Conce al Plato festival draws crowds in Concepción amid organizational criticism

The second edition of the Conce al Plato gastronomic festival took place at Parque Bicentenario in Concepción, featuring over 120 exhibitors and live cooking demonstrations from national chefs. Festival director María Paz Saavedra highlighted the event's goal to showcase the Biobío region's culinary diversity, ranging from coastal to mountain products.

Despite the high attendance and enthusiastic response, the event faced organizational criticism. Social media influencer Belén Pellón reported that hundreds of attendees had to wait in long lines for hours under direct sunlight to enter the venue. Once inside, visitors also encountered significant delays at various food stands. In response to these complaints, organizers issued a statement announcing that additional access points would be opened to facilitate entry and improve the attendee experience.