The Valladolid Book Fair closed this Sunday an «excellent» 58th edition with a tribute to the ethnographer and folklorist Joaquín Díaz, in an event that served as the culmination of ten days of «intense» cultural activity in the city center.
Valladolid Mayor, Jesús Julio Carnero, presided over the recognition of one of the great cultural references of Castilla y León, who, in turn, emotionally thanked the audience and the organization.
The event was attended by the Councilor for Education and Culture, Irene Carvajal, who, along with admirers and friends, filled the main hall of the Círculo de Recreo.
As a final surprise, the traditional music group Tahona –which also presented a book about their trajectory this afternoon– performed two songs in honor of the honoree.
The 58th edition of the Valladolid Book Fair has been described by the organization as «excellent» in terms of programming, both for the presence of great figures from the national and international literary scene and for the variety of styles, genres, and proposals that have shaped its lineup.
Authors of recognized prestige have starred in meetings, presentations, and debates that have filled the different spaces of the Círculo de Recreo and the main pavilion installed in the Plaza Mayor with thought and literature.
However, the influx of the public has been conditioned by an «extraordinary circumstance,» the particularly changeable weather that has «altered the course of the fair,» as the mayor pointed out in reference to the rain on the day of the inauguration and the «monstrous» storm on June 3.
Specifically, the first weekend was marked by storms and high temperatures, especially strong on Friday and Tuesday, although it did not require rescheduling events or cause damage to the booths and books.
From Wednesday onwards, the atmosphere was much more favorable, and the second weekend saw a significant influx of visitors, returning the Fair to the usual rhythm of its «best years,» as indicated by the organization in a statement collected by Europa Press.
It has highlighted that one of the «great milestones» of this edition has been the response of the children and family audience, as more than 750 students have participated in the activities scheduled during the week, and storytelling sessions, illustration workshops, and author meetings for young audiences have had a very high participation rate.
The 2025 edition has also featured Peru as the guest country, a choice that has allowed for «building bridges» with Andean culture and literature. Thus, writers like Renato Cisneros or Santiago Roncagliolo have brought the keys of contemporary Peruvian narrative to Valladolid readers, and the program has been completed with an editorial display dedicated to the country’s literature and various cultural events promoted by the Peruvian Cultural Association of Valladolid and with the support of the Embassy.