Aztiria, a neighborhood situated between the municipalities of Legazpi and Gabiria, is preparing to host its Santa Marina festivals once again. The festivities will take place from July 19th to 21st and, in addition to the usual events, will feature Canarian island dances and a reinforced bus service as key novelties. The Aztiri-Bat association is organizing the festivals with the support of the local residents and the Legazpi City Council.
This year's program includes several minor changes. The rural sports exhibition has been moved to Saturday, featuring four aizkolaris (wood choppers) in a team challenge: Josu Ibarguren and Xabier Dorronsoro on one side, and Joanes Izagirre and Haritz Gonea on the other. The potato tortilla competition, another popular gathering point of the festivals, has been rescheduled to Sunday, and the bertso ( Basque improvisational poetry) dinner on Saturday night will feature Aitor Mendizabal and Iker Zubeldia.
The main novelty of the festivals will be a performance of dances from the Canary Islands. Following an exchange with the local group Sustraiak from Legazpi, the Tenerife-based group Danza de las Flores de Tegueste will perform on Saturday afternoon. Furthermore, the Legazpi City Council has arranged a special bus service to facilitate travel to and from the neighborhood, particularly for the Sunday morning mountain race.
The bus service will operate from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening. On Saturday, it will depart from the Urtatza stop in Legazpi at 17:30, 19:00, and 20:30, and on Sunday, it will run in the morning from 09:00 to 14:00 and in the afternoon from 17:30 onwards.
The program kicks off on Friday with the ringing of bells and trikitixa music. Saturday will feature a mass, dance performances, the aizkora challenge, and a bertso dinner. Sunday's events include a mountain race, an homage to the oldest resident, and the tortilla competition, among other activities.
