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Jaialdi 2010
Boise is home to one of the country’s largest Basque communities, but a stroll through downtown’s Basque Block gives only faint clues to the culture’s roll in this city. Strolling past Bar Gernika, you may catch a whiff of spiced chorizo sizzling on the grill or take note of the vivid red, green and white flags on almost every building. Aside from these slight hints, the Basque Block blends into downtown Boise—present but not noisy.
Starting Tuesday, July 27, that will all change as the Basque Block will transfor into the hub of the largest Basque festival in the world. From Tuesday to Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010, Boise will celebrate Basque culture by hosting Jaialdi 2010, a Basque festival that happens every five years.
Jaialdi board member Julie Hahn said somewhere between 35,000 to 40,000 people are expected to attend the festival, traveling from as far as Europe and as close as just down the street.
The first Jaialdi was held in 1987 and drew up to 30,000 visitors. In 1990, then Governor Cecil Andrus asked the Basque community to replicate the celebration to coincide with Idaho’s 100th anniversary of statehood. That year, the local Basque community declared they would hold Jaialdi, translated as “big celebration” or “party time,” once every five years.
The festival opens Tuesday and Wednesday with food and music on the Basque Block from 5 to 11 p.m.
Thursday, Qwest Arena will host a traditional sports night where professionals flown in from Spain will perform Basque sports, including feats of strength such as weightlifting and wood chopping. Tickets are $12 and available through Qwest Arena.
The North American Basque Organizations’ annual Pilota semi-finals and finals will take place on Thursday and Friday on the Basque block, free of charge. Hahn said she encourages anyone, especially those unfamiliar with Pilota, to come see the Basque ball-and-racket sport somewhat similar to racquetball.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Boise will host traditional Basque dance groups performing in various locations. The intricate footwork and traditional costumes involved are not frequently seen in America.
On the weekend, anyone who has missed the week’s events can attend the “Basquing at the Fairgrounds” at Expo Idaho Fairgrounds to get a well-rounded feel for the festival and Basque culture. Saturday will feature performances by 36 dance groups, food and souvenir vendors as well as an array of sporting events and sheep wagon displays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday evening a traditional mass will be free and open to the public at St. John’s Cathedral. Following mass, “Amuma Says No,” and other Basque bands will try to keep the crowds dancing at the fairgrounds early into the next morning with a street party running 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
With the work of close to 800 volunteers and two and a half years of planning, Hahn expects a success. Despite some speculation about clashing Basque political parties detracting from the festivities, she does not expect politics to be a problem.
“Our main concern with Jaialdi is that people have a good time.” Hahn said. “This is a big party that we would like to share with the rest of the world.”
Jaialdi comes to a close Sunday with a culmination of dancing, weightlifting and vendors at the fairgrounds from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. After the festival ends, the Basque Block will remain the only reminder of the large celebration that lies five years down the road.
For more information and a full schedule of events, visit http://jaialdi.com/wordpress/
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