The Artadi neighborhood in Zumaia will celebrate its annual festivities, known as Sanielak, from September 26th to 29th. The events promise a variety of activities for residents of all ages and tastes, with a focus on music, pelota (Basque handball), rural sports, and gastronomic offerings.
The festivities will kick off on Saturday at 4:00 PM with the txupinazo (opening rocket). Following this, at 4:30 PM, there will be a display of pottokak (ponies) and bulls for those over 16, presented by Arno. At 6:00 PM, an exhibition match from the pelota school will take place, and at 7:00 PM, a cider tasting and barbecue are scheduled.
Sunday will feature a diverse range of activities. In the morning, from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM, inflatable attractions will be available for children, and from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, rural sports games for children and young people. At midday, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, there will be a trikitixa (Basque folk music) performance with Izer eta Alabier. At 2:00 PM, a lunch for senior citizens will be held.
The afternoon will also be busy: at 4:30 PM, Arno's young bulls and pottokak will appear, from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM, inflatables will be open, and at 6:00 PM, another pelota exhibition match is scheduled. To conclude the day, at 6:30 PM, a trikitixa performance by Izer eta Alabier