Tours and guides to the Basque
Country and Northern Spain
Events in San Sebastian 2004
JANUARY
THREE KINGS CAVALCADE
Date: Monday 5
Place: City centre
The Three Wise Men will be riding through the streets of the city delivering
gifts to eager young children. The parade starts at the Town Hall and wends
its way through centre of San Sebastián.
CRAFTS FAIR
Date: through Tuesday 6
Place: Calle Urdaneta
Artisans working in leather, paper and glass display and sell their crafts
in a large marquee set up between the central Post Office building and the
Koldo Mitxelena library.
GIMNÁSTICA DE ULÍA
INTERNATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY RACE
Date: Tuesday 6
Place: Paseo de La Zurriola
Prizewinning marathon runners Martín Fiz and Abel Antón will
add their names to the list of participants at this year's Three Kings day
athletic event.
For more information:
MUSIC: SWEDISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Date: Wednesday 14
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The Swedish Chamber Orchestra performs Beethoven's 7 Symphony and songs by
composer Edvard Grieg, accompanied by the voice of soprano Barbara Bonney.
SAN SEBASTIÁN FEAST DAY
Date: Tuesday 20
Place: throughout the city
The city's most important festival - bar none - begins at 12 midnight on January
19th and ends 24 hours later. The event is kicked off as the flag is raised
in the town square, Plaza de la Constitución, to the beat of the drum
of the Gaztelubide Culinary Society drum corps or "tamborrada".
Throughout the day the city's different drum corps parade through the streets
playing the March of San Sebastian. At 12 o'clock on the 20th, over 5,000
children’s drum corps drummers head out from Town Hall. Together with
some 90 adult tamborrada groups, they march down the streets of San Sebastián
dressed as chefs and army officers. Members of the Unión Artesana Culinary
Society bring the festivities to a close as the blue and white city flag is
lowered in Plaza de la Constitución at midnight on the 20th.
MUSIC: IÑAKI SALVADOR ALL STAR SEXTET
Date: Wednesday 21
Place: Kursaal Auditorium "Sala de Cámara"
Live jazz with San Sebastián pianist Iñaki Salvador, one of
the Basque Country's leading names in jazz music.
MUSIC: ASTURIAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Date: Wednesday 21 and Friday 23
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The Symphony Orchestra of the Principality of Asturias, conducted by Maximiliano
Valdés, celebrates the 75th anniversary of the birth of composer
Agustín González Acilu.
MUSIC: FRANKFURT RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Date: Thursday 22
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The German orchestra will perform pieces by Schumann and Berlioz under the
conduction of Hugh Wolff.
'BERTSOLARI' FESTIVAL
Date: Saturday 24
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The Kursaal Auditorium will once again provide the stage for the year's best
'bertsolaris' (poets who sing improvised verses in Basque) an all-day event
in celebration of this Basque tradition.
SAN SEBASTIÁN
INTERNATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY RACE
Date: Sunday 25
Place: San Sebastián Racecourse
One of the most highly acclaimed cross-country races of the season is held
at the Zubieta racecourse. Celebrated names such as Czech athlete Emil Zatopek
and Ethiopian running legend Mamo Wolde, plus the more recent Paulo Guerra,
Jon Brown and Sammy Kipketer, are only a few of the names included in this
event's list of champions since 1956.
MUSIC: CARLOS ÁLVAREZ
Date: Thursday 29
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
Malaga-born baritone Carlos Álvarez, recent winner of National Music
Award, in recital.
MUSIC: ENRIQUE MORENTE
Date: Friday 30
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
Enrique Morente's concerts show the outcome of his efforts to modernise and
revitalise flamenco song.
CYCLING:
SIX HOURS OF EUSKADI, 24TH EDITION
Date: Saturday 31
Place: Anoeta Velodrome
World cycling champions Igor Astarloa and Joane Somarriba will be the guests
of honour at this year's showcase of international indoor cycling.
FEBRUARY
MUSIC: BASQUE
NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
Date: Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The Basque National Orchestra commemorates the 150th anniversary of the birth
of Czech composer Leos Janacek and the 100th anniversary of the death of Antonin
Dvorak, performing music by the two masters.
