From Wednesday, July 27 to Sunday, July 31, 2022, the Fêtes de Bayonne celebrate their 90th anniversary! Here’s our chance to tell you more about the Basque Country‘s biggest traditional festival.
Five days and five nights of partying
Created in 1932 and inspired by the Fêtes de Pampelune which saw its birth and growth, the Fêtes de Bayonne bring together over a million “festayres” dressed in white and red scarves every year at the end of July. It’s one of France’s biggest festive gatherings. An event not to be missed if you’re camping in the southern Landes and Basque country.
For five days, the Basque capital will be beating to the rhythm of cow races, bullfights, corsos, Basque dance and song shows, Basque pelota tournaments… It’s also an opportunity to attend the World Chilli Omelette Championship (Wednesday) and the espadrille throwing competition (Thursday).
Daytime entertainment is provided by bandas, tamborradas, Basque choirs and other traditional music groups. In the evening, dances, concerts and DJ sets go on until 3am in the streets and squares, bars and peñas.
Ask for the program!
Here is a short summary of the Fêtes de Bayonne program and the highlights not to be missed:
wednesday, july 27
- 7:15 – 9:40: Foulée du Festayre (12 km race from Biarritz to Bayonne, via Anglet)
- 1 pm – 6 pm: La Nive en Fêtes (Hawaiian pirogue and paddleboat race)
- 10 p.m.: official opening, key toss and mascleta (Place de la Liberté)
thursday july 28
- 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: King Léon’s court parade (Arrival at Town Hall)
- 12 p.m.: King Léon awakens (Place de la Liberté)
- 12 pm – 6 pm: Children’s Day (Parc de La Poterne)
- 5 pm – 7 pm: cow races (Place Paul Bert)
friday, july 29
- 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: King Léon’s court parade (Arrival at Town Hall)
- 12 p.m.: King Léon’s wake-up call (Hôtel de Ville)
- 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.: Peñas Triath’drôle (Carreau des Halles, departure from Place de la Liberté)
- 5 pm – 7 pm: cow races (Place Paul Bert)
- 6:30 pm: Fêtes bullfight (Lachepaillet arena)
Saturday, July 30
- 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: King Léon’s court parade (Arrival at Town Hall)
- 12 p.m.: King Léon awakens (Place de la Liberté)
- 11 am – 1 pm: cow races (Place Paul Bert)
- 4 pm – 6 pm: gathering of bandas (Place de la Liberté)
- 6:30 pm: bullfight on horseback (Lachepaillet arena)
- 10 p.m. to midnight: light parade (from boulevard Alsace-Lorraine to Place de la Liberté)
sunday, july 31
- 12 p.m.: Fêtes parade from Saint-André church to the town hall, with bandas, traditional groups and King Léon’s court giants.
- Midnight: closing ceremony with fireworks and King Leon’s return to his room.
See the program in detail at www.fetes.bayonne.fr
The illuminated Corso, a must-see attraction
The illuminated Corso is one of the highlights of the Bayonne Fêtes. Every Saturday and Sunday evening, a dozen brightly-lit, animated floats make their way through the town to meet the public. The most beautiful float wins a prize the day after the closing ceremony.
Cow races and bullfights
Cow racing is an integral part of the Fêtes de Bayonne. Every afternoon, Festayres gather on the Place Paul-Bert to challenge the Landes cows. France’s oldest bullfighting town, Bayonne hosts several bullfights each summer, including two for the Fêtes (Lachepaillet arena).
La mascleta
The mascleta is a (very) loud firework display in front of the Hôtel de Ville on the opening night of the Bayonne Fêtes. Watch out for your ears!
Mutxikos
Mutxiko (Basque jump) is a traditional dance of the Basque Country. The dancers form a large circle and perform “jumps” following a leader who calls out the names of the “steps”.
The bandas
A banda is an orchestra that plays at festivals in the southwest. Like a brass band, the bandas roam the streets of Bayonne throughout the festivities. Musicians generally form associations and guilds of friends (peñas).
Bodegas
Bodegas are bars set up in the open air or under large marquees. They are run by local associations. There’s plenty to eat and drink, including the famous tapas and pintxos.
Children’s Day at Bayonne’s Fêtes
The second day of the Fêtes de Bayonne is Children’s Day! Bring the whole family to enjoy the many free events. On the program: musical entertainment, encierro txiki (bull run on wheels), Basque pelota initiation, sack race… From 12 am to 6 pm, meet in the Poterne gardens, where some 30 stalls await the little festayres.
Spotlight on King Léon, the holiday mascot
King Léon is a key figure in Bayonne’s festivities, opening each day from the balcony of the Hôtel de Ville. The six four-meter-high giants of King Leon‘s court parade through the city streets every morning.
For the record, King Léon ‘s puppet was inspired by a local figure from Bayonne in the 1950s, Léon Dachary dit “Léon”, a character who was “a bit of a dick”, but so popular that he was proclaimed King of Bayonne and of the town’s Fêtes.
Practical information :
Access to the Fêtes de Bayonne is subject to a fee on the last three days (Friday lunchtime to Sunday evening): the “Pass fêtes” bracelet costs €10. Free for Bayonnais and under-16s.
During the Fêtes, traffic and parking are prohibited in Bayonne. To get to the Festival, we advise you to use the public transport (bus and train) available in most of the towns in the conurbation.
Book your campsite for the Bayonne festivities: nestled in a 7-hectare natural setting at the gateway to the Basque Country, our
4-star campsite
Lou P’tit Poun is just 10 km from Bayonne. You can rent a mobile home or chalet, or set up your tent, caravan or camper van on a spacious pitch planted with trees.
photo@Pierre-Alex