What to do in the Basque Country Events – Agenda April 2020

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

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

Please, note that some of the events below may change due to regulations to control Covid-19.

Zarautz Parrilan: Championship of grills of the Basque Country.
The best grills will cook grilled meat and fish. In Zarautz.  the Plaza Munoa. April from 24th until 26th

Regarding traditions and festivities in Basque region:

• 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 15th and runs until May 24th.
• In Ordizia. Agricultural Fair. Farm products fair. Every Wednesday.
• In Hondarribia. Agricultural Fair. Sale of local products, Wednesdays at Damarri Plaza and Saturdays at the Port.
• In Mungia. Peasant Market. Exhibition and sale of farm products. Every Friday.
• In Bilbao. Gure Lurreko Merkatuak. Market of products of the hamlets of Bizkaia, made in a traditional way by their farmers, with Basque varieties and native breeds. Slow food, natural and local foods. Tinglados del Arenal. Every Saturday.
• In Tolosa. Agricultural Fair. Farm products fair. Every Saturday.
• In Irun. Agricultural Fair. Vegetable Fair. Every Saturday.
• In Bilbao. Flower and plant market. Flowers and plants grown and collected directly by local producers. A melting pot of colors and smells. Tinglados del Arenal. Every Sunday.
• In Llodio. Cattle market. Exhibition and sale of products. Sample of cattle, sheep, horses and goats. Stone drag by oxen. April 3^rd.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. The Napoleonic Market. It gathers, during a whole weekend, more than 140 stalls of gastronomy and local products. In addition there are activities, performances, theaters, parades, recreations and characters from the time of the French occupation for all audiences. Arriaga Park. From April 3rd until 5th.
• In Bilbao. IX Spring Handicraft Fair. Exhibition and sale of crafts and agrofood. April 3^rd until 13^th.
• In Tolosa. Ardo zuri Txokoa. IV edition. Tasting of different white wines. April 4th.
• In Mutriku. XXV edition Verdel day. Popular tasting of greenfish. April 4th.
• In Aia. Txakoli Wine Day. 20 producers of the Getaria Denomination of Origin from Aia, Getaria and Zarautz villages, will show their products on April 5th.
• In Larrabetzu. Txorierri Txakoli Wine Day. Tasting of txakoli from Txorierri. April 5th.
• Easter is celebrated all over the Basque Country from April 5^th until 13^th this year, and these are the best places to see something different in your visit: 
• Segura (Gipuzkoa) and Balmaseda (9th and 10th). These have famous living performance by locals representing the last days of Jesus Christ life from the 1600s.
• Bilbao and Vitoria and other smaller towns have traditional parades which take out of the churches images and march in an old traditional penitent dressing (dressing that some foreigners wrongly confused by some foreigners with Ku Klux Clan costumes).
• Hondarribia. Religious processions dating back to the begining of the 1600s. 
• Laudio - Llodio, Alava - Araba, The Traditional "Friday of Sorrows". A festival originally granted by the Christian Catholic Church to the locals to enjoy meat during Easter. Nowadays a lively market to see Basque farmers showing best of their horses, goats, sheeps, cattle, etc. Exhibit of Basque Traditional Sport of stone pulling by oxes. 
• Bergara. Ramos Saturday Fair. On the eve of Palm Sunday, the city of Bergara organizes a cattle and agricultural fair. It is preceded by a bertsolaris festival on Friday night.
• In Bilbao. Basque Fest. Exhibitions of art, dance and street theater, children's entertainment, craft fairs, concerts, samples of Basque design and traditional sports exhibitions. From April 8^th until 12^th.
• In Durango. TopaKlown 2020 clown meeting. From April 8^th to 12th.
• In Bilbao. Basque Fest Gourmet. Exhibition space of tourist regions of Euskadi with information about its destinations and its enogastronomic attractions, free express tastings, workshops and activities. From April 9th until 11th.
• In Bayonne. Ham Fair. For Bayonne, the ham fair is a highlight, convivial, unmissable, the honor of a terroir and traditional craftsmanship. Quais of Nive. From April 9^th until 12^th.
• In San Sebastian. Spring Fair. Exhibition and sale of crafts. April 9th to 19th.
• In Biarritz. Antiques fair. Antiques - Vintage - Contemporary art. Halle d'Iraty. From Abril 10th to 13th.
• In Tolosa. Karacol Saltsa. Snail tasting. April 11^th.
• In Ordizia. Shepherd’s Day. Exhibition and sale of rams. Tasting of lamb. Presentation of the new Idiazabal Cheese campaign. Artisan products from Goierri. April 15th.
• In Bayonne. Resilient. Cia "Flamencos de Luz". La Luna Negra. April 17th and 18th.
• In Villabona. V Craft beer fair of the Basque Country. April 18th.
• In Elciego. Market of the flower and the orchard. IX Exhibition and sale of: plants, vegetables, preserves, ornamentation, machinery for garden and vegetable garden. April 18th.
• In Bilbao. Agricultural Fair of Santutxu. Sale and exhibition of farm products. April 19th.
• Biarritz. Spring Market. Nearly 150 boutiques in Biarritz offer the largest brands at the best prices. Ready-to-wear, lingerie, shoes, fashion accessories, luggage, perfumes and beauty products, home decoration, table linen and home.... From April 24th until 26th.
• In Zarautz. Zarautz Parrilan: Championship of grills of the Basque Country. The best grills will cook grilled meat and fish. Two juries, one professional and one popular. And many other activities: lectures, popular food, pintxos tasting.... At the Plaza Munoa. April from 24th until 26th.
• In Errenteria. XXXII edition of Cider Day. Tasting of different ciders of the Basque Country. Demonstration of apple picking and old cider production. April 25th.
• In Bayonne. Baionan Kantuz: Basque Chants Traditionals. Place Lacarre April 25^th.
• In Biarritz. Disco Fever or Saturday night fever… Relive the fervor of the disco years for an exceptional evening!! More than 12 artists on stage! Gare Du Midi Theater. April 25th.
• In Aia. XVII Fair of collection plants. Iturraran Botanical Garden. April 25th & 26th.
• In Ujue, Navarre. Religious Pilgrimage which dates back to 1043 A.D. The pilgrimages to Ujué arises from the neighbors of Tafalla to thank the Virgin for her victory in the battle against the King of Aragon. April 26^th
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Feast of San Prudencio and Our Lady of Estíbaliz.. From April 27^th until May 1^st.

