What to do in the Basque Country Events - Agenda February 2020

TRADITIONS, ART, MUSIC, EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS BASQUE AGENDA. FEBRUARY 2020.

A list of best events for the traveller in February 2020 in the Basque Country in Spain & France, Rioja & Cantabria selected by Aitor Delgado Tours. Cities: Bilbao, San Sebastian, Biarritz, Rioja, Bayonne, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Guernica,…

The cider season begins on January 15 and runs until the end of May.

Best Basques traditions and festivities:

• In Laguardia. Articulated Nativity Scene. Church of Santa María de los Reyes. One of the few baroque nativity scenes equipped with movement that are preserved today, and arouses great interest among visitors and residents of the area. Performances are offered until December 1st until February 7th.
• In Astigarraga. Season of the Basque Cider. The main area in the Basque Country is in Astigarraga (near San Sebastián). There are some 51 Basque cider houses in Guipúzcoa, 10 in Vizcaya and 2 in Alava. The cider season begins on January 15 and runs until the end of May.
• In San Sebastian, Anoeta, Astigarraga, Irun or Tolosa. The party of the boilermakers. Several groups emulate the Hungarian Zingaros who arrived in the city to sell their products during the Carnivals. It is a peculiar way of announcing carnivals. February 1st.
• In Laudio/Llodio. San Blas Festival. Exhibition and sale of agricultural and artisan products, rural sports, elaboration of blood sausages, dance and music shows, a tribute to the baserritarras of the area, tasting of chestnuts, burning and scraping the pig, ... and Txarripatas Gastronomic Contest (pig hands). From Febuary 3rd and 4th.
• In Abadiño. Agricultural, livestock and artisan fair of San Blas. Special activities for children, Basque sports, bertsolaris shows (sudden poets) and exhibitions of dragging stones with oxen are organized. February 3rd and 4th.
• Kastrexana (Barakaldo). Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Santa Águeda. It is the patron of women and fertility. The main pilgrimage on February 5th, and two others: one the previous Sunday and another the following Sunday. On February 4th, choirs and gangs roam the streets singing in honor of the Holy and accompany their songs with rods and sticks ("makilas") with which the ground is beaten rhythmically.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Feast of Saint Agatha. Traditional rounds singing couplets in honor of the martyrdom and death of the saint in the neighborhoods, accompanied by the sounds produced by rods and canes that hit the ground to the rhythm of the couplet. February 4th and 5th.
• In Mundaka. Carnivals: Aratuste. The most important carnival in Bizkaia, since 1841. In the morning the men come out in their white dresses like atorrak, and in the afternoon the women like lamiak. They represent themes of Basque local mythology. They represent themes of Basque local mythology. From February 10th until 13th.
• In Alava. Carnival Celebrations: Vitoria-Gasteiz,  Santa Cruz de Campezo, Zalduondo, Agurain, Salcedo and Laudio. From February 18th until 25th.
• In Biscay. Carnival Celebrations: Bilbao, Mundaka and Markina-Xemein.  Concerts, dance shows, tastings and various competitions, various activities… From February 18th until 25th.
• In Tolosa. Carnival.The most multitudinous and popular carnivals of the Basque Country. From February 20th until 25th.
• In Gipuzcoa. Carnival Celebrations: San Sebastián, Azpeitia, Antzuola, Amezketa, Abaltzisketa and Aretxabaleta. From February 20th until 25th.
• In San Sebastian. "Don Giovanni", Mozart's opera. Opus Lirica Orchestra. Adao Chorus Kursaal Auditorium. February 21st and 22nd.

Small-Format Sorolla.
Bilbao Fine Arts Museum.
From November 20th, 2019 until February 23rd, 2020.

 Regarding arts, congress and exhibits in Basque Country:

