Bixintxo - Ciboure Festival

The Patronal Festival of Ciboure

The Bixintxo festival in Ciboure is a patronal festival celebrated every year in January in honor of Saint Vincent. For about ten days, this picturesque town on the Basque coast, neighboring Saint-Jean-de-Luz, comes alive with festivities blending ancestral traditions, Basque culture, and entertainment for all audiences.

Spectacular Opening with the Giantess Aña

The official opening of the festival is an unforgettable moment. On Friday evening, on Rue Koxe Basurco, a musical procession begins with the Tamborrada Marinelak, school groups, the Estudiantina de Ciboure, and other local ensembles. The highlight is the appearance of the giantess Aña, a giant puppet that emerges from the sea, accompanied by street theater performances by the company Des Vents et Marées, incorporating the stories of Ciboure's inhabitants.

Contests, Trail Run, and Boat Races

The festival program is rich in competitions and challenges. The famous black pudding contest, led by the Kuxkuxtu brass band, brings together Basque charcuterie enthusiasts. The fandango contest, led by the Begiraleak group, celebrates this traditional dance. The Bixintxo Trail offers a sporting route in the surroundings of Ciboure. The traditional boat races in the port recall the maritime heritage of the town.

Concerts, Popular Meals, and Funfair

Under the large marquee set up near the port, concerts liven up the evenings with bands like Kaskarot Banda, Karma, and Panda Valium. The streets of Ciboure echo with parades of brass bands, tamborrada groups, and batucadas. A large traditional meal brings guests together under the tent on Sunday, while the funfair sets up around the port and in the town center for the delight of families.

Basque Traditions and Religious Celebrations

Bixintxo retains a strong spiritual and traditional dimension. The solemn mass is animated by Basque choirs, followed by honor dances performed by the Begiraleak group. The Sunday mutxiko invites all participants to practice traditional Basque dances. Traditional Basque games, offered free to children by the Gaia association, pass on the culture and traditions of the Basque Country to the younger generation.