Aitor Delgado Basque Private Tour Guide: What to do in the Basque Country

Things to do in Bilbao, San Sebastian, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Biarritz, Bayonne, Rioja or Pamplona.

Our selection of best art, sport & cultural events in the Basque Country during October 2018.

The most important agricultural fair in Gernika. October 29th.

Best Basques traditions and festivities:

In Gernika-Lumo. Sukalki eguna. Sukalki Day. Tasting of sukalki & wines. Horticultural fair. Exhibition and sale of Basque crafts. October 6th.
In Karrantza. Cattle, agricultural and artisan fair. Carranzana sheep competition with blonde and black face. Exhibition of local producers: sausages, cheeses, crafts ... etc. and producers from other locations: crafts, honey, soaps, pâté ... etc. October 6th.
In Vitoria-Gasteiz. BioneAraba. Fair of ecological production. Exhibition of producers and sale of organic food of the Basque Country and its surroundings. Alavesa Association of Ecological Agriculture. October 6th.
In Zierbena. Fishing fair. Kantauri Fest. Fair dedicated to the sea. Seafood (canning), agricultural products, and nautical crafts. October 6th and 7th.
In Atxondo. Pastor's Day. Artzain Eguna. Provincial cheese contest and shepherd dog contest. October 7th.
In Igartubeiti / Ezkio-Itsaso. Cider Week. Caserío Igartubeiti Museum. Demonstrations of apple and kirikoketa pressing, a contest of recipes made with cider or apple, an apple exhibition or a photography contest. From October 7th until 14th.
In Agurain / Salvatierra. Cattle Fair and Horse of the mountain of the Basque Country Competition. Provincial Pastoral Cheese Contest. Exhibition of cattle, sheep, machinery, handicrafts, gastronomy and Basque products. October 9th.
In Basauri and Durango. Festival Saint Faust. October 13^th and 14th.
In Pobes. Fair of the paste bean and vegetables of Alava. Tasting, exhibition and sale of various craft products. Cattle fair and machinery exhibition. Irrintz contest. October 14^th.
In Boveda. Fair of the Valdegovía potato. Exhibition and sale of native potato varieties. Gastronomic tasting based on potato. Crafts Fair. Local market of producers of Añana. Basque rural sport. October 21st.
In Okondo. Agricultural and livestock fair. Udazken Azoka: Poultry, farm products and Trikitixa championship. October 21st.
In Arretxabaleta. Gastronomic and folkloric fair. Tasting and sale of food. Homemade Patxaran contest. October 21st.
In Hernani. Cod Day. Tasting and cod-pil-pil contest. October 21st.
In Balmaseda. Food Fair. International Putxeras Competition during the San Severino festivities. Popular contest based on beans, bacon, chorizo, rib and blood sausage. October 23rd.
In Idiazabal. Food Fair. Basque Country Shepherd Cheese Contest. Sale of cheese and products of hamlet, workshops and exhibition of local cattle. October 27th.
In Gernika-Lumo. The most important agricultural fair in Gernika. Close to 900 positions. Contest and exhibition of fruits, vegetables, flowers, cheeses, txakoli and honey. Preparation of Basque craft products and the exhibition of agricultural machinery. Bertsolaris and parades. Sports activities: tip basket, shovel, ski lift and hand and Basque sports demonstrations. October 29th.

"From Van Gogh to Picasso. The Thannhauser legacy. Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao. From September 21st, 2018 until March 24th, 2019.