CALDEREROS
Date: Saturday 7
Place: throughout the city
Bands of Gypsies march through the streets, recalling the tinkers who used
to come to the city from Hungary. Dressed in elaborate costumes with gold
beads and bangles, the caldereros sing songs and beat on their frying pans
to announce the coming of Carnival.
NURSEMAIDS AND SHEPHERDS
Date: Sunday 8
Place: Old Town and Gros
The day after the caldereros, it the nursemaids' and shepherds' turn to parade
through the streets. The event, organised by Sociedad Kresala, recalls San
Sebastián's Belle Epoque and serves as a prelude to Carnival.
MUSIC: HIM
Date: Sunday 15
Place: Anoeta Sport Centre
The Finnish group will be in San Sebastián to present the goth-glam
band's latest album "Love Metal".
MUSIC: MOZARTEUM
ORCHESTRA OF SALZBURG
Date: Monday 16
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg, conducted by Herbert Soudant, performs
works by Beethoven and Mozart.
MUSIC: BASQUE
NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
Date: Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
Music Director Zoltan Kocsis conducts the Basque National Orchestra and accompanies
on piano in a programme including works by Strauss, Mozart, Debussy and Ravel.
CARNIVAL
Date: 20 through 23
Place: Throughout the city
This year's Carnival festivities will take place over the course of four days.
The main carnivalesque parades and masquerades will be concentrated over the
weekend, filling the city with life, colour and an overall party atmosphere.
DANCE: COMPAÑÍA METROS
Date: Tuesday 24
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
Compañía Metros presents the ballet "Carmen" with
choreography by Ramón Oller
MUSIC: MARIZA
Date: Thursday 26
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
Born in Mozambique, Portuguese singer Mariza Nunes performs her particular
style of classical fado music.
MUSIC: BASQUE
NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
Date: Saturday 28
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The Basque National Orchestra pays tribute to composer Antonin Dvorak with
the help of soprano Eva Urbanova, mezzo-soprano Carmen Oprasinu, tenor Jan
Vacik, bass Zdenek Plech and the Andra Mari Choir. Cristian Mandeal will conduct
them all in a performance of the Czech composer's "Stabat Mater".
PIÑATA SUNDAY
Date: Sunday 29
Place: Altza
Last of the Carnival festivities in San Sebastián
MARCH
MUSIC: BASQUE
NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
Date: Monday 1
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
(see February 28)
SALÓN DE LA EVASIÓN
Y DEL TURISMO
Date: from Thursday 11 through Sunday 14
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The Kursaal Convention Centre hosts the second edition of the Spanish tourism
fair, "Salón de la Evasión y el Turismo" (Sevatur).
Nearly 40 stands from the different autonomous regions of Spain and from around
the world will provide visitors with all kinds of useful ideas and advice
to help plan their holidays.
MUSIC: THE KING’S CONSORT
Date: Tuesday 16
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The period instrument orchestra The King’s Consort, under the artistic
direction of Robert King, performs Haendel's "Coronation of King George".
DANTZAZ FESTIVAL
Date: 19 through 27
Place: Egia Cultural Centre and other venues
Modern dance workshops and performances for and by young dancers. The calendar
of events includes a variety of performances, conferences, workshops and exhibitions.
2ND ANNUAL HUMAN
RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL
Date: 19 through 27
Place: Principal Theatre
The politically committed film festival will make its second appearance in
the city, accompanied by the films' movers and shakers and roundtable discussion.
A number of parallel activities will also be organised around the event. Last
year a number of highly acclaimed filmmakers on the national level were at
the festival, including Fernando León de Aranoa.
For more information:
Department of Youth, Education,
Cooperation and Development. Phone: 943 481079
MUSIC: BASQUE
NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
Date: Saturday 20 and Monday 22
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The Basque National Orchestra performs works by Rachaminov
Mussorgsky. Conducted by Gilbert Varga with pianist Joaquín Achúcarro.
YOUNG PIANIST COMPETITION
Date: 20, 21, 27 and 28
Place: Town Hall "Salon de Plenos" and Kursaal Auditorium "Sala
de Cámara"
The young pianist competition brings together young piano enthusiasts and
students aged 8 to 20 from the music schools and conservatories.
