Bilbao will host more than a centenary of cultural events in Aste Nagusia
Aste Nagusia turned Bilbao into the capital of culture for 9 days with more than a hundred related activities with the Euskal Folklore and the Herri Kirolak. Exhibitions of dances, aizkolaris, harrijasotzailes, sokatira, kalejiras of Giants and Big Heads, Bilbainadas, bertsolaris, traineras and pelota regattas… will delight both Bilbao and Bilbao visitors. The streets and squares of the Old Town will be the heart of events and celebrations that make up the offer. The City Council values the role of women with a significant number of representatives and daily demonstrations with a female face and on Wednesday, August 24, the Herri Kirolak Women’s Day.
The City Council, in its commitment to disseminating Basque traditions, customs and culture, has prepared a whole program with different exhibition events and Basque sports competitions. Because in addition to making the city more dynamic during the festivities, the aim is for people from Bilbao and the people who visit us to get to know the history and customs of Euskadi up close, “Know us and let them know us”is the motto that has been usedyouziar urtaun during the presentation.
Giants and big headeds
The Txistularis and Pipers dThey will wait for the city every day, at 10:00 a.m., to walk the Seven Streets. The 8 take over giants and the entourage of big headsat 11:00 a.m., accompanied by dantzaris and musicians from Biscay Dantzarien Biltzarra in its traditional parade from the Euskal Museoa. With different itineraries per two-hour day, the official Bilbao Aste Nagusia 2022 App will allow you to follow the route of the kalejira live and join easily. But the great day of these characters will be on Sunday, August 28, at 10:30 a.m., with the Concentration of Giants arriving from different towns in the Basque Country -Kanbo-Lapurdi, Iruñea, Arrasate, Bergara…- they will start from the Plaza Circular. At 13:30 the meeting point will be El Arenal. Likewise, throughout Aste Nagusiafraud free entranceThose who wish can visit a exhibition of Giants at the site of the Plaza Corazón de María.
Bertsolaris and Bilbainadas
The next stops on the program are at 1:00 p.m., in Plaza Santiago, with the help of the Bertsolarisand of the bilbainadas with the group Bilbotarrak, who will liven up the streets of Casco Viejo, from tavern to tavern. More Bilbainadas can be heard in Doña Casilda Park, at 12:00 noon, and at Municipal Music Band which will perform every day at 12:00 at the Kiosko del Arenal. Plaza Santiago will host every day, at 1:00 p.m., sessions of BERTSOLARITZA led by top-level figures. The fanfares from Adiskideak and Dunbots will be in charge of setting a different rhythm on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 August, respectively, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., on Ledesma and Diputación streets, and from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. , through the streets of Casco Viejo.
Herri Kirolak
During the mornings it will also be the turn of the exhibitions of Herri Kirolak. From Wednesday the 24th to Saturday the 27th of August, at 12:00 noon, in the Plaza del Arriaga, you can enjoy all types of rural sports such as harrijasotze, txingaerutea, aizkolaritza, sokatira, gizon eta andra probak…, with different moments featured. Among them, on Wednesday, August 24, Women’s Day in Herri Kirolak. Aste Nagusia does not forget a classic as is the Fronton with Aste Nagusiko Euskal Pilota Txapelketa, a Basque pelota competition organized by Pilot Plazara Kirol eta Kultur Elkartea. The last weekend (from Friday the 26th to Sunday the 28th), competition matches will be played in the women’s and youth categories at the fronton located in the Ripa Pier; between boys and girls of Biscay of school age, of competition of the Joko Alai Tour in the senior category and of federated veteran pelotaris of the different clubs of Biscay.
The afternoons for the dances
Aste Nagusia evenings are one of the most special moments of the day and a great atmosphere is created throughout the city. Starting at 7:00 p.m., they are for the dances in the Plaza Nueva, exhibitions, pilgrimages, Dance of the Era and parades every day from August 21 to 28 by Bizkaiko Dantzarien Biltzarra (BDB), who will be in charge of coordinating the performances of the groups from different parts of Bizkaia. One of the most popular moments of this section of Aste Nagusia will take place on Tuesday, August 23, around the popular “Baile de la Era”, one of the most deeply rooted dances in the country with parades, fandango, jotas, waltz, boleras , in chain or pairs. For this appointment, the Consistory encourages to participate dressed in traditional costumes, under the call “Come with your suit!”. It will be held at 8:00 p.m. in the Plaza Nueva.
Traineras Sunday in the Ría
In Aste Nagusia the Traineras competitions will return to the Ría. The City Council, together with Deustuko Arraun Elkartea, organizes two regattas on Sunday, August 21. The first race, the Emakumeen Bilboko V Ikurriña 2022 Women’s Trainers League Regatta, will be held at 11:45 a.m. Followed by it will be the turn of the Villa de Bilbao Regatta, which this year celebrates its XLIII edition.