XIV Feline International Exhibition.
AMOBS-STAR is a feline club that organizes exhibitions
reserved for purebred cats with pedigree.
In Irun. April 4th and 5th.

Regarding arts and exhibits in Basque region:

• 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 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. 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 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.
• In San Sebastian. Basque Country Symphony Orchestra. Sheherazade: Beethoven, Bartok and Rimsky-Korsakov. Kursaal Palace. March 30th and April 1^st.
• In Bilbao. Gutun Zuria Festival 2020. International Festival of Letters of Bilbao, a meeting point for international, national and local writers and writers with the public, thanks to a format of talks that is close and open to conversation. Azkuna Center. From March 31^st until April 4^th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Carmen.maquia. Best Dance Show at the 2019 Valencian Performing Arts Awards. Qualified by Chicago Sun as a masterpiece. Antzokia Theater. April 1^st.
• In Bilbao. Noa: "Letters to Bach". Internationally recognized singer. Arriaga Theater. April 1^st.
• In Bilbao. Akram Khan Company: "Outwitting the Devil". Dance. Arriaga Theater. April 3^rd and 4^th.
• In San Sebastian. COMIK-D. International comic and manga show with exhibitions and spaces for conversation. Card championships, board games, surprises.... Kursaal Congress Center. From April 3rd to 5th.
• In San Sebastian. "Requiem," Mozart. Kammerchor Stuttgart and Hofkapelle Stuttgart. Kursaal Auditorium. April 4^th.
• In Irun. XIV Feline International Exhibition. AMOBS-STAR is a feline club that organizes exhibitions reserved for purebred cats with pedigree, founded in the 1990s. Ficoba. April 4th and 5th.
• In Bilbao. James Rhodes Concerts. Arriaga Theater. April 5th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. From New Orleans to Abbey Road. Municipal Band of Music. Antzokia Theater. April 5th.
• In Bilbao. Concerts "Jesu, meine Freude". Choral Society of Bilbao and the Diatessaron Ensemble. Choir and motets selection by Juan Sebastian Bach. Arriaga Theater. April 8th.
• In Biarritz. Beautiful days of the Music Festival. Municipal Casino Theater. From Abril 10^th to17th.
• In Bilbao. “Winterreise” staged concert (winter trip). Cycle of 24 Lieder by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) on poems by Wilhelm Müller (1794-1827). Arriaga Theater. April 15th.
• In Saint Jean de Luz. Concert by Basque choirs LÁrin. Church of Saint John the Baptist. April 16th.
• In Bilbao. Bilbao Symphony Concert: The 6th of Dvorák by Shiyeon Sung. Euskalduna Palace. April 16th and 17th.
• In Biarritz. 3rd Beer Festival edition. More than 400 beers on 2500m². 1st professional and general public festival in Aquitaine entirely dedicated to beer. Halle d'Iraty. From April 17^th to19th.
• In Saint Jean de Luz. Book Fair and Vinyl Record. Harbor grill. From April 17^th until 21^st.
• In Bilbao. "Container" Magician Yunke. Up to fifteen spectacular original numbers of the wizard Yunke. Campos Eliseos Theater. April 18th and 19th.
• In Saint Pée sur. Dance Season - Solos. Five choreographers with diverse aesthetics offer a series of solos for a singular representation rich in emotions. Larreko room. April 19^th.
• In Bilbao. National championship of modern and urban dance of the Basque Country. Bilbao Exhibition Center. April 19th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Technical meeting of the European Green Capital Network. Palace of Congresses Europe. From April 21st to 23rd.
• In San Sebastian. Day of the book. A good opportunity to buy the latest books published or the classics of literature. Plaza de Gipuzkoa. April 23^rd.
• In Bilbao. Euskalduna Flamenco: Faro. Dance and sing flamenco. Euskalduna Palace. April 23^rd.
• In Bilbao. X Used Vehicles Fair. Bilbao Exhibition Center. From April 23rd to 26th.
• In San Sebastian. 18th Cinema and Human Rights Film Festival. Victoria Eugenia Theater. From April 23^rd until 30th.
• In Saint Jean de Luz. Concert by Basque choirs Goraki. Church of Saint John the Baptist. April 24th.
• In Bilbao. Expovacaciones (fair). Raffles, exhibitions, tastings and activities related to the promotion of the tourism sector will be held. Bilbao Exhibition Center. April 24^th to 26th.
• In Bilbao. The Rossini concert: Giovanna D’Arco & Stabat Mater. ABAO Bilbao Opera. Euskalduna Palace. April 25th.
• In San Sebastian. 2020 Beethoven 250: Beethoven and its time. Kursaal Auditorium. April 26th.
• In Bilbao. Ainhoa Arteta: The other shore. Latin American music songs. Euskalduna Palace. April 26th.
• In Biarritz. Oldarra - Men's choir from the Basque Country. Oldarra (meaning moose in Basque) is composed of forty amateur singers. Direction of Iñaki Urtizberea. He interprets, a capella, both religious and secular polyphonic works. Sainte Eugenie Church. April 27^th.
• In San Sebastian. The Golden rule. Basque Country Symphony Orchestra. Bartok and Brahms. Kursaal Auditorium. April 27^th and 30^th.
• In San Sebastian. XXIV Gala of the International Dance Day displays a wide range of dance styles, thanks to the altruistic collaboration of dancers and companies, with a special accent on the performers and home formations. Victoria Eugenia Theater. April 29th.
• In Bilbao. The Golden rule. Basque Country Symphony Orchestra. Bartok and Brahms. Euskalduna Palace. April 29th.
• In San Sebastian. The Norwegian Radio Orchestra. Kursaal Auditorium. April 29th.
• In Saint Jean de Luz. Concert by Basque choirs Itsasoa. Church of Saint John the Baptist. April 30th.
• In Socoa. Puppet show. Show for the youth public. Untxin-Socoa parking. From April 30th to May 3rd.

