23.79 kg.
- Official actions: Ajuntament 2025 stallholder call confirms Sept 6 Firó and Sept 7 Fira; applications due by Aug 25, 2025.
Circle the first weekend of September and set the GPS for Vilafranca. Wander the artisan night market on Saturday, then wake to a Sunday of tastings, contests, and village charm — with a ripe piel de sapo tucked under one arm and stories of Mallorcan harvest in the other. Festa des Meló 2025 is a sweet, slow celebration of land, craft, and community worth savoring slice by slice.