Gernika-Lumo will host the Last Monday of October fair on the last Monday of October, featuring 251 stalls of agricultural, livestock, craft products, and machinery. The event, which highlights the quality and diversity of Basque production, will include exhibitions of farmhouse products, crafts, and agricultural machinery. The program will feature agricultural contests, bertsolari performances, the traditional cheese auction, and a Basque pelota event in the afternoon.
Iñaki Gorroño, Councilor for Fairs and Markets, encourages citizens to enjoy one of the most significant events in Bizkaia's fair calendar. "The Last Monday is an opportunity to value the work of our farmers, producers, and artisans, and to bring the quality and diversity of our land's products closer to the public," he stated.
At 11:30 AM, the plenary hall of the Gernika-Lumo Town Hall will host a reception and tribute to several individuals and collectives. Among those recognized will be world champion Basque pelota players of cesta punta Lekerika and Barandika; Karmelo Egiarte Goikolea of Transportes Karmelo; Sorkunde Ordorika, a hairdresser linked to solidarity initiatives; and municipal representatives from other territories, including Emilio Lorenzo Jorge de Ana (Moral de Sayago), Carlos Rodríguez Casares (Toro), Óscar Díaz Hernández (Alconchel), and Gerásimo Vallejo Herrero (El Burgo Ranero).
The fair will be spread across the main streets of Gernika-Lumo, featuring stalls of agri-food products, crafts, agricultural machinery, and itinerant vendors. Artekale street will host 66 stalls offering cider, txakoli, cheese, honey, plants, bread, and dairy products; Ocho de Enero street will have 23 stalls with honey, pâtés, cured meats, cheese, chocolate, and craft beer; Industria street will feature 30 stalls with bread, cheese, doughnuts, preserves, and Basque cake; the Alhóndiga will house 9 stalls dedicated to agricultural machinery; Juan Calzada street will have 32 stalls with vegetables, fruits, plants, and machinery; San Juan street will offer 32 stalls with pâtés, cheese, honey, and doughnuts; the Pasealeku will host 56 craft stalls; Plaza San Juan Ibarra will have 40 stalls for itinerant vendors; and Pablo Picasso street will allocate 5 spaces for press and media.
The program will begin at 9:00 AM with the agricultural products contest and machinery exhibition. At 12:00 PM, bertsolaris Amets Arzallus and Onintza Enbeita will perform at the market fountains, followed by the award ceremony for the contests at 1:00 PM, and the traditional cheese auction. In the afternoon, starting at 6:00 PM, two Basque pelota matches will mark the beginning of the Gernika Jai Alai Winter Series.
A comprehensive security and emergency plan has been prepared, involving over 80 people, including 12 members of the Red Cross, 38 Ertzaintza officers, 18 municipal police officers, and 12 municipal workers, in addition to firefighters. Due to the fair's setup, several streets will be closed to traffic, and the use of public transport is recommended.
