Fêtes de la Saint-Jean

Donibaneko Bestak: the patronal festivals of Saint-Jean-de-Luz

The Fêtes de la Saint-Jean are much more than just a festive event: they are the very soul of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Also known by their Basque name Donibaneko Bestak, these patronal festivals bring together thousands of people each year in June, locals and visitors alike, in an atmosphere of typically Basque revelry and conviviality.

Five days of celebration in red and black

Tradition dictates that participants wear the colors of the city: red and black. This festive attire unifies the crowd and creates a spectacular visual ambiance in the streets, squares, and bars of the city.

A program rich in traditions

The festivals take place over five days with a dense program combining age-old traditions and modern entertainment:

• Official opening on Place Louis XIV with the launch of the festivities
• Tamborrada: parade of children and adults to the rhythm of drums through the city streets
• Kaskarot Banda and the giant Kaskarot Maria Meharra from the Kilika Company
• Saint-John's Bonfires: ancestral tradition of the summer solstice
• Tortilla Competition: popular culinary contest
• Fandango Contest: traditional Basque dance
• Basque Dances with Dantza Piko and mutxikos
• Concerts and DJ sets in bars and on squares
• Toro de Fuego and confetti battle

An intergenerational celebration

The Fêtes de la Saint-Jean are a unique moment of sharing between all generations. From txarangas and batucadas to contemporary music concerts, everyone finds their rhythm. The city's bars and restaurants extend the celebration until the early morning, while daytime activities allow families to fully participate in the celebration.