Festivals in the neighbourhoods of San Sebastian
In San Sebastian we have a lot of festivals and festivities throughout the year: the Tamborrada, the Zinemaldi, the day of Santo Tomás, the Semana Grande… Dates marked on the calendar, famous outside our city and that structure the life of all the people of San Sebastian. But Donosti has many more festivals, festivals that are unknown outside our borders and that have a strong popular character, as they are organised by the locals themselves. We are referring, of course, to the neighbourhood festivals.
These mainly take place in the summer (except in August, which is Semana Grande), when the weather is fine and you feel like being out on the streets. Each neighbourhood and sub-neighbourhood in the city has its own and they often overlap, making it difficult to choose where to go. And although each one has its own unique character that makes it special, there are always elements in common, such as popular meals, concerts and open-air bars, children’s activities and sporting and culinary competitions. And the distinctive scarf around your neck, of course, is a symbol of being part of the celebration, a must if you want to feel like one of us.
If you are in Donosti during one of these festivities, we strongly recommend you to go, so you will not only get to know different neighbourhoods of the city (something we already do during the bike tours), but you will also see a more authentic, more local and much more Basque atmosphere, where you will hear more Basque, listen to our music, enjoy our dances and traditions, and you will leave with a great taste in your mouth and an unforgettable memory.
Game of the kukaña during the Port’s festivities. Photo by Euskal Kazeta.
So that you know the approximate dates of each of these holidays (they do not always fall on the same days, but around the same date), we have included a list below with the dates for 2023, so that you can make plans for your future visit!
Festivals of San Sebastian of El Antiguo (SanSebastianak): 12-29 January
Festivals of Santo Ángel de la Guarda of Ibaeta: 1-5 March
Festivals of Bidebieta (Txanpontxo jaiak): 11-15 May
Festivals of Morlans: 19-21 May
Festivals of Larratxo: 8-12 June
Festivals of Buenavista: 9-11 June
Festivals of Herrera: 9-23 June
Festivals of San Juan of El Antiguo (SanJuanak): 9-30 June
Festivals of Amara Berri: 16-23 June
Festivals of San Juan of Oleta: 22-25 June
Festivals of San Juan of Intxaurrondo Norte: 23 June
Festivals of San Pedro of Igeldo: June 23-July 2
Festivals of San Marcial of Alza: 23 June-2 July
Festivals of Intxaurrondo (Intxaur jaiak): 30 June-2 July
Festivals of the Virgen del Carmen of Añorga: 8-16 July
Festivals of the Virgen del Carmen of el Puerto: 12-18 July
Festival of Gros (Zipotz jaiak): 13-16 July
Festivities of the Virgen del Carmen of Amara Berri: 14-16 July
Festivals of Zubieta: 21-31 July
Festivals of Amara: 27-31 July
Festivals of San Ignacio of Loyola: 28-31 July
Festivals of Añorga-Txiki: 1-2 September
Festivals of Intxaurrondo Viejo: 7-10 September
Festivals of Txomin Enea: 8-10 September
Festivals of Aiete: 8-23 September
Festivals of Egia (Porrontxo jaiak): 11-17 September
Festivals of Jolastokieta: 13-17 September
Festivals of San Festo of Riberas de Loyola: 15-17 September
Festivals of Martutene (Martu Jaiak): 11-15 October
Festivals of Superxagu of Amara Berri: 12-15 October