• In Bilbao. Exhibition: ABC. The alphabet of the Bilbao Museum. With this expo the 110th birthday of the museum is celebrated. Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. From October 6^th, 2018 until December 30^th, 2020.
• In Bilbao. J. S. Elkano. Behind the footprint. He delves into the biography of Juan Sebastian Elkano (1487 / 88-1526), and allows him to follow his vital mark, before, during and after the first circumnavigation of the Earth. Maritime Museum. From June 26th, 2019 until June 26th, 2020.
• In Bilbao. Egypt in Bilbao. Replicas by hand of several of the most notorious monuments of Egypt, along with other sculptures, sarcophagi and objects of ancient Egypt. Deusto Expo Center. From July 27th, 2019 until April 30th, 2020.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Elena Mendizabal: Sculpture. It also shows a series of photographs, drawings or collages, of which the exhibition incorporates significant pieces. Artium Museum. From November 8^th, 2019 until May 3^rd, 2020.
• In Billbao. Soto: The fourth dimension. Retrospective of the work of the Venezuelan painter Jesus Rafael Soto. Guggenheim Museum. From October 18th, 2019 - February 9th, 2020.
• In Bilbao. Kunsthalle Bremen masterpieces: from Delacroix to Beckmann. Collection of sculptures, engravings and drawings, focused on art in Germany and France from the 19th century until the middle of the 20th century. Guggenheim museum. From October 25th, 2019 until February 16th, 2020.
• In Bilbao. Small-Format Sorolla. Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. From November 20th, 2019 until February 23rd, 2020.
• In Hernani. Eduardo Chillida: Seeking the light expo. From a trip that the sculptor made in 1963 through Greece, Italy and French Provence in which he discovers new concepts around light and architecture. Squeak Leku. From December 6^th, 2019 until June 1^st 2020.
• In Bilbao. Olafur Eliasson: In real life. Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson places the viewer's experience at the core of his art. Guggenheim Museum. From February 14th until June 21st.
• In Bilbao. Creative Trend Fair. Crafts Hall. Bilbao Exhibition Center. From January 30th to February 2nd.
• In Bilbao. Annie The musical. A contextualized musical in New York City in the 1930s. Champs Elysees Theater. From January 31st to February 2nd.
• In Bilbao. Jekyll & Hyde. The Broadway Musical. Based on the novel ‘The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ by Robert L. Stevenson. Champs Elysees Theater. From January 31st to February 2nd.
• In Bilbao. A Chorus Line. Directed and choreographed by Baayork Lee and co-directed by Antonio Banderas. Arriaga Theater. From February 6th until 16th.
• In San Sebastian. Tina Turner Tribute: Simply the Best. Kursaal Auditorium. February 15th.
• In Biarritz. Dance Season - Cie Dantzaz. As part of Bi Harriz Lau Xori, Week of Basque expressions and elsewhere. Larreko Room. February 15th.
• In Bilbao. Opera: The Fanciulla of the West (Giacomo Puccini). Euskalduna Palace. February 15th, 18th, 21st and 24th.
• In Bilbao. Krego-Martin Dance: “Discomfort Zone” is immersed in the state of concern and the feeling of discomfort felt by humans when they feel exposed and vulnerable. Arriaga Theater. February 18th.
• In Biarritz. Eloize Circus - Saloon. An exceptional show for the whole family. Gare Du Midi Theatre. February 19th.
• In Bilbao. Expocadena, the private fair of Ehlis. Bilbao Exhibition Center. February 21st and 22nd. The Expocadena Congress will be the day before the beginning of the contest, on February 20th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Umbra Light Festival: 'Urbanisms of light. New urban landscapes. February 21st, 22nd and 23rd.
• In Bilbao. Tina Turner Tribute: Typically Tina. Campos Eliseos Theater. February 22nd.
• In Bilbao. Zinegoak: XVII Bilbao’s International GayLesboTrans Film and Performing Arts Festival. Bilborock Hall, BilbaoArte and The Golem Cinemas. From February 24th until March 8th.
• In Bilbao. The director Leonard Slatkin with the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra. Euskalduna Palace. February 27th and 28th.
• In Bilbao. Richard Artschwager. Exhibition co-organized by the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and MART - Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto. From February 28th until May 10th.
• In Bilbao. XI Japan Weekend. For fans of manga, anime and Japanese culture. Bilbao Exhibition Centre. February 29th.
• In Bilbao. Goran Bregovic presents a new album, titled ‘Three letters from Sarajevo‘. Author of the soundtracks of several world-famous films. Euskalduna Palace. February 29th.
• In Bilbao. Michael’s Legacy. Jackson Dance Company. Campos Eliseos Theater. February 29th and March 1st.
• In Getaria. Fashion and Heritage: Cristóbal. It puts the focus on Cristóbal Balenciaga himself and the imprint he has left behind as a person through various objects that belonged to him and that have been collected in the Museum's collections. Part of the annual program for the 125th anniversary of his birth. Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum. From February 29^th to June 22^nd.

XIV Punta Galea Challenge: Big Wave Tour in Europe.
From November 1^st, 2019 until and March 31, 2020.

Regarding Basque sport:

• In Getxo. XIV 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 November 1^st, 2019 until and March 31, 2020.

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

Enjoy the Basque Country!