What to do in the Basque Country - Traditions, Art, Music, Events & Exhibitions Agenda January 2017

A small list of best events for the traveller in January 2017 in the Basque Country in Spain & France, Rioja & Cantabria selected by your Basque private tour guide.




Regarding traditions and festivities:
  • In San Sebastian, Tafalla and Azpeitia, not to miss this as it is the most popular festivity of San Sebastian, the Drum festival "Danborrada". The city is filled with drums, barrels, parades, colour, music & food! in honour to the local saint (Surprise!, the local saint of San Sebastian is Saint Sebastian). A true local festival loved by locals and only enjoyed by locals as the best part happens during the night of 19th January (starting at 8pm and with the raise of the local flag on the midnight of 19th to 20th that will wave in the Constitution Square until the midnight of 20th to 21st). 19th and 20th January
  • In Amurrio (Alava) and Mungia (Biscay) San Anton market. Two big markets by local farmers where you can get local products such as black pudding, chorizo, cheese or honey and enjoy Basque sports like pelota. Basque music and traditions for all. On 18th January
  • In Getaria. Presentation of the new txakoli wines. You can taste this Basque white wine together with tuna, anchovies and involved in the Basque atmosphere through local music, and Basque sports (herri kirolak). On 17th January.
  • In Astigarraga. Txotx. The start of the Basque cider season. Planting a new apple tree and the opening of the barrel in Bereziartua cider house will make this year the start of cider season in the Basque Country. On 14th January at noon.
  • In Oyon, in Rioja Alavesa. The local festivals start with the particular show and dance of "revolcon del katxi" On 21st January
  • In Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa. A bonus representation of the unusual Barroque nativity scene with movement that they normally perform on Christmas. On Saturday 24th January at 6:30pm
  • In Ituren and Zubieta (Navarre). One of the most interesting local festivals takes place with the Zanpantzar announcing carnival time. On 26th and 27th January.
  • In Vitoria, one of the biggest Nativity Scenes in Spain with real size figures (more than 300 sculptures!) with sound, light & traditional carols. Florida Park. Until 6th January.
Regarding arts and exhibits:

  • In Bilbao, Exhibit “Francis Bacon. De Picasso a Velázquez". Guggenheim Bilbao Museum. Until January 8th, 2017. 
  • In Bilbao. Fine Arts Museum. Expo: “1937. About Gernika. War and civitas”. Until January 9th, 2017.
  • In Bilbao. Fine Arts Museum. Retrospective of the Basque artist "Carmelo Ortiz de Elguea". Until January 16th, 2017
  • In Bilbao, Guggenheim Museum. “Albert Oehlen exhibition. Recent work”. Until February 5th, 2017.
  • In Bilbao, Guest Work: The Salzillo´s Nativity. Sculptor Francisco Salzillo (Murcia, 1707-1783), polychrome three hundred pieces, about 30 cm and modeled in clay or carved in wood. Bellas Artes Museum. Until 6th February 2017.
  • In Vitoria - Gasteiz, Alava. Grey Flag 2016. Transforming. Artium Museum of Modern Art. Until January 31st, 2017
  • In Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, a Iranian puppets exhibit in The Puppet Museum
  • In Bilbao, the Guggenheim Museum, has the best of the Guggenheim collection on exhibit (where you can see works by Marc Chagal, Kandinsky or the Basque artists Jorge Oteiza, Chillida, etc.)
  • In Bilbao, Titanic - The Reconstruction. The biggest reconstruction made of this 20th Century ship. In Euskalduna Palace. Until 19th January. 
Regarding music:

  • In Bilbao, in Kafe Antzokia the hard-rock group: Black Stone Cherry & Shaman's Harvest on 11th January.
Feel free to contact for any questions to your local private tour guide