While Santurtzi's most prominent celebrations are the El Carmen festivities in July, the seafaring town will don its festive scarf from this Friday to enjoy the San Jorge Festivities. The Santurtzi City Council has organized dozens of activities that will take place until April 26, when these celebrations in honor of San Jorge, the town's patron saint and the origin of Santurtzi's toponym, will conclude.
“"The San Jorge festivities are one of the most anticipated events by our neighbors. These are days to reconnect, to enjoy the street atmosphere, to spend time with family and friends, and to continue building our community together."
The celebrations will kick off this Friday afternoon with the opening of the txosnas (festival stalls) around the fishing port. Later in the evening, at 11:00 PM, DJ Kris Alava will set the rhythm for the first night of these festivities, which mark the beginning of the spring patron saint festival cycle in Ezkerraldea and Meatzaldea. Saturday will be a busy day, with a parade of giants and big-heads through the town center starting at 12:00 PM. An hour later, the central park will host a dance performance by Aukeran Dantza.
In the afternoon, at 7:30 PM, Tolín El Mariachi will perform on the port stage, and to conclude the day, the group Tribu Cohetes will play at the same venue from 10:30 PM. On Sunday, the seafaring town will become the epicenter for autism awareness in Bizkaia with the celebration of the Autismoa Martxan march, an initiative promoted by Apnabi.
Throughout the week, culture will have its place in the festive program. On the 22nd, DEIA journalist Igor G. Vico will present his new novel, Lo que vuelve, at Casa Torre. On the 23rd, San Jorge's Day, the main mass will be celebrated at noon, and at 12:45 PM, the txistulari band Itsas Alde will hold a kalejira (parade) through the municipality. In the afternoon, from 6:00 PM, the central park will host the children's show Gora Kopak!, while at Casa Torre, from 6:15 PM, a talk on Bizkaian mythology will be given by Toti Martínez de Lezea.
Friday, April 24, will mark the beginning of the second and final weekend of the festivities. On this day, among other activities, attendees can enjoy a concert by Burning at Serantes Kultur Aretoa starting at 8:30 PM, while from 10:30 PM, Moonshine Wagon will perform on the port stage. The following day, the San Jorge Cross will be held from 11:00 AM, and at 2:30 PM, there will be a meal for cuadrillas (groups of friends) in the central park. At 4:00 PM, the Santurtzi veterans' flag ceremony will begin, and at 9:00 PM, the San Jorge church will host a lyrical-choral gala. Among the activities on the last day of the festivities, the txiki alarde (children's parade) stands out, which will be held from 12:00 PM in the central park and will celebrate its 40th anniversary.
