The 18th February 2011 Bembibre’s council oficialy opened the Bembibre Arena. The Bembibre Arena emerged as a multipurpose venue, and among its non-sports uses it was proposed that it be the headquarters of the Farm and Food Fair, as it has been since the inauguration of the pavilion. For the occasion, Manuel Chaves Third Vice President of the Government attended the event.
The Secretary of State for Tourism, dependent on the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce of the Government of Spain, agreed on this day to grant Bembibre’s Botillo Festival title of Festival of National Tourist Interest.
With a symbolic character, Bembibre took his emblematic sausage to Cape Verde, within the framework of the twinning protocol between the town of Boeza and the Chamber of Sâo Domingos. He was the first international Botillo.
It was the second most important institutional recognition for the Botillo Festival. From this moment on, it was considered a Festival of Regional Tourist Interest.
The Permanent Tourism Commission of Castilla y León valued the Bembibre City Council's proposal to qualify for the Badge of Honour of Castilla y León awards. This recognition serves to reward the relevant services provided to the tourism sector in its various forms.
This initiative arose in the 28th edition of the National Festival of Exaltation of Botillo de Bembibre. It was presented as a parallel activity to enrich the gastronomic event of the town of Boeza.
The growing interest in participating in the Festival del Botillo de Bembibre made it necessary to have a space that could accommodate a larger number of diners. In 1995, the complicated challenge of taking the event out of the New Brothers Restaurant was decided.
The Municipal Board of Fiestas was formed by various groups and municipal representatives. Among its tasks is the organization of the Botillo Festival.
During the years 1988 and 1989 there were specific cultural activities that culminated in 1990 with the reinstatement and consecration of the Botillo Cultural Week.
Seeing the growing interest in the festival and the difficulty of hosting the already nearly 800 attendees in the same place, Bembibre decided to host two separated acts for the celebration.
