Vilalba calls itself the capon capital of Spain, and the December fair — held in the week before Christmas — is the most visible proof of that claim. Local farmers bring their best birds to the market square, where buyers come from restaurants across Spain and Galicia to bid for the finest specimens. The capons are slaughtered, dressed, and displayed on traditional wooden stands; the whole market has a ceremonial quality that makes it feel more like a livestock pageant than a commercial transaction.
Outside December, the regular weekly market on Wednesdays is a much quieter affair but still gives a good sense of the town's role as the commercial centre for a large agricultural area. The market square is in the centre of town a short walk from the Parador.