MUSIC: BEBO VALDÉS BIG BAND
Date: Saturday 27
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
Bebo Valdés in concert, one of the reigning patriarchs of Latin Jazz.
APRIL
MUSIC:
CZECH NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Date: Friday 2
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The Czech National Symphony Orchestra and the Prague Chamber Choir pay tribute
to composer Antonin Dvorak on the 100th anniversary of his death.
FIESTA DEL AGUARDIENTE
Y LA QUEIMADA
Date: Saturday 3
Place: Plaza Easo
Exhibition and tasting of different types of brandy (aguardiente), accompanied
by traditional foods from Galicia and a giant "queimada" party (a
traditional drink containing aguardiente, sugar and lemons, made in a large
punch bowl, lit on fire and stirred until all the alcohol is burned off).
29 INTERNATIONAL OPEN
CHESS TOURNAMENT
Date: 3 through 10
Place: Hotel Costa Vasca
Well-known Grand Masters and International Grand Masters gather for this yearly
meeting of the minds.
HORSE RACES
Date: Sunday 3, 18 and 25
Place: San Sebastián Racecourse
The San Sebastián track launches the 2004 horse racing season on April
4. The season includes a total of five racing days, ending on May 30.
UNDERWATER FILM FESTIVAL
Date: Tuesday 13 through Saturday 17
Place: Sala Kutxa (calle Andia)
This year marks the 28 edition of the international film festival, which will
include the most recent audio-visual productions celebrating the underwater
world.
MUSIC: JOAN MANUEL SERRAT
Date: Wednesday 14
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
Catalan singer-songwriter in concert with the Basque National Orchestra.
DANCE: BIARRITZ BALLET
Date: Wednesday 21
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The Ballet de Biarritz presents "Un homage aux Ballets Russes",
a re-working of classic pieces by Beethoven, with choreography by Thierry
Malandain.
MUSIC: BASQUE
NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
Date: Thursday 22 and Friday 23
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
Peter Guth conducts the Basque National Orchestra in the 200th anniversary
of composer Johan Strauss.
BOOK FAIR
Date: Friday 23
Place: Plaza de Gipuzkoa and Calle Peñaflorida
Booksellers and publishers from all over the province celebrate International
Book Day. Stands brimming with the latest in literature are set up in two
central locations in the city.
APRIL FAIR
Date: from April 28 through May 2
Place: Calle Reyes Católicos
Groups from the regional associations and dance schools liven up the atmosphere
with activities carried out in the fairgrounds set up for the occasion.
MAY
APRIL FAIR
Date: through Sunday 2
Place: Calle Reyes Católicos
(see April)
BEACH FOOTBALL: FINALS
Date: Sunday 2
Place: La Concha Beach
All categories will play the finals on May 2. Some of the top names in Basque
professional football have shown their stuff playing on La Concha beach in
what has now become a football championship classic.
HORSE RACES
Date: Sunday 9 and 30
Place: San Sebastián Racecourse
Last racing days of the spring season,
which comes to a close on Sunday 30.
MUSIC: PACO DE LUCÍA
Date: Friday 14
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
Paco de Lucía, one of the world's greatest flamenco guitarists, in
concert.
MUSIC: BBC SCOTTISH
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Date: Saturday 22
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, under Chief Conductor Ilan Volkov and
with Han-Na Chang on cello, performs the music of Strauss, Shostakovich and
Stravinsky.
ADVERTISING FESTIVAL
Date: 27, 28 and 29
Place: Kursaal Centre
The Advertising Festival broadened its scope last year, incorporating productions
by South American advertising agencies, thereby adding variety and quality
to the festival. This year's edition will continue along the same lines.
3RD ANNUAL TANGO FESTIVAL
Date: Saturday 29 and Sunday 30
Place: Palacio Miramar
The third edition of this festival, including performances and dance classes,
is sponsored by the Guipuzcoan Friends of Argentinean Tango (AGATA).
REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS DAY
Date: Sunday 30
Place: Plaza de la Constitución
A culinary and folklore festival organized by the regional groups who have
settled in Gipuzkoa. Andalucía, Castilla-Leon, Cantabria, Cataluña,
Extremadura, Galicia and La Rioja put on a display of the best of their local
specialities in Plaza de la Constitución.