Regarding arts and exhibits in Basque Country:

In Vitoria-Gasteiz. The "Crucified Christ" by José Ribera. Fine Arts Museum. Baroque work, 1643. After 8 years of laborious restoration the work will be able to be seen along with two other creations by José Ribera: Saint Peter and Saint Pablo. From April 4th until January 31st 2019.
In Trespuentes. Dramatized visits to the Botanical Garden of Santa Catalina. The 'Catalina' ladybug will guide both adults and children through its more than a thousand plants and flowers, and the ruins of the 11th century Romanesque monastery. Every Sunday from May 6th to October 7th.
In Bilbao. "110 Years, 110 Works". Exhibition for the 110th anniversary of the museum. Fine Arts Museum of Bilbao. From May 9th until October 17th.
In Bilbao. Expo Joana Vasconcelos: I'm your mirror. One of the most outstanding artists of the last decade. Guggenheim Museum. From June 29th to November 11th.
In Bayonne. Exhibition: 1966, Basque art under the Franco regime: vanguard and resistance. Basque Museum. From June 30th until to November 4th.
In San Sebastian. 'The Gods of the Prado. Art and Myth' from collections of the Prado Museum from the 1st century BC. C. and late eighteenth century. San Telmo Museum. From July 6th until October 28th.
In Bilbao. "From Van Gogh to Picasso. The Thannhauser legacy." Thannhauser Collection of the Guggenheim in New York. Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao. The exhibition will be inaugurated on Friday, September 21 and will be open until March 24, 2019. From September 21st, 2018 until March 24th, 2019.
In Getaria. "Balenciaga. Fashion and Heritage". Exhibition that shows the evolution of the work of the couturier in its successive stages and aspires to become a reference sample to understand and know in depth the legacy generated by Balenciaga: where he comes from, what he contributes in his time, and what he transmits to us today. Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum. Until January 29th 2019.
In Bilbao. JA "La Risa de Bilbao” Humor Festival. Sala BBK, Alhóndiga Bilbao, Mercado de la Ribera, Campos Elíseos Theatre. From September 27th until October 7th.
In Saint Jean de Luz. International Film Festival of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Cinema Le Select. From October 1st until 7th.
In San Sebastian. Donostikluba. Electronic Music Festival of San Sebastian. Egia Cultural Center and other spaces. From October 4th until 6th.
In Biarritz. Salon Solutions House - public lounge. Iraty Hall. The essential event of the Basque Country and the Landes to find solutions in the Universe Eco Habitat, Habitat, House, Decoration, Real Estate, House Wood and Landscaping. From October 4th until 7th.
In Vitoria-Gasteiz. International Theater Festival. Main Theater. From October 5th until November 25th.
In Bilbao. Oil and Gas Conference 2018. Bilbao Exhibition Center. October 8th and 9th.
In San Sebastian. San Sebastian Gastronomika - Euskadi Basque Country. World congress of high gastronomy (bringing together the best chefs on the planet), Off (parallel congress dedicated to the world of the room and wine), Popular (aimed at citizens) and Market (a spectacular fair). A day dedicated to the world of wine. Kursaal Palace. From October 8th until 10th.
In Bayonne. The Ballet of the National Opera of Bordeaux. It is a real institution, that born in France in the century of Louis XIV. Bayonne Theater. October 9th.
In Bilbao. Euro PM2018 Congress & Exhibition. Europe's annual powder metallurgy congress and exhibition organized by the European Powder Metallurgy Association. Bilbao Exhibition Center. October 14th until 18th.
In San Sebastian. ESP regional conference. Theme: Ecosystem services in a changing world: moving from theory to practice. Kursaal Congress Center and Auditorium. From October 15th until 19th.
In Bayonne. International street art festival. 15 European artists in residencies of creation in the public space, will realize in Bayonne 8 monumental paintings as well as many artistic interventions in the heart of town. From October 17^th until 21st.
In Vitoria-Gasteiz. World Press Photo. The most important international photojournalism contest. Every year, the great and the good of journalism and the best international agencies compete. Montehermoso Cultural Center. From October 19th until November 18th.
In Bilbao. "Alberto Giacometti, Retrospective". One of the most influential sculptors-painters of the 20th century. Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao. From October 19th to February 24th, 2019.
In Bilbao. Ópera: La Boheme (G. Puccini). A.B.AO. Palacio Euskalduna. From October 20th, 23rd, 26th, 27th and 29th.
In Saint Jean de Luz. Rendez - vous with sacred music - Concert: Polyphonies of Sardinia and improvisations on the organ. Saint John the Baptist Church. October 21st.
In Bilbao. BIME Live 2018. Bizkaia International Music Experience is an international gathering of professionals from sectors that work around music. BEC Centre. October 26th and 27th.
In San Sebastian. Fantastic and Terror Film Week. With parallel activities: exhibitions, cycles, children's activities… October 27th until November 2nd.
In Bilbao. Swan Lake. Russian National Ballet of S. Radchenko. Euskalduna Palace. October 28th.
In Bilbao. Exhibition "ABC, The alphabet of the Bilbao Museum". On this occasion, it is the words - following the alphabetical order - that order the exhibition. Art and literature are fused through an extended alphabet. It will bring together masterpieces by Lucas Cranach the Elder, José de Ribera, Murillo, Zurbarán, Martin de Vos, Goya, Gauguin, Zuloaga, Sorolla, Chillida, Oteiza, Francis Bacon and Antoni Tàpies, among others. Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao. From October 29^th, 2018 until June 2nd, 2019.