36th edition of Biarritz Quiksilver Maïder Arostéguy.
It is the oldest surf competition in Europe.
In Biarritz. April 11th until 13th.

Regarding Basque sports: 

• In Biarritz. Basque ball in tip basket. French Championship "Elite". Every Thursday at 9 p.m. Biarritz Jaï Alaï. February, March, and April. Supplementary day Sunday, April 12th.
• In Bilbao. 40th Engineers-Deusto Regatta. Each year this Olympic rowing competition pits the Engineer School and University of Deusto crews against each other, two prestigious university centres with over a century of history in teaching and sports. Bilbao River. April 4th.
• In San Sebastian. 43rd edition of the "San Sebastian City International Chess Open”. This is a very well-known event among chess lovers, and players will come to compete from across the globe. Karmelo Balda pelota court. Anoeta. From March 4th until 10th.
• In San Sebastian. Half marathon of San Sebastian: 21,097 km. Paseo de la Zurriola. April 5th.
• In Bilbao. Downhill International Cup. Extreme downhill cycling competition for the UCI World Championship and the Spanish Open. April 5th.
• Cycling Tour of the Basque Country. The contest in northern Spain is a feast for climbers and puncheurs, as the Basque Country is teeming with sharp hills and mountains. From April 6th to 12th.
• In Biarritz. 36th edition of Biarritz Quiksilver Maïder Arostéguy. It is the oldest surf competition in Europe. This meeting of the Easter weekend in Biarritz brought together 250 surfers from all over France (Brittany, the Mediterranean, the Landes, the Royal countries, the Basque country) but also Spanish Basques, Italians and other European nationalities. From April 11th until 13th.
• In Zarautz. Surf World Championship "Pro Surf”. In the programm you can also include: films, several concerts, exhibitions, volleyball, footbal and skate exhibits. From April 15th until 19th.
• In Vitoria. II Gymnastics International Open. Fernando Buesa Arena Pavilion. April 17th, 18th and 19th.
• In Vitoria-Gasteiz. XXXV Popular Run Vitoria-Gasteiz - Estibaliz: 15,075 km. April 19th.
• In Biarritz. X Riders. Festival of extreme sports motorcycle and bicycle: Three sessions of 2h15 per day. Halle d'Iraty. April 25^th and 26^th.

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

Enjoy the Basque Country!

You can also contact us or expand information through the new website that we launched in December 2019.