MUSIC: BASQUE
NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
Date: Monday 31
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
Prestigious violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann performs with the Basque National
Orchestra, conducted by Cristian Mandeal, in a concert dedicated to composers
Lalo and Mahler.
INTXAURRONDO
GASTRONOMY WEEK
Date: May 31 through June 6
Place: Sociedad Artzak Ortzeok and Paseo Justo Elizaran
The neighbourhood of Intxaurrondo hosts the 14 edition of the "Semana
Gastronómica", a yearly event in which world-class chefs share
their know-how with lovers of fine food and epicureans through cooking workshops
and tastings.
JUNE
MUSIC: BASQUE
NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
Date: Tuesday 1
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
(see May)
INTXAURRONDO GASTRONOMY
WEEK
Date: through Sunday, June 6
Place: Sociedad Artzak Ortzeok and Paseo Justo
Elizaran
(see May)
MUSIC: THE SIXTEEN
Date: Wednesday 9
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
The Sixteen, under founder and conductor Harry Christophers, perform Mozart's
"Mass in C".
BEER FEST
Date: Thursday 10 through Saturday 19
Place: Paseo de Justo Elizaran (Intxaurrondo)
Beer lovers can enjoy all kinds of brews (malts and ales, dark and pale, robust
and fruity...) at this event. A giant marquee is set up to house all the different
beermakers' booths, along with the kind of food that just begs for a good
brew.
MANIFESTA 5 - EUROPEAN BIENNIAL
OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Date: June 11 through September 30
Place: throughout the city
Manifesta is a celebration of contemporary European art held every two hears
in a different host city. The purpose of the event is to promote new forms
of artistic expression. The streets of San Sebastián, it major exhibition
halls and galleries - even the beaches and Santa Clara island - will set the
stage for this edition of Manifesta.
LA RIOJA FESTIVAL
Date: Saturday 12
Place: Plaza de Zuloaga
Street market offering traditional products from La Rioja, plus "jota"
dance performances in the morning and afternoon.
NIGHT OF SAN JUAN
Date: Wednesday 23
Place: throughout the city
In keeping with the age-old tradition, dozens of bonfires light up the city
the night of June 23. Earlier in the evening, at 7:30 in the main square,
Plaza de la Constitución, the traditional blessing of the tree ceremony
takes place.
PLAZA’04
Date: June 25 through July 4
Place: Kursaal Centre and other venues
Innovative festival dedicated to the promotion of different artistic disciplines,
with special projects designed for the occasion.
SAN SEBASTIÁN TRIATHLON
Date: Sunday 27
Place: La Concha Beach
Nearly a thousand athletes gather year after year to test their endurance
in this demanding competition. The distance covers a classic 1.5/40/10 swim,
bike and run triathlon course.
UNIVERSITY OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY
SUMMER COURSES
Date: Last week in June through end of September
Place: Palacio Miramar
Professors from the University of the Basque Country and other universities
around the world offer classes and conferences covering a wide range of subjects.
A classic summer event in San Sebastián.
JULY
PLAZA’04
Date: through July 4
Place: Kursaal Centre and other venues
(see June)
UNIVERSITY OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY
SUMMER COURSES
Date: through the end of September
Place: Palacio Miramar
(see June)
MANIFESTA 5 - EUROPEAN BIENNIAL OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Date: through September 30
Place: throughout the city
(see June)
EQUESTRIAN SPORTS: NATIONAL
JUMPING COMPETITION
Date: 2 through 4 (provisional)
Place: Loiola equestrian club
The Endurance Trophy show jumping competition draws both national and international
horse riding experts. The first edition of the event took place on the sands
of Ondarreta beach in 1903.
NEW BOOK FAIR
Date: July 2 through 11
Place: Plaza de Gipuzkoa
The most recent releases in literature are displayed and sold in stands set
up around the square at Plaza de Gipuzkoa.
5TH ANNUAL SAILBOAT REGATTA
CITY OF SAN SEBASTIÁN
Date: Saturday 3 and Sunday 4
Place: La Concha Bay
Sailboats from Spain's Cantabrian coast, Portugal, France and England will
compete in IMS, IMS Club and HN categories. The racecourse consists of two
parts - on the first day, Saturday, participants race from Hendaye to Donostia,
and on Sunday they compete in La Concha Bay.
