The LASAMOA Festival strengthens the prominence of the Pisuerga as an axis of urban life
The first edition of this civic event is conceived with continuity in mind and places the river at the heart of Valladolid’s sustainable transformation.
Narciso Suárez appointed Ambassador for Mission Valladolid 2026
Mayor Jesús Julio Carnero presented a new space called “Ciudad Misión Square” in the Las Moreras and Paseo del Catarro area.
The City Council of Valladolid held the first edition of the LASAMOA Festival this Saturday, a new civic event framed within the “Living the River” initiative — a municipal strategy aimed at reinforcing the role of the Pisuerga in urban life and consolidating it as an axis of sustainable transformation, community coexistence and civic activity.
In this regard, Mayor Jesús Julio Carnero highlighted during his speech that “this festival is born to make visible a new way of looking at the city’s rivers, not only as landscape elements, but as central spaces of identity, gathering, and future.”
The programme began at 10:00 a.m. and ended at midnight, with free access to all activities across different areas:
- Beach Zone: volleyball, calisthenics, lifeguard activities, theatre and waterside experiences.
- Music Zone: concerts and DJ sessions throughout the day.
- Live Track Zone: circus acts, performances and roaming entertainment.
- Kids Zone: workshops and children’s activities linked to the natural environment.
- Mission Square: meetings and participatory proposals.
- Food & Bars Zone: gastronomy and relaxation areas.
Highlights included performances by Desmedida (formerly Salto Base) and Toompak with their show Reciclart 2.0, the theatrical route “Stories Told by the River”, as well as a wide range of children’s and family workshops.
LASAMOA thus joins the city’s calendar with a sports, cultural, participatory and environmental proposal that invites the people of Valladolid to reconnect with the river and enjoy its banks as shared living spaces. “A festival to celebrate the river, care for the future, and showcase Mission Valladolid in the public space,” said the mayor.
“Ciudad Misión Square”
The festival also served to strengthen the presence of Mission Valladolid in public space. Mission Valladolid is the name under which the city has made its commitment to the European Mission of 100 climate-neutral cities by 2030 more accessible and recognisable — an initiative by the European Commission in which Valladolid is part of the group of cities called to accelerate the transition towards zero emissions.
In this context, the City Council presented “Ciudad Misión Square”, a location in the Las Moreras and Paseo del Catarro area that symbolises the connection between Valladolid’s sustainable strategy, the recovery of the Pisuerga, and citizens’ daily life. The choice of this name brings Valladolid’s status as a Mission City into public space, making visible a shared challenge involving public administrations, companies, social organisations, universities and citizens.
The new space also features a mural created by Jorge Consuegra and Alberto Sobrino on the wooden pavilion, transforming this element of public space into a visible symbol of Mission Valladolid and “Living the River”, with references to sustainability, participation, sport, biodiversity, nature and life along the Pisuerga.
In addition, it includes an information panel highlighting some of the actions already carried out or planned in the river area. This element helps explain to citizens the environmental, social and cultural importance of the Pisuerga for Valladolid and reinforces the goals of “Living the River”.
Nearby, a bench shaped as the letters V A has also been installed — an urban furniture piece largely made from recycled tyres — reinforcing Mission Valladolid’s commitment to circular economy, material reuse and the sustainable transformation of public space.
Narciso Suárez, Ambassador for Mission Valladolid 2026
One of the highlights of the day was the appointment of Narciso Suárez as Ambassador for Mission Valladolid 2026. The City Council wanted to recognise the Valladolid-born canoeist, Olympic medallist and a key figure in Spanish sport, for a career deeply linked to the Pisuerga and for representing values such as effort, perseverance, commitment, respect for the environment and civic pride.
“The Pisuerga has been for Narciso a school of effort, perseverance and life; but also a natural environment to know, respect and care for,” said the mayor, who emphasised that this way of relating to the river fully represents the values of Mission Valladolid: commitment to the environment, sustainability, shared responsibility and civic pride.
