TRADITIONS, ART, MUSIC, EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS BASQUE AGENDA. OCTOBER 2020.
A list of best events for the traveler in October 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…
Please note that some of the events below may change due to regulations to
control Covid-19.
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| Pyrenean beef championship of the Basque Country. In Gernika-Lumo. October 4th and 5th. |
Best Basques traditions and festivities in Basque Country:
- 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 Gernika-Lumo. Sukalki Eguna. Cod Day. Tasting of cod & wines. Horticultural fair. Exhibition and sale of Basque crafts. October 3rd.
- In Karrantza. Cattle, agricultural and artisan fair. Carranza 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 3rd.
- 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 3rd.
- In Eibar. Sagardo Eguna. Cider Fair. Cider tasting. October 3th.
- In Abanto-Zierbena. Fishing fair. Kantauri Fest. Fair dedicated to the sea. Seafood (canning), agricultural products, and nautical crafts. It is the largest concentration of vessels in Biscay. October 3rd and 4th.
- In Bilbao. Deusto agricultural fair. XXXII edition. Exhibition and sale of agricultural products. October 4th.
- In Elorrio. Flaunt of the Errebombillos. Pilgrimages and lamb tasting. The origin of this celebration dates from the 16th century. October 4th.
- In Gernika-Lumo. Pyrenean beef championship of the Basque Country. Exhibition of livestock material, cider stands, txakoli and cheese, livestock competition, auction, demonstrations related to the rural world... and performance of the bertsolaris. From October 4th and 5th.
- In Salvatierra. DCXXV Livestock Fair. XIII Horse Competition of the mountain of the Basque Country. XXXIV Provincial Shepherd Cheese Contest. Exhibition of cattle, sheep, machinery, sale of crafts, gastronomy and products from the Basque Country. October 6th.
- 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 6th.
- In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Great Week of Pintxo de Álava. Competition between the pintxos (Basque tapas) that are presented in the competition. Tasting phase: from next October 9th to 18th. Final phase: October 22nd.
- In Bilbo. Feast of the Virgin of Begoña. Song of the ‘Hail of the txikiteros’ in front of the niche of the Amatxu, located in the building of La Bolsa, in the Old Town, and offering of flowers dedicated to the virgin. At noon simultaneous concerts will be offered at Plaza Unamuno and Plaza Nueva or Iturribide and Barrenkale streets. And at 20:00, the Salve song will take place. October 11th. Cancelled.
- 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 11th.
- In Saint Jean de Luz. Professional competition: Pintxo (Basque tapa) day. Halls. Boulevard Victor Hugo. October 12th and 17th.
- In Durango. Festival Saint Faust. Performances of Bertsolaris, Trikitilaris, Dantzaris, Dulzaineros and Txistularis. Competitions of various kinds, popular foods, mycological exhibitions, pilgrimages or Basque sports activities (herri-kirolak, basketball, archery ...). October 17th.
- In Basauri. Festival Saint Faust. The emblematic zurrakapote acquires prominence in these holidays. October 17th and 18th.
- In Idiazabal. Food Fair. Basque Country Shepherd Cheese Contest. Sale of cheese and products of hamlet, workshops and exhibition of local cattle. October 18th.
- In Saint Jean de Luz. The October cooking workshop. Halls. Boulevard Victor Hugo. October 18th.
- In Leintz-Gatzaga. Salt Day. IV Ecological Fair. Guided visits to the Salt Museum and the mountain. Workshops for children and workshops to make salt soap. October 18th.
- In Villabuena de Valdegovía. Valdegovía Potato Fair. XXIX edition. Exhibition and sale of native potato varieties. Gastronomic tasting based on potatoes. Crafts Fair. Regional market of producers of Añana. Basque rural sport. Sheepdog job sign. October 18th.
- In Okondo. Agricultural and livestock fair. Udazken Azoka: Poultry, farm products and Trikitixa championship. October 18th.
- In Arretxabaleta. Gastronomic and folkloric fair. Tasting and sale of food. Homemade Patxaran contest. October 18th.
- In Balmaseda. Food Fair. International Putxeras Competition during the San Severino festivities. Popular festival since 1971. Popular contest based on beans, bacon, chorizo, rib and blood sausage. October 23rd.
- In Zaldibia. Ardiki Eguna. Sheep day. Popular festival since 1994. Mondejus Championship (a kind of local white blood sausage) and the Aralar Shepherd Cheese Contest. A multitude of animals (pottokas, sheep, rams ...) and products such as sheep meat, cheese and land. October 25th.
- 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 26th.