DONOSTI CUP
Date: 4 through 10
Place: Anoeta mini-stadium and other fields
Over 150 teams from every continent will take part in the 13th edition of
this international football tournament for young teams.
THEATRE FESTIVAL
Date: 7 through 10
Place: Principal Theatre and other venues
Centring on the performance arts, the event includes a selection of recent
theatre and dance productions and a complete programme of street theatre.
OPEN ZONE
Date: 8 through 11
Place: Zurriola Beach and Sagüés
2004 marks the 8 edition of the Open Zone World Longboard Surfing Championship.
Other activities will include skating, live music and displays of the latest
in surf and sports materials.
GALICIA DAY IN ANTIGUO
Date: Saturday 10
Place: Plaza Gaskuña
Traditional music, dance and foods from Galicia, plus a folk music concert.
HORSE RACES
Date: Sunday 11, 18 and 25
Place: San Sebastián Racecourse
The racecourse puts on its Sunday best on the ten Sundays comprising the summer
horse racing season.
JAZZALDIA-JAZZ FESTIVAL
Date: 23 through 28
Place: Plaza de la Trinidad, Kursaal Centre and other venues
Yet another year Donostia turns into the jazz capital of Europe thanks to
"Jazzaldia", the San Sebastian Jazz Festival, founded in 1966. The
Festival programme tends to include an all star cast of world-class musicians.
The 2003 edition boasted such names as Van Morrison, Eddie Palmieri and Herbie
Hancock, among others.
ESOTERICISM FAIR
Date: July 30 through August 8
Place: Palacio Miramar
Workshops and talks revolving around primal therapy, palmistry,
astrology, tarot readings, clairvoyance.... Discover all of this and more
at the "Salon del Esoterismo".
AUGUST
UNIVERSITY OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY
SUMMER COURSES
Date: through the end of September
Place: Palacio Miramar
(see June)
MANIFESTA 5 - EUROPEAN BIENNIAL OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Date: through September 30
Place: throughout the city
(see June)
HORSE RACES
Date: 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29
Place: San Sebastián Racecourse
The "Copa de Oro", celebrated on Sunday 15, marks the high point
of the summer racing season. The month of August also offers four more horse
racing days.
QUINCENA MUSICAL
Date: August 5 through September 4
Place: Kursaal Centre and other venues
The "Quincena Musical" Classical Music Festival is now in its 65
year running. This year's edition will included a stage performance of Verdi's
"Un Ballo in Maschera", and a concert version of Rossini's "La
Donna del Lago". Two first-rate orchestras, the Cologne Radio Symphony
Orchestra and the Rotterdam Philharmonic, will are with us this year, and
the Compañía Andaluza de Danza pays tribute to the 100th anniversary
of Salvador Dalí with a special dance performance.
SAN SEBASTIÁN CLASSIC
Date: Saturday 7
Place: Start and Finish line on the Boulevard in the city centre.
The San Sebastián Classic, which counts toward the Cycling World Cup,
is attended by top cyclists from around the world. The most difficult stretch
this year will be the climb up Mt. Jaizkibel.
For more information:
Cycling Federation of Gipuzkoa. Phone: 943 460540
ASTE NAGUSIA - SEMANA GRANDE
Date: 8 through 15
Place: throughout the city
Donostia goes into party mode for a week. Live music, special activities for
kids, bullfights starring some of the top names in the bullfighting world,
traditional Basque sports and lots more make up this year's schedule of events
at Semana Grande.
INTERNATIONAL
FIREWORKS COMPETITION
Date: 8 through 15
Place: La Concha Bay
Fireworks wizards from around the globe fill the San Sebastián sky
with colour, as they vie for the title of best fireworks display. Year after
year, this event is one of the stars of Semana Grande.
SWIMMING: 36TH ANNUAL
PASEO NUEVO SWIM
Date: Sunday, 15
Place: Paseo Nuevo
The test of endurance for participants in the annual Paseo Nuevo Swim involves
a total of 2,300 metres starting from Zurriola Beach and ending at
La Concha.
