Fêtes de Bidart

Thirty years of autumn festivals in Bidart

The Fêtes de Bidart — Udazkeneko Bestak were born thirty years ago from the will of the Bidart community to celebrate its Basque identity through autumn festivities. Since 1995, this annual September event has established itself as one of the highlights of village life, bringing together residents and visitors in a warm atmosphere where ancestral traditions and contemporary creations mingle.

A rich program between land and sea

The Fêtes de Bidart stand out for the diversity of their programming. The festival weekend opens on Thursday with a mus tournament (Basque card game) and continues on Friday with the official opening marked by the children's tamborrada, a joyful parade through the village streets. Saturday honors the fandango competition, a competition of this emblematic Basque dance that attracts the best dancers in the region. Sunday, the highlight of the festivals, features the festive mass, a foot race, pelota finals, the zikiro (whole lamb roasted over a wood fire), the mutxiko (Basque collective dances), and the final fireworks display.

Living Basque culture

The Udazkeneko Bestak are much more than just a village festival: they are a true act of cultural transmission. The kantaldi (Basque singing sessions), traditional dance performances, pelota competitions at the fronton, and mutxiko demonstrate the vitality of Basque culture in Bidart. The musical program mixes contemporary Basque bands like Los Piquillos, Xiberoots, and Sutagar with traditional groups, offering a complete panorama of current Basque musical creation.

A Basque coast village celebrating

Bidart, a picturesque village perched on the cliffs of the Basque coast between Biarritz and Guéthary, offers an exceptional setting for these festivities. The village square, the fronton, the church, and the streets of the center are transformed into stages for shows and entertainment. Surf competitions on the nearby beaches add an oceanic dimension to these festivals rooted in the traditions of Labourd. The evenings continue late with dances and DJ sets, making the village vibrate until the early morning.