- In Tolosa. Goxua. Candy Fair. Sale of pastry products. October 31st.
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| Concert by the Basque pianist Antonio Oyarzabal. In Bilbao. October 27th. |
Regarding arts and exhibits in Basque Country:
- In Bilbao. Exhibition: "J. S. Elkano. After the
Footprint". It delves into the biography of Juan Sebastian
Elkano (1487/88 -1526), and allows the visitor to follow his life imprint,
before, during and after the first circumnavigation of the Earth. Basque
Maritime Museum. Until December 2020.
- 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 6th, 2018 until December 30th, 2020.
- In San Sebastian. Exhibition: “Elkano. The first travel around
the world". The expo claims that the first circumnavigation
was possible thanks to Elcano's initiative and his nautical knowledge.
Basque Maritime Museum. From November 27, 2019 to December 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.
Chillida Leku. From December 6th, 2019 until January 30th 2021.
- 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 April 4th, 2021.
- In Getaria. Fashion and Heritage: Cristobal. 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. Cristobal Balenciaga Museum. From
February 29th to January 10th, 2021.
- In Bilbao. Exhibition Lygia Clark: Painting as an experimental
field, 1948−1958. Pioneer of abstraction, the Brazilian Lygia Clark
was a fundamental artist of the second half of the 20th century.
Guggenheim museum. From March 6th until October 25th.
- In San Sebastian. Margaret Watkins: Black Light.
Exhibition with the work of a reference photographer from the 20th
century. International Center for Contemporary Culture Tabakalera. From
June 19th until October 25th.
- In Vitoria-Gasteiz. The culture of Álava, more alive than
ever. A new Circuit of Street Arts, rock concerts, jazz,
classical music, organ, the Festival of Theater of Humor of Araia and its
itinerary through the Territory, MagialdiAraba, or the week of Ancient
Music of Álava are some of the events scheduled in more than 40
municipalities and around 50 towns in Alava. From July 3rd to October
18th.
- In Biarritz. Exhibition "And
Eugenie created Biarritz, Imperial City". Commemorate the
100th anniversary of the death of Empress Eugenie de Montijo, July 11th,
1920. The exhibition is an invitation to discover these stays of the
imperial couple, between 1854 and 1868. Historical Museum. From July 11th
until October 10th.
- In Bayonne. Exhibition: La Poterie D'Art de Ciboure 1919 -
1995. Basque Museum of Bayonne. From July 18th to January 3rd, 2021.
- In San Sebastian. Exhibition "Postigo: Chronicle of a
time". Sample of the social, cultural, sports and political
chronicle from the 70s to the 90s of the photojournalist Fernando Postigo.
San Telmo Museum. From July 30th to November 1st.
- In Bilbao. Exposure “Lee
Krasner: Living color”. Retrospective of the pioneer of North American
abstract expressionism Lee Krasner
(1908-1984). Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. From September 18th until
January 10th, 2021.
- In Bayonne. Exhibition Raphaël in Bayonne: the master, his
pupils, his copyists in the collections of the Bonnat-Helleu museum. 2020
marks the five hundred years since the death of Raffaello Santi dit
Raphaël (1483-1520), genius of the Italian Renaissance. From September
19th to October 4th.
- In Biarritz. Latinamerican cinema & Culture Festival of Biarritz. From September 30th until October 6th.
- In Biarritz. Solutions for the Home Fair and Real Estate Fair. Solutions in the Eco Habitat, Habitat, Home, Decoration, Real Estate, Wooden House and Exteriors. Rue de Pitchot. From October 1st to 4th.
- In Irun. 4th Caravantur Fair. Exhibition, sale
and rental of caravans, motorhomes, camper, vans and caravan accessories.
Ficoba. From October 1st until 4th.
- In Getaria. 1st International Congress on Cristóbal Balenciaga.
Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum. 125th anniversary of the birth of the
brilliant dressmaker. October 1st and 2nd.
- In Pasaia. Dance Festival.
From classical proposals to contemporary dance. From October 1st until
4th.
- In Bilbao, Getxo and San Sebastian. From Gernika to New York, passing through Berlin. Play based
on the diary written by the Lehendakari Jose Antonio Agirre about his
journey through exile. Arriaga Theater in Bilbao (October 1st and 2nd),
the Victoria Eugenia in San Sebastián (October 3rd) and Muxiketabarri in
Getxo (October 12th).
- In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Travellin
'Brothers + Mississippi Queen & The Wet Dogs. Jimmy Jazz Room.
October 2nd.