ANTIQUE DEALERS FAIR
Date: August 27 through September 5
Place: Kursaal Center
Furniture, paintings, jewellery and a variety of other objects, some of which
date from as far back as the 17 century, are for sale and on exhibit at the
fair.
SEPTEMBER
QUINCENA MUSICAL
Date: through Saturday 4
Place: Kursaal Centre and other venues
(see August)
ANTIQUE DEALERS FAIR
Date: through Sunday 5
Place: Kursaal Center
(see August)
MANIFESTA 5 - EUROPEAN BIENNIAL OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Date: through Thursday 30
Place: throughout the city
(see June)
UNIVERSITY OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY
SUMMER COURSES
Date: through the end of month
Place: Palacio Miramar
(see June)
USED BOOK AND RECORD
FAIR
Date: 3rd through 19
Place: Plaza de Gipuzkoa
Some forty used book and record sellers from the Basque Country, Valencia,
Leon and other parts of Spain display and sell their wares.
EUSKAL JAIAK - FIESTAS VASCAS
Date: 4 through 12
Place: Old Town
Over a week in celebration of Basque culture, with traditional Basque sports
and other activities. A special day dedicated to homemade apple cider - one
of the most popular events in the festival - takes place at Plaza de la
Constitución.
TRAINERA ROWING RACES
Date: Sunday 5 and 12
Place: La Concha Bay
Only the eight fastest boats and their crews are allowed to complete for the
"Bandera de La Concha", the most coveted prize of the "trainera"
rowing season. On Thursday August 2 the qualifying regatta, also held at La
Concha Bay, will decide which finalists qualify for the final competition
on the 5th and 12th.
HORSE RACES
Date: Sunday 5 and 12
Place: San Sebastián Racecourse
The first two Sundays in September will wrap up the summer racing season.
NIXON SURF CHALLENGE
Date: 10 through 12
Place: Zurriola Beach
Creativity and radical manoeuvring are the keys to this competition international
surfing competition.
ZINEMALDIA
INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Date: 16 through 25
Place: Kursaal Centre and other venues
The film festival boasts the latest international film releases accompanied
by some of the filmmaking world's finest directors and actors. On par with
Cannes or the Venice Mostra, San Sebastián is in back in the limelight
for ten days in September.
LA RIOJA HARVEST FAIR
Date: Sunday 19
Place: Plaza Zuloaga
Street market in Plaza Zuloaga. The public is invited to sample and purchase
traditional products from La Rioja.
SWIMMING: 61ST ANNUAL
LA CONCHA BAY SWIM
Date: Sunday 26 (provisional)
Place: La Concha Bay
The second swim event of the summer takes place in La Concha Bay. Participants
swim a total of 1,800 metres.
OCTOBER
DONOSTIA ENTRE MUNDOS
Date: October, November and December
Place: different venues
The programme "Donostia Entre Mundos", now in its ninth year, focuses
on solidarity and cultural exchange through concerts, workshops for children,
film screenings, exhibits and conferences.
MUSIC: ELEKTRONIKALDIA
Date: Friday 8 and Saturday 9
Place: Egia Cultural Centre and Kursaal Centre
Electronic music will take front stage at Elektronikaldia, with sessions led
by DJs and musicians specialising in music from the most experimental to the
more commercial.
TRES PLAYAS CROSS COUNTRY RACE
Date: Sunday 10
Place: R.C. Tenis Ondarreta (start and finish line)
Sebastian's three beaches mark the course for this popular, 10-kilometre cross-country
race.
5TH ANNUAL CLASSIC FOOTRACE
Date: Sunday 17
Place: City centre
The 15-kilometre classic road race is one a favourite for athletes in training
for the Behobia-San Sebastián 20k run or the San Sebastián marathon.
15TH ANNUAL HORROR AND FANTASY
FILM FESTIVAL
Date: October 29 through November 6
Place: Teatro Principal, Príncipe multiplex cinema and Kursaal Centre
Latest feature film releases, plus street theatre and exhibitions related
to the world of horror and fantasy. A week full of
activities focusing mainly on the silver screen, but splattered with a healthy
dose of good wacky fun. The 2004 edition will include two retrospectives:
one of films made by the British
production company Hammer and another of Czech horror and fantasy.
