San Sebastian holidays

More than just folklore: an identity

What lies behind the city’s most deeply rooted customs - the Tamborrada drum parade, the trainera fishing boat races, the Euskal Jaiak Basque fiestas or the Santo Tomás Fair held on Saint Thomas’s Day? The answer is a very ancient language, Euskera, and a local culture that combine to create an emotional heritage. An identity.

Numerous unique and traditional festivities take place throughout the year. Find out more about them!

 
tanborrada

San Sebastián day

Our city’s biggest day. You won’t find a single local or Donostiarra who doesn’t celebrate January 20th surrounded by drums, songs and friends.

The Tamborrada

inauteriak donostia

San Sebastián Carnival

vWhere tradition and modernity come together. A spectacle of light and colour that bedecks Donostia in fiesta and fantasy.

Get your disguises on!

san juan gaua donostia

St. John’s Eve

We welcome the first day of summer by burning all bad memories of the previous year and celebrating the arrival of this eagerly awaited season. On this night, the bonfires bring a touch of magic to the city.

Summer solstice

semana grande donostia

Great Week

Running on the week of 15th August, from Saturday to Saturday. Nocturnal seaside strolls ice cream in hand, fireworks, concerts and lots of fun.

The city is in party mode

31 de agosto

31st August

On 31st August 1813 English and Portuguese troops defeated the French and razed the city to the ground by setting it on fire, burning everything except the street now named 31 de Agosto in San Sebastián’s Old Town. Every year the occasion is commemorated in this street marked by history, where the oldest houses in the city are also to be found.

Burning of the city

euskal jaiak donostia

Euskal Jaiak Donostia

In early September Basque folklore joins hands with the popular fishing boat races in La Concha and the Sagardo Eguna or Cider Day. A special time to enjoy our festivities and customs.

Basque festivities

bandera concha

Bandera de la Concha

These prestigious fishing boat races have their origin in the ancient form of whale fishing. A spectacular sporting event with a tradition dating back more than 100 years lived with great intensity from the sides of Mount Urgull.

Regata races

sagardo apurua

Sagardo apurua

Did you know that there were once more than 100 cider houses in San Sebastián’s Old Town? The Sagardoa Apurua construction is installed every year in the Boulevard as a place to taste the cider and other typical products before the season kicks off.

Donostia, the cider capital

santo tomas donostia

Santo Tomás

On 21st December Donostia turns its eyes backwards into the past with the sale of freshly made corn tortillas and txistorra while the locals dress in typical costume. But this tradition is so much more.

Find out more about it!

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