- In Bilbao. Retro Classic Bilbao
2020. X Classic, vintage and
collection vehicle fair. BEC y Eventos del Motor, S.L. Bilbao
Exhibition Center. From October 2nd until 4th.
- In Bilbao. XI Humor Festival. Ja! Bilbao is a
festival that highlights the importance of humors in the arts,
particularly in literature. Sala BBK, Alhóndiga Bilbao, Mercado de la
Ribera, Campos Elíseos Theatre. From October 2nd until 11th.
- In Bilbao. Merche Tour 2020 Concert "It is
now". Euskalduna Palace- Room 0B. October 3rd.
- In Bayonne. Concert at the Cathedral. Les Chants du
Gong orchestra on October 3rd and Wind octet from the Biarritz Ensemble Orchestral on
October 17th.
- In San Sebastian. XXII 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. Digital and live. Kursaal Palace. From October 5th until 9th.
- In Saint Jean de Luz. International Film Festival. Cinema Le Sélect. From October 5th until 11th.
- In Bilbao. Marco Mezquida: The Dreams of Maurice Ravel.
Concert in collaboration between Teatro Arriaga - Bilbaína Jazz Club. October
6th.
- In Vitoria-Gasteiz. 45th International Theater Festival. They have room for all genres, from classical theater to the most avant-garde. Main Theater. From October 7th until December 21st.
- In San
Sebastian. Club de Creativos 2020.
Professional event on brands and creativity. Presentations, workshops,
exhibitions, and delivery of the National Creativity Awards. Kursaal Palace.
October 8th, 9th and 10th.
- In Biarritz. The Camping-Car fair. Halle d'Iraty. From October 8th until 11th.
- In San
Sebastian. “ARIMA Hotel Conference -
REIH® Plan - Passivhaus. First largest hotel in the world pre-certified
International Passivhaus”. ARIMA Hotel. October 9th.
- In Irun. Bioterra. Euskadi Fair for ecological
products, bio-construction, renewable energy and responsible consumption.
Ficoba. From October 9th until 12th.
- In Biarritz.
Jazz & Swing Biarritz invites The Herman Family Singers. Meal and
concert. Radisson Hotel. October 10th.
- In Biarritz.
Le Brouillarta. Painters, sculptors, watercolorists, pastry chefs, amateurs and
professionals expose their works to the public. Gardens of the Grande
Plage. October 10th and 11th.
- In Biarritz.
Rock the Ballet X - Classical dance,
jazz, hip-hop, taps, acrobatics and martial arts from young American dancers “The
Bad Boys of the Dance”. Midnight station. October 13th.
- In Bilbao. X Fair of Used Vehicles. Pre-owned
cars, management vehicles, from fleets and renting, and kilometer zero. Bilbao
Exhibibition Center. From October 15th until 18th.
- In Bilbao. IZARO's concert presenting his new LP
entitled "Limones en Invierno".
Euskalduna Palace - Auditorium. October 16th.
- In Bilbao. MASS: Choral works. From the
Swedish-American composer Steve Dobrogosz. Bilbao Choral Society and Bilbao
Sinfoneta. Arriaga Theater. October 16th.
- In Bilbao. XII Japan Weekend Bilbao. For fans of
manga, anime and Japanese culture. Bilbao Exhibition Center. October 17th.
- In Bilbao. Acrobat and Harlequin. Opera for children.
A show that brings together the universe of Picasso with music. Arriaga
Theater. October 17th and 18th.
- In Bilbao. Celebrates! Online 2020. Photography
and video brands, restaurants, hotels, travel agencies, DJs, jewelry stores,
florists, wedding planners, rental properties and unique places, tents and
catering, beauty and hairdressing centers, gifts and details, rental rentals
vehicular. Bilbao Exhibition Center. From October 17th until April 1st, 2021.
- In Biarritz.
Concert Wind octet of the Orchestral
Ensemble of Biarritz. From Bonn to Vienna, Mozart and Beethoven. Saint Andrew
Church, historical museum. October 18th.
- In Bilbao. The BAD Festival of Theater and Contemporary Dance, focuses its attention on new trends in the performing arts, with special attention on the works of living authors and the dialogue between the arts and other mediums such as music, video and performance. From October 15th until 25th.
- In Bilbao. Mikel Urdangarin solo concert
accompanied only by the piano. Euskalduna Palace - Room 0B. October 18th.
- 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 18th until November 15th.
- In Bilbao. Bilbao Seriesland. International Festival of Digital Series of the Basque Country. Meeting between creators of independent content. From October 19th until 23rd.
- In Bilbao.
Second part of the cycle "50 jewels
in the history of cinema". Dedicated to women who have stood out in
the world of film editing. Azkuna Zentroa. From October 21st until December
17th.
- In Bilbao. Basque DokFestival. Documentary photography
festival. Exhibitions, workshops and conferences. Bizkaia Aretoa. From
October 22nd until 25th. Cancelled.
- In Saint
Jean de Luz. Secondhand Book and Vinyl
Record Fair. Grill in the port of Saint Jean de Luz. From October 22nd
until 27th.
- In
Bilbao. Open House Bilbao.
Festival of open doors of Bilbao in more than 45 buildings to better understand
the city through its architecture and urbanism. Free guided tours. From next
October 24th and 25th.
- In Biarritz.
Celtic Legends - Connemara Tour. In
more than 15 years, the show has performed more than 2,500 times on all stages
of the planet, in front of more than 2.5 million spectators. Midnight station.
October 26th.
- In Bilbao. BIME Live 2020. Bizkaia International Music Experience is an international gathering of professionals from sectors that work around music. Concerts, talks, round tables, debates, conventions, presentations, fair and training are the ingredients that make up this international event for the unedited music industry in Spain. BEC Centre. From October 26th until 29th.
- In Bilbao. Concert by the Basque pianist Antonio
Oyarzabal. With the company of the soprano Ariadna Martínez and the actress
Karmele Larrinaga. Arriaga Theater. October 27th.
- In Biarritz.
Oldarra - Men's choir from the Basque
Country. Oldarra (which means elk in Basque) is made up of forty amateur
singers. He performs, a capella, both religious and secular polyphonic works.
Church of Sainte Eugénie. October 28th.
- In Biarritz.
Biarritz Halloween Festival. 7th
edition. Public garden. From October 28th until 31st.
- In San Sebastian. 31st Fantastic and Terror Film Week. With parallel activities: exhibitions, cycles, children's activities… October 30th until November 6th.
- In Biarritz.
The Basques have Chorus. Artists,
singers, musicians and dancers will respond, without any compensation, to the
appeal of Gorka Robles and Eric Cahuzac, President of the Peña Kimio
association. Midnight station. October 31st.
- In Bayonne.
The Halloween Village: several workshops and games are offered by street
associations on the theme of Halloween. Rue Sainte Catherine. October 31st.
- In Saint Jean de Luz. The city of fear: Halloween in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Downtown. October 31st.
- In Bilbao. Kandinsky at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
Paintings and works on paper and trace the aesthetic evolution of Kadinsky
throughout his career. From next November 20th until May 30th, 2021.
- In Zumaia. Ignacio Zuloaga cultural space. Studio of
famous Basque pintos of recognized international prestige. Santiago House.
Open from April to September. Private visits all year. Next opening in January 2021.
- In Bilbao. Exhibition: Bilbao
and painting. Selection of paintings made by artists who worked in
Bilbao in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From next January 29th,
2021 until August 29th, 2021.
- In Bilbao. The exhibition “The
Roaring Twenties” focuses on Berlin and Paris, but also includes looks
at other avant-garde hotbeds, such as Vienna and Zurich. It is a
cooperation between Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Kunsthaus Zürich. From
next April 30th, 2021 until September 19th, 2021.
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| Bilbao Menditrail. October 12th. |
Regarding Basque sports:
- In Biarritz. Basque ball with tip basket - Pro / Tour Circuit. Biarritz Jaï Alaï. October 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th.
- In Bayonne. Rugby top 14: Aviron Bayonnais vs Stade Rochelais. Jean Dauger Stadium. October 10th.
- In Bilbao. Bilbao Menditrail. Sports event that takes place in the surroundings of Bilbao, its green ring and its most emblematic peaks. October 12th.
- In Gorbeia, Anboto and Aizkorri. XXII Great Fund Test "Hiru Haundiak 2019". 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 17th. Cancelled.
- In San Sebastian. Classic popular pedestrian. For the center of the city the participants will complete a distance of 15 kilometers. October 20th. Cancelled.
- In Bilbao. Bilbao Night Marathon. Three different tests: the marathon (42 kilometers), the half marathon (21 kilometers) and the popular race (10 kilometers) through the heart of the city. Departure: San Mamés. Arrival: Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. October 24th. Cancelled
- In Labastida. 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 25th.
- In Bayonne. Rugby top 14: Rowing Bayonnais receives Toulon. Jean Dauger Stadium. October 31st.
And remember, if you are thinking to come to Bilbao, San Sebastian, Rioja, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Guernica, 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!
You can also contact us or expand information through the new website that we launched in December 2019