XXI Great Fund Test "Hiru Haundiak 2018". October 20th.

Regarding Basque sports:

In Biarritz. Golf - 23th Makilas Casino Barriere Biarritz. Gathers at each edition more than 40 teams (150 amateur and professional participants) will be played on the courses of Biarritz Le Phare, Chiberta and Seignosse. Lighthouse Golf. From October 3rd until 6th.
In Biarritz. Basque ball - Cesta punta. Biarritz Jaï Alaï. October 4^th, 11^th, 18^th and 25th.
In Bayonne. Rugby professional D2: Aviron Bayonnais vs Nevers. Stade Jean Dauger. October 5th.
In Vitoria-Gasteiz. International regatta of aerostatic balloons. Scores for the San Prudencio Aerostacion Trophy. Balloons from England, France, Portugal or Russia. Night Glow: night show of light and sound of great beauty. From October 5th until 7th.
In Bilbao. Traditional Basques Sports. San Pedro Square - Deusto. 1:00 pm Fair of Deusto. October 7th.
In San Sebastian. Cross the three beaches. A 10-kilometer journey through the three beaches of San Sebastián with about 3,000 athletes. Real Club de Tenis Ondarreta (start and finish). October 8^th.
In Bilbao. Punta Galea Challenge is one of 7 that form part of the prestigious Big Wave Tour, and the only one held in Europe. One day between October 15, 2018 and March 31, 2019. Date to be confirmed.
Gorbeia, Anboto and Aizkorri. XXI Great Fund Test "Hiru Haundiak 2018". Popular and multitudinous mountain race that crosses three emblematic summits. Distance of one hundred kilometers with an ascent gradient plus descent of ten thousand two hundred meters in a maximum of 24 hours. October 20th.
In Bilbao. Bilbao Night Marathon. Three different tests: the marathon (42 kilometers), the half marathon (21 kilometers) and the popular race (7 kilometers) through the heart of the city. Departure: San Mames. Arrival: Guggenheim Museum. October 20th.
In San Sebastian. Classic popular pedestrian. For the center of the city the participants will complete a distance of 15 kilometers. October 21st.
In Bilbao. Basque Digital Series Festival. "The Otsoa" Awards ceremony at the Guggenheim Museum. From October 24th until 27th.
In Saint Jean de Luz. Half Marathon Donibane Hondarribi. October 28th.
In Laguardia. Wine Run Rioja Alavesa. Two sporting challenges around wine: a test of 20 km, and another of 12 km. You can also participate with a popular march between vineyards and wineries. October 28th.

And remember, if you are thinking to come to Bilbao, San Sebastian, Rioja, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Biarritz, Bayonne, Pamplona or anywhere else in the Basque Country, you can get a better understading on our culture and traditions with a local guide.

Contact Aitor Delgado Basque Private Tour Guide