A Celebration of Basque Culture in Boise
For the first time in over a decade, thousands of people from around the world will gather in Boise’s Basque Block to celebrate Jaialdi. This six-day festival honors Basque culture through food, music, dance, sport, and community, running from Tuesday, July 29 to Sunday, August 3.
Jaialdi means “festival” in the Basque language and is one of the biggest Basque celebrations globally, as well as the largest of its kind in the United States. The event is traditionally held every five years during the last weekend of July, coinciding with the celebration of San Ignatius of Loyola, the patron saint of the Basque people.
“Jaialdi is a cultural homecoming for Basques across the globe,” organizers said in a press release. “It brings together people from the Basque Country and the diaspora, offering a chance to celebrate heritage, reconnect with family and friends, and share Basque culture with the wider world.”
While Basque festivals happen around the world, Jaialdi is exclusive to Boise and draws attendees from both the Basque Country and Basque communities throughout the United States. The last Jaialdi was scheduled for 2020 but was canceled due to the pandemic, making this year’s event the first in 10 years. Organizers expect between 30,000 to 40,000 attendees, with preparations underway for an even larger and more energized celebration than usual.
“A lot has changed in the world in the last 10 years, and we’re expecting this festival to be our biggest yet,” said Marketing Director Lael Uberuaga-Rodgers.
According to Uberuaga-Rodgers, 30 to 40% of attendees are local, while a few hundred to a few thousand travel from abroad. The remaining participants come to Boise from across the United States. Many events are free and open to the public, including street performances and activities in the Basque Block. However, tickets are required for select events such as Sports Night, Festara, Dantzaldi, and the Expo Idaho showcase, which can be purchased online.
This year’s festival introduces new and improved additions to celebrate the first event in 10 years. Dantzaldi, or “dance time,” will be introduced for the first time as a large indoor concert and dance hall at Idaho Central Arena on Saturday, August 2. While the festival has always featured street dancing, this new high-capacity venue allows more people to enjoy a mix of Basque folk, rock, and fusion music from international and local performers.
Five international Basque music and dance groups will be traveling to Boise for Jaialdi. Gatibu, a Basque rock band from northern Spain, will headline Jaialdi’s rock performance at Dantzaldi. This scale of international participation adds a new dimension to the festival and highlights the global connections that make Jaialdi so meaningful.
One of the most popular events is Sports Night, featuring herri kirolak, or traditional Basque rural sports. The event is almost sold out and features athletes from around the world competing in events such as stone lifting, wood chopping, and bale lifting. These contests come from centuries-old Basque village traditions where showing strength was part of everyday life.
Events will also take place at Expo Idaho on Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3. Attendees can enjoy a variety of Basque dance groups on the indoor stages, sheep wagons, food and drinks, and a complete vendor fair with Basque novelties, jewelry, and clothing. If you pick one paid event, Uberuaga-Rodgers recommends attending Expo Idaho.
Another highlight is the Oñati Korpus (Corpus Christi) dances, which are sacred liturgical performances typically held in the Basque town of Oñati. Dancers use hoops, castanets, and intricate steps to perform symbolic routines. The performance will be showcased during the Jaialdi Mass on Sunday, August 3.
Traditional Basque cuisine such as chorizo, solomo sandwiches, and croquettes will be available on the Basque Block, and all restaurants on the block will remain open to keep you fueled throughout the festival.
Jaialdi is put on and staffed entirely by volunteers. Applications are still being accepted to help out at the festival, and those interested can sign up and receive perks such as free entry to events or free merch. “All of the organizers, myself included, are just volunteering our time because we love it,” Uberuaga-Rodgers said.
The Basques are an indigenous ethnic group of Southwest Europe and speak Euskara, a language with no known origin and linguistically unrelated to any others. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many Basques migrated to America, often arriving with few resources and taking on demanding work such as sheep herding. This migration slowly built a Basque population in Boise, which became one of the nation’s most concentrated Basque communities.
Boise became a prime area for cattle and sheep herding, and chain migration slowly built roots for Basque communities in town. They would stay in boarding houses, like the one that still stands today on the Basque Block, and create their own safe spaces to speak the same language, share meals, and adjust to life in America. Today, the city continues to celebrate that heritage through cultural districts like the Basque Block.
Jaialdi began in 1987 as a one-time event held at the Idaho State Penitentiary, which drew more than 30,000 attendees. The festival was such a success that then-Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus brought it back in 1990 to coincide with the state’s centennial celebration. After another successful festival, Jaialdi became a recurring event held every five years in Boise.
Today, the city’s Basque Block is a vibrant cultural hub that preserves and celebrates these traditions year-round, but Jaialdi remains a peak event. “I get the sense that Boiseans are really proud of our Basque population here, whether you’re Basque or not — we know how to throw a good party,” Uberuaga-Rodgers said.
After a decade-long break, this year’s Jaialdi is one you won’t want to miss. Anyone and everyone is welcome to experience one of the world’s largest cultural festivals right here in Boise. “We want you to have fun, be well-fed, and dance your heart out — even if you’re not Basque,” Uberuaga-Rodgers said.
Jaialdi 2025 Schedule
Tuesday, July 29:– 5 p.m.: Kickoff party on the Basque Block with food, drinks, and strolling musicians.
Wednesday, July 30:– 5 p.m.: Continued festivities on the Basque Block with food, drinks, and strolling musicians.
Thursday, July 31:– Noon: Enjoy food, drinks, and Basque music with old and new friends.- 7 p.m.: Watch athletes compete in herri kirolak (Basque rural sports) at Idaho Central Arena.- 8:30 p.m.: Street dance on the block featuring Basque folk and rock music with performances by Xabi Aburruzaga and Gatibu.
Friday, August 1:– Noon: Keep the party going with more food, drinks, and music on the block.- 7 p.m.: Festara celebrates traditional Basque music and dance with performances by Euskal Herria and Boise’s own Oinkari Basque Dancers.
Saturday, August 2:– 10 a.m.: Explore Expo Idaho with dance groups, vendor booths, and traditional sheep wagons.- 7:30 p.m.: Dantzaldi for an all-ages concert featuring performances by Amuma Says No, Neomak, and internationally-renowned Basque rock band Gatibu.
Sunday, August 3:– 11 a.m.: Watch dozens of dance groups perform on two indoor stages at Expo Idaho.- 5 p.m.: Attend a special mass featuring sacred Oñati Corpus Christi dances performed on the altar by Boise’s Oñati Dancers.- 8 p.m.: Say agur to Jaialdi 2025 with performances from Zabi Aburruzaga and Amuma Says No featuring Basque and Basque-American music.
