The Fêtes de Bayonne begin on Wednesday evening at 10pm when the keys to the town are thrown from the Town Hall balcony to the crowd massed below.

The town then belongs to the 'festayres', dressed in in red and white, for five days and nights of partying.

The giant King Léon keeps an eye on things from his throne on the Town Hall balcony, where he is woken up each morning by the visiting children and his court of giants stroll the streets of Bayonne as another day of partying gets under way.

Some of the events during the Fetes...

Wednesday
the Foulée du Festayre, a foot race from the Côte des Basques in Biarritz
The Omelette aux Piments World Championships at the market

Thursday Is the children's day
Choco Yamboun (chocolate), Encierro Txiki (a bull run for the kids with papiermache toros on wheels), concerts, pelote..

Friday
Games of pelote basque, course de vaches,concerts etc.

Saturday
The tamborrada or parade of massed drummers is noisy and impressive, followed by the parachute descents into town, the traditional course de vaches in the afternoon, the evening carnival parade and concerts around town in the night.

Sunday
Is Pamplona Day (Bayonne's twin town)
The marching bands Mess at 11am at the Church of Saint Andrew, corrida in the afternoon, fireworks at night.

The fiesta is everywhere

Music of the bandas is in the streets, the restaurants, bars and peñas are never empty.

A fun fair takes place in the garden behind the town hall.

Visit the Fetes de Bayonne website for the latest information and advice about public transport, parking etc.
or Tourist office Bayonne

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