What began over a century ago as a small poultry competition under the arcades of the Torre Balcells in El Prat de Llobregat has become one of the most popular events in the region. The Fira Avícola de la Raça Prat attracts tens of thousands of visitors and, as well as being a showcase for the famous Pota Blava chicken, recognised with the European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) label, it is also a space where agricultural tradition, food, commerce and community life in a city converge—a city which, through initiatives like this, seeks to showcase its heritage and preserve it as a legacy for future generations.

From local competition to a much-anticipated city event

The history of the Fira Avícola dates back to 1921, when the Commonwealth of Catalonia organised the first poultry competition in El Prat. However, the first official edition is considered to have been held in 1941, during the Festa Major, under the title “First Prat Breed Exhibition”. The second was not held until 1975, at a time when the Prat breed had been reduced to domestic breeding and survived in backyard coops thanks to a group of people committed to ensuring its preservation. Organised by the City Council, the “Second Prat Catalan Breed Exhibition Contest” marked the start of a class of fair that has continued to grow ever since.

Over the years, the agricultural and commercial exhibition and cultural and gastronomic activities were added, and the event became established as the town’s main winter festival. Since 2017, the Fair has been held at the Granja de la Ricarda, a 19,000 m² venue, and it is an example of how the city manages to keep its agricultural identity alive in a challenging urban environment.

A fair open to all

At the Poultry, Agricultural and Livestock Pavilion, visitors can get a close look at Prat breed chickens, known as Pota Blava, and discover agricultural produce grown in the Llobregat Delta. The Commercial Exhibition and the Exhibition by Local Associations reflect the vitality of the city’s business and community network, while the Culinary Space offers tastings of Pota Blava chicken and Prat Artichoke—the city’s other star product—in dishes prepared by local restaurants.

All this is complemented by cultural and leisure activities: tastings and pairings, cooking demonstrations, concerts, children’s games and even bike tours around the Llobregat Delta, to provide a complete experience that combines sustainable food, local culture and respect for the land.

Sustainability as a cornerstone

The Pota Blava chicken has become a true emblem of the city. This chicken, reared outdoors with a natural, controlled diet, retains the characteristics of the native breed thanks to the perseverance of breeders who have supported traditional methods. Its meat, fine and tender, is renowned in culinary circles for its quality and intense flavour.

The Fira Avícola helps to give visibility and continuity to this model, which supports the local area and a careful, unhurried approach, while also boosting the local economy. Producers from the Parc Agrari del Baix Llobregat have here a venue to offer fresh, local produce, while the Fair’s Culinary Space showcases the city’s vibrant restaurant scene, which presents its finest credentials with these products.

Present and future of the Prat breed

After more than 50 years of uninterrupted celebration—the 2020 edition was held virtually due to the COVID pandemic—the Fira Avícola is now a well-established event that attracts tens of thousands of visitors and achieves record attendance figures year after year. The 51st edition brought together almost 79,000 people in 2024 and generated an economic impact of nearly 1 million euros, with over €500,000 in direct spending and the rest in consumption at local establishments. The results of satisfaction surveys carried out with attendees are overwhelmingly positive.

The Fair looks to the future after achieving, in 2025, the Barcelona Destination Tourism Sustainability Commitment, a recognition of the work done to promote a model that respects the environment, culture and the local economy, and the creation of the Pota Blava Foundation, which will bring together breeders, restaurateurs, organisations and citizens to ensure the conservation of the Prat Breed. The combination of tradition and collective commitment guarantees that the Fair will continue to be a success story in celebrating and defending the local area.

The next edition of the Fira Avícola will be held on 28, 29 and 30 November 2025.