NOVEMBER
15 TH HORROR AND FANTASY
FILM FESTIVAL
Date: through Saturday 6
Place: Teatro Principal, Príncipe multiplex cinema and Kursaal Centre
(see October)
DONOSTIA ENTRE MUNDOS
Date: November and December
Place: different venues
(see October)
EXPONIEVE
Date: 5 through 7
Place: Kursaal Centre
Visitors to the Exponieve trade fair will find stands with information on
different ski resorts as well as winter gear and apparel.
For more information:
Exponieve. Phone: 943 430451
FIESTA DE LAS MIGAS EXTREMEÑAS
Date: Sunday 7
Place: Plaza Zuloaga
Sample traditional food products from Extremadura.
ATHLETICS:
BEHOBIA-SAN SEBASTIÁN
Date: Sunday 7
Place: Behobia (start) / Boulevard (finish)
The Behobia-San Sebastián footrace is the most popular athletic event
of the year. Last year more than 11,000 athletes took to the road in Behobia,
running 20-kilometres to the finish line in the centre of San Sebastián.
CONFERENCE: GASTRONOMY AT ITS BEST
Date: 22 through 25
Place: Kursaal Centre
Leading restaurant owners, master chefs, new trends in epicurean culture,
workshops, competitions, product sampling and sales: there's something for
all gourmets at this gastronomy showcase.
ATHLETICS: MARATHON
Date: Sunday 23
Place: City centre
The San Sebastián Marathon's 42.195 kilometres take athletes along
one of the fastest racecourses in the international marathon calendar.
DECEMBER
DONOSTIA ENTRE MUNDOS
Date: throughout the month
Place: different venues
(see October)
GOSPEL CONCERTS
Date: 17, 18 and 19
Place: Kursaal Auditorium
For the 6 year in a row the public has had the chance to enjoy gospel concerts
at the Kursaal Auditorium performed by some of the finest gospel singers in
the United States.
CRAFTS FAIR
Date: November 19 through January 6
Place: Calle Urdaneta and Reyes Católicos
Artisans gather together a giant marquee to sell their handmade leather, wood,
silk, paper, glass and wax crafts.
SANTO TOMÁS FAIR
Date: Tuesday 21
Place: Old Town and city centre
Thousands of people gather in the centre and "Parte Vieja" of San
Sebastián to celebrate one of the most popular events of the year.
Stands offer grilled chorizo sausages washed down with local apple cider.
OLENTZERO
Date: Friday 24
Place: City centre
Following Basque legend and tradition, the Olentzero makes his way through
the streets of the city on the night of November 24th handing out gifts to
children.
CHRISTMAS SWIM MEET
Date: Monday 27 (provisional)
Place: Paco Yoldi swimming pool
This prestigious Christmas event generally draws in world-class names in swimming.
SAN SILVESTRE FOOTRACE
Date: Friday 31
Place: City centre
The 7,800-metre popular footrace through the city centre marks the final running
event of the year.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR:
Street market featuring local products:
A traditional outdoor market is set up in different locations throughout the
city: Plaza Easo-Amara Viejo (first
Saturday of the month), Calle San Francisco-Gros
(second-to-last Saturday of the month), and Plaza
Gascuña-Antiguo (last Saturday of the month).
Other specialty markets and fairs are also organised during the year: flowers
and plants (April), cheese, paté, txakoli, organic wines, etc. (May),
cheese and honey (June), ecology fair (September) and cross-border fair (December).
All of these events take place in Plaza Gipuzkoa.
Exhibitions:
The city offers a full calendar of permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Theatre and music:
There is a programme of live music and theatre all year round on stage at
the Kursaal Centre, Teatro Principal, Lugaritz Cultural Centre and Egia Cultural
Centre.
Fairs:
A wide variety of trade fairs are hosted in San Sebastián.
Congresses and Conferences:
San Sebastián offers a number of excellent venues for hosting congresses
and conferences of all types.
First Division Football:
Real Sociedad de Fútbol gives fans a chance to see football at its
best every two weeks.
More sports:
A wide variety of sporting events take place throughout the year in a non-stop
competitive calendar
