The Bayonne Festival, from July 27 to 31
This 2022 edition marks the 90th anniversary of one of the most popular events in Europe which brings together more than a million people each year.
Dressed in red and white, the colors of the holidays, the "festayres" will be there on July 27 at 10 p.m. sharp on the Place de la Liberté to watch the throwing of the keys from the balcony of the town hall and the "mascleta" , the fireworks that officially open the feast.
Wednesday, opening day, welcomes sports enthusiasts with a canoe race and La Foulée du Festayre, a foot race of more than 13 kilometers which starts from the Côte des Basques in Biarritz, crosses Anglet by the Pignada forest and ends in Bayonne.
Thursday is children's day with King Leon waking up at noon.
Pelota, chocolate, parades,
tamborrada
and
encierro txiki
mimic adult festivities in miniature.
Friday is that of associations with cow races, Basque songs… The
peñas
(groups of friends) organize a funny Triath.
Seven teams compete
Interville
style .
Every day at ten o'clock, six giants over four meters tall march past and join King Leon under the balcony of the Hôtel de Ville, followed by a swarm of
festayres
.
The festivities end with a huge fireworks display on Sunday evening.
To discover
Stays in France: weekends, hotels and tailor-made stays from our partners
The official Festival website, fetes.bayonne.fr, contains
all
the festive and practical information.
From a smartphone, geolocation makes it possible to survey the streets in a different way by situating oneself in relation to the activities offered.
To know
Entry into the perimeter of the Bayonne Festival 2022 is subject to the payment of a right of access sold for €10.
This Festival Pass entitles you to enter the city walls from Friday July 29 at 10 a.m. to Sunday July 31 at midnight.
Find all the information on Pass Fêtes.
Read alsoDestination Bayonne, for its chocolate... and its street art
The village festivals in Espelette, from August 5 to 9
World famous for its peppers, Espelette does not fail in the Basque tradition by organizing its festivals every year in August.
Press picture
World famous for its peppers, Espelette does not fail in the Basque tradition by organizing its festivals every year in August.
The festivities start with a large méchoui on the market place followed by a ball.
Then, throughout the long weekend, performances of traditional dances as well as demonstrations of Basque pelota follow one another.
Spectacular, the
toro de fuego
, a pyrotechnic show parodying a bullfight always attracts many spectators, as does the agricultural show which brings together an assembly of farmers who come to present their animals.
Many tastings of squid, hake,
pinxtos
are an opportunity to taste the local specialities.
For children, a bicycle race for children under twelve, a treasure hunt and the battle of confetti should delight young and old alike.
To close these five days of celebrations, a torchlight procession will parade through the streets of the village followed by fireworks.
Info: espelette-paysbasque.com
The Hendaye Festivals, from August 12 to 14
The tank symbolizing the cider house with the
kupela
(barrel) which completes the wandering in the city.
Hendaye Tourism
In Hendaye, the inhabitants are committed to staying as close as possible to the traditions that are passed down from generation to generation.
Traditionally, the Basque Festival took place on August 14.
Hiri Besta (the party in the city center) was created to extend the parties two days before to involve associations.
The first two days the inhabitants dress in blue and white before donning the traditional costume for La Fête Basque, on August 14th.
After the rebot game (one of the specialties of Basque pelota) at the Gaztelu Zahar pediment and the presentation of the little Basque couples, it
's
time for the Cavalcade: floats and bandas parade through the city.
The cavalcade is opened by the mayor and the parish priest, seated in their carriage.
The dozen floats parade from the station district to the “Plage” district, to the sound of bandas and other
txarangas
, these fanfares which take up traditional Basque tunes.
The dance groups also come to decorate the procession.
Usually it is the tank symbolizing the cider house with the
kupela
(barrel) which completes the wandering.
The cavalcade ends its race at the Ondarraitz stadium, where all the Hendayais from here and there meet.
The curtain will fall on this long festive weekend with the fireworks and the ball.
Info: hendaye-tourisme.fr
Read alsoHendaye and Cambo-les-Bains, the other Basque Country
The Festivals of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, from August 13 to 15
The patronal feasts of mid-August bring animation to the city of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
Adobe Stock
The well-known medieval city of pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela is an enchanting setting to host the festivals that bring together all the Basque youth of the area.
The famous Basque Force, where the strongest men like to challenge each other always attracts a lot of people.
Pelota parties and royal cow races enliven the city.
Mutxitos
, traditional Basque dances in a circle which consist of a sequence of steps and jumps, cow shows and the sacrosanct fireworks to close these celebrations.
Info: en-pays-basque.fr
Read also“By far my most beautiful trip”: on the roads to Compostela, more and more walkers
Getariako Bestak
–
Guéthary Festivals
, August 26 and 27
The main festivals of Guéthary take place at the end of August with concerts, Basque dance shows and many activities.
Tourist office
If Guéthary is frequented by a trendy clientele in July and August, at the end of the season it regains its calm and authenticity during these festivals which are an opportunity to celebrate the end of the summer season in a friendly atmosphere, in Basque
Getariako Bestak
.
They start on Friday evening at 7 p.m. with the handing over of the keys and an aperitif offered by the festival committee.
On Saturday, an omelet competition in pairs or alone takes place at 11 a.m. to reward the best cook.
The afternoon is devoted to activities where the children of the village like to meet and in the evening, a huge méchoui brings together young and old.
Info: Guethary.
Registration on Saturdays August 6, 13 and 20 in front of Guéthary town hall or by telephone on 07 62 12 58 87.
Read alsoFive typical villages of the Basque hinterland to discover