Summer is approaching, and just like Basque towns have their annual festivals throughout the year, most Basque clubs in the United States also host annual picnics during the summer.
A few people have suggested I compile a list of Basque events happening this summer, and I’m glad they did. It never occurred to me to do that, because there’s always an updated one on the North American Basque Organizations’ website.
But maybe not everyone knows that!
N.A.B.O. also sell hard copies of their calendars, and growing up my parents always had at least 3 in the house. So I take for granted that we always know when the parties are happening.
If you’re curious to see all of the Basque club events happening in the coming months, check out their complete calendar.
But to make things easy for you, I’ll just list out my favorite Basque picnics of the summer season and the ones I’ve heard good things about right here.
If there are any others you’d recommend, please name them in the comments! And be sure to include dates if you have them so others know when to go.
Summer 2019 Basque Festivals in the U.S.
Saturday, May 4: Fresno, California
Fresno Picnic
Sunday, May 19: Los Banos, California
Los Banos Festival
Saturday, May 25 & Sunday, May 26: Bakersfield, California
NABO Convention and Kern County Basque Club 47th Annual Festival
Every year a NABO member club hosts the NABO Convention. It usually coincides with the club’s regular festival but brings a lot more people and programs to the event. This year’s Convention is kicking off the summer Basque picnic season Memorial Day weekend in Bakersfield, California. Hope to see you there!
You can reserve your hotel rooms at the group rate the Kern County Basque Club has organized. See the group rates.
Sunday, June 2: Petaluma, California
San Francisco Basque Club 59th Annual Picnic
Saturday, June 8 & Sunday, June 9: Winnemucca, Nevada
Winnemucca Basque Festival
Friday, July 5 – Sunday July 7: Elko, Nevada
Elko 56th Annual Festival
Sunday, July 7: Chino, California
Southern California 73rd Annual Picnic
Saturday, July 20: Reno, Nevada
Reno Annual Festival
Sunday, July 21: Gooding, Idaho
Gooding Annual Picnic
Friday, July 26 – Sunday, July 28: Boise, Idaho
Boise San Inazio Festival
Saturday, August 3: Mountain Home, Idaho
Mountain Home Picnic
Saturday, August 10: Gardnerville, Nevada
Gardnerville 38th Anniversary Picnic & Kantari Eguna
Saturday, August 17: Bridgeport, Connecticut
New England Arrantzale Eguna
Saturday, August 24 & Sunday, August 25: South San Francisco, California
Basque Cultural Center Euskal Etxeko Jaialdia
Sunday, September 1: Chino, California
Chino 51st Anniversary Picnic
Sunday, September 8: Penngrove, California
Marin Sonoma Annual Picnic
Saturday, October 12: Rocklin, California
Rocklin 16th Annual Besta & Mus Tournament
Okay, this one technically isn’t in the summer, but it’s a good one to end the picnic season with.
Have any other favorite Basque events you didn’t see on the list? Let us know about them in the comments!
CONTINUE READING:
- The Ultimate List of Basque Restaurants in the United States (2019)
- Tracing Basque Genealogy: Kidneys, Family Trees, and the Dangers of Donkeys
- How John Adams Drew Inspiration from the Basque Country in Drafting the U.S. Constitution
Santa Rosa Basque Festival
Paradise Valley, NV
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Haven’t been to that one! Glad to hear it’s good 🙂
Are finding out my husband Jim Nungaray Ancestors we’re from Basque Country Ancestors.com 35% I planned trip to check out. We just returned from fabulous Bilboa and San Sebastián and surrounding Basque & Pyrenees country. People were lovely, food excellent. The drive through county side was beautiful. A must on your Bucket list friends
So great that you were able to visit and get in touch with the culture! The Basque Country is an amazing place, and we’re lucky to be descendants from that part of the world.
It took me many years of researching my family history before I found out that my heritage and last name is French Basque. Interestingly after so many years since my ancestors migrated to Mexico, I still have Basque ancestry in my DNA. The earliest Nungaray I have traced back to Notchistlan Mexico, is believed to have been born in area of Guipuzcoa. I am still learning about all the wonderful foods and culture of el pais Vasco. I hope to one day travel there and even obtain Basque citizenship if possible.
If Jim is the son of Rudy Nungaray (4th cousin) and Joy Zabel and grandson of Eusebio Nungaray (3rd cousin), they we would be 5th cousins. Perhaps you descend from a different line of Nungarays but never the less, we share an awesome, unique last name and an amazingly rich Basque culture.