{"id":15305,"date":"2023-11-06T17:00:08","date_gmt":"2023-11-06T16:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/highlights\/hiri-besta-basque-festival\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T13:22:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T11:22:36","slug":"hiri-besta-basque-festival","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/en\/events\/hiri-besta-basque-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiri Besta &amp; Basque Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><div class=\"highlight-bloc-container \" id=\"ts-block-65368af54ee28\"  >\n\t<div class=\"highlight-bloc-content\">\n\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading suptitle\">A showcase for Hendaye&#8217;s activities, the F\u00eate Basque is the must-attend event of a summer on the Basque Coast, held every year on the 2nd weekend of August.<\/h2>\n\n<\/div>\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light alert\" style=\"min-height:107px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-light-blue-background-color has-background-dim-100 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-blue-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dates: <\/strong>August 7 &#8211; 8 &#8211; 9, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\">\u26a0\ufe0f <strong>Fireworks display on 9 August cancelled by prefectural order<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-center\" style=\"grid-template-columns:35% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"682\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/affiche-fete-basque-2026-ville-dhendaye-hendaye-tourisme-682x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Affiche F\u00eate Basque 2026 - Ville d'Hendaye - Hendaye Tourisme\" class=\"wp-image-150741 size-medium\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/affiche-fete-basque-2026-ville-dhendaye-hendaye-tourisme-682x1024.jpg 682w, https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/affiche-fete-basque-2026-ville-dhendaye-hendaye-tourisme-400x600.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/affiche-fete-basque-2026-ville-dhendaye-hendaye-tourisme-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/affiche-fete-basque-2026-ville-dhendaye-hendaye-tourisme.jpg 933w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Hendaye, the <strong>F\u00eate Basque<\/strong> was born thanks to the initiative of mayor L\u00e9on Lannepouquet and his Comit\u00e9 des F\u00eates. Originally, it was called the &#8220;Grande Kermesse Basque&#8221;. The date chosen was <strong>Sunday August 31, 1930<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A twofold objective was set:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To entertain and interest the audience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To demonstrate that the legendary customs of the Basque Country were alive and well, and that they would be an attraction for visitors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.calameo.com\/hendaye-tourisme\/read\/000015201913bc25c23d7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Download the programme for<br>Hiri Besta &#8211; Basque Festival 2026<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3 days of festivities kick off in the streets of the city center, with many associations offering meals and entertainment: this is Hiri Besta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since 2004, a number of associations and the Comit\u00e9 des F\u00eates have been working together to develop 2 additional days of festivities around the F\u00eate Basque, with a wide range of events: <strong>Hiri-Besta (the downtown festival)<\/strong> was born.<br>Blue and white are the colors of these 2 days.<br><br>Then on Sunday, it&#8217;s time for the cavalcade, a parade of floats that winds its way through the town, closely followed by the bandas, ending at the Ondarraitz stadium. The day is punctuated by a fireworks display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-group alignfull wave has-white-color has-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:300\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center tilde has-white-color has-text-color\">La F\u00eate Basque: THE festive event of the year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Historically, this festival was not confined to Basque dancing, as in the other provinces of the Northern Basque Country. Under the aegis of the Comit\u00e9 des F\u00eates, the most aware Hendayans designed <strong>floats representing various scenes from the life of the Basque<\/strong> people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"12516\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hiri-Besta-Fete-Basque-Hendaye-Tourisme-6-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Theme float during the Hendaye Basque Festival cavalcade - Hendaye Tourisme\" class=\"wp-image-12516\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hiri-Besta-Fete-Basque-Hendaye-Tourisme-6-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hiri-Besta-Fete-Basque-Hendaye-Tourisme-6-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hiri-Besta-Fete-Basque-Hendaye-Tourisme-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hiri-Besta-Fete-Basque-Hendaye-Tourisme-6.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"12513\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hiri-Besta-Fete-Basque-Hendaye-Tourisme-7-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Basque dances during the Hendaye Basque Festival cavalcade - Hendaye Tourisme\" class=\"wp-image-12513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hiri-Besta-Fete-Basque-Hendaye-Tourisme-7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hiri-Besta-Fete-Basque-Hendaye-Tourisme-7-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hiri-Besta-Fete-Basque-Hendaye-Tourisme-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Hiri-Besta-Fete-Basque-Hendaye-Tourisme-7.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"12522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/image-30_1510235104-80887687-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Float during the Hendaye Basque Festival cavalcade, arriving at the Plage district - Hendaye Tourisme\" class=\"wp-image-12522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/image-30_1510235104-80887687-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/image-30_1510235104-80887687-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/image-30_1510235104-80887687-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/image-30_1510235104-80887687.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To ensure the authenticity of the festival, the Mayor invited young people to take part in the event <strong>in traditional dress<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For men: Chamara (blouse), &#8220;milrayas&#8221; pants, checked scarf, abarkas (sandals)&#8230;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For women: Lepokoa (small shawl), blouse and bolero, apron with petticoat, espadrilles&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The cavalcade<\/strong> is opened by the Mayor and the parish priest, seated in their carriage. The dozen or so floats parade from the &#8220;Gare&#8221; district to the &#8220;Plage&#8221; district, to the sound of bandas and txarangas, the brass bands that play traditional Basque tunes. Groups of Basque dancers also enliven the procession.<br>Usually, it&#8217;s the float symbolizing the cider factory with the kupela (barrel) that brings the procession to a close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cavalcade ends its run at the Ondarraitz stadium, where all Hendayans from near and far gather. The curtain falls on this long weekend of festivities with the <strong>fireworks<\/strong> and ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Hiri Besta &#8211; The Basque festival on video<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"1080\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1920 \/ 1080;\" width=\"1920\" controls loop muted poster=\"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ouverture-hiri-besta-fete-basque-hendaye-tourisme.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/hiri-besta-fete-basque-paysage-1080p-hendaye-tourisme.mp4\" playsinline><\/video><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-dagr-0730-police-de-la-circulation-et-du-stationnement-\u2013hiri-besta-fete-basque-\u2013-animations-du-07-au-09-aout-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Municipal by-laws for Basque Festival 2026<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Hendaye, the F\u00eate Basque was born thanks to the initiative of mayor L\u00e9on Lannepouquet and his Comit\u00e9 des F\u00eates. Originally, it was called the &#8220;Grande Kermesse Basque&#8221;. The date chosen was Sunday August 31, 1930. A twofold objective was set: 3 days of festivities kick off in the streets [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":61627,"parent":15194,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"Hiri Besta & F\u00eate Basque | Hendaye Tourist Office","_seopress_titles_desc":"A showcase for Hendaye's activities, the F\u00eate Basque is the must-attend summer event on the Basque Coast, held every year on the 2nd weekend of August...","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15305","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15305"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":156338,"href":"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15305\/revisions\/156338"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15194"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hendaye-tourisme.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}