FAIRS

The city of Mataró has a long tradition of fairs which is evident in a wide calendar of events organized by the Institut Municipal de Promoció Econòmica de Mataró (IMPEM) and other promoters such as the  l'Unió de Botiguers, l'Associació d'Amics de les plantes, animals i jardins del Maresme, el Centre Atlètic Laietània, and el Cercle Històric Miquel Biada among others. Thanks to group work and an atmosphere of mutual collaboration, Mataró has been able to design a fairs model of reference, through celebration of the following events:

· Fira de l'Arbre i la Natura. 11 and 12 of February 2012. Parc Central Vell. On offer is every kind of product related to floriculture and agriculture, and this is complemented with the participation of handicrafts and foods exhibitors. Organized by: Associació d'Amics de les plantes, animals i jardins del Maresme.

· Saló Boda Mataró i el Maresme. 17, 18 and 19 of February 2012. Centre de congressos Tecnocampus Mataró. A meeting space in which local businesses from the region present their services and products related to the organization of weddings. There are companies from restoration, fashion and complements, photographers and florists to car hire, travel agencies and home equipment. There are also wedding fashion shows held to introduce the latest trends. Organized by: Unió de Botiguers de Mataró.

· Fira del llibre de Sant Jordi. 20, 21, 22 and 23 of April. Plaça de Santa Anna and Rambla de Mataró. Books sale stands. Organized by: Institut Municipal de Promoció Econòmica de Mataró (IMPEM).

· Fira de Dibuix i Pintura de Mataró. Espai Belles Arts i Manualitats. 5 of May 2012. La Riera, Plaça Santa Anna and La Rambla. During the entire day artists exhibit and sell their original works, converting the centre of the city into an art gallery. Organized by: Unió de Botiguers de Mataró.

· Fira-mercat de Sant Ponç.  5 and 6 of May 2012.  Plaça de l'Ajuntament. Sale of hand-produced food products. Exhibitors from all over Catalonia and the rest of the state bring the colour, flavour and aroma of the best home-made food in the country, with a varied offering of preserves and quinces, honey, home-made neules, medicinal herbs, candies, cookies and coques, cheeses, vinegars and oils, liquors and cava, hand-produced embotits (cured meats), among others. Organized by:  Institut Municipal de Promoció Econòmica de Mataró (IMPEM).

· FirOcasió Mataró - Primavera. 10, 11 and 12 of May 2012. La Rambla and Plaça Santa Anna. An unusual fair in which traders exhibit any non-food product they have in stock, including left-over goods and goods which are no longer on the commercial circuit, such as decorative objects, clothes, toys, stationary and gift articles, cosmetics, etc. It is a good opportunity for buyers, who have the chance to find products at sale prices. Organized by: Unió de Botiguers de Mataró.

· Motor Total. 10, 11, 12, and 13 of May 2012 and 4, 5, 6, and 7 of October 2012. Espai Firal del Nou Parc Central. A 4.830 sq. m outdoor showcase, that will gather the most representative and leading brands of the motor sector of Mataró and its region. More than 250 vehicles guaranteed in exposition, in excellent conditions, as much in price as in financing.

· Fira d’Atraccions i Fireta de Primavera. From 25 of May to 3 of June 2012. The Parc Central is divided into three different spaces: Fira d’Atraccions, one of the biggest in Catalonia, is split into sectors depending on the type of user (children or adults); the Bars zone which offers the public a varied gastronomic fair and the Fireta de Primavera which offers a broad range of handicrafts and other gift articles. This concentration of activities permits the city to  offer more than 9.000 m2 of gastronomic, ludic and general leisure events during 10 days. Organized by: Institut Municipal de Promoció Econòmica de Mataró (IMPEM).

· ECOfira Mataró. 8, 9 and 10 of June 2012. Plaça de  Santa Anna and La Rambla. Multispace of natural and ecological products and services. Organized by: Unió de Botiguers de Mataró.

· Fira Ferroviària. 27 and 28 of October 2012. Plaça Santa Anna. Commerorates the arrival in Mataró of the first train in the peninsula: where exhibitors of models, model tracks, postcards, stamps, medals, books and magazines related to the train all congregate. Organized by: Institut Municipal de Promoció Econòmica de Mataró (IMPEM), Àrea de Presidència de l'Ajuntament de Mataró and Cercle Històric Miquel Biada.

· FirOcasió Mataró - Tardor. 8, 9 and 10 of November 2012. La Rambla and Plaça Santa Anna. An unusual fair in which traders exhibit any non-food product they have in stock, including left-over goods and goods which are no longer on the commercial circuit, such as decorative objects, clothes, toys, stationary and gift articles, cosmetics, etc. It is a good opportunity for buyers, who have the chance to find products at sale prices. Organized by: Unió de Botiguers de Mataró.

· Fira-mercat de Tardor. 10 and 11 of November 2012. Plaça de  l'Ajuntament. A varied offering of products related to the autumn, such as mushrooms, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, dry fruits, quinces, bread and coques, embotits(cured meats), neules, llardons, sauces, jams, wines, etc. During the fair,  there are a few events organized, such a mushroom exhibition, a mushroom-hunting trip to the forest, courses for school children, a popular sampling of rice with mushrooms and a few gastronomic day trips where several restaurants in Mataró and the surrounding area offer menus based around mushrooms. Organized by: Institut Municipal de Promoció Econòmica de Mataró (IMPEM).

·  Fira-mercat de Pessebres i Ornaments de Nadal.  From 24 of November to 23 of December 2012. Plaça de Santa Anna. In this fair you can find all the necessary items for Christmas decoration, from trees, both natural and artificial, to nativity figures, mosses, light bulbs and corks, tapes of colours, ornamental table pieces, Christmas candles and Father Christmas decorations among others. This fair has become the signal of the start of Advent and is considered the second most important fair of its kind in Catalonia, as much for its location as for the quality of its products. Organized by: Institut Municipal de Promoció Econòmica de Mataró (IMPEM).

·  Fira d’Artesania i Regal de Nadal. From 15 of December to 6 of January 2013. Parc Central. This fair offers visitors a wide range of hand-produced products and other gift articles such as jewelery, clothes, silver jewellery and leather among others. It is a good opportunity to purchase Christmas gifts. Organized by: Institut Municipal de Promoció Econòmica de Mataró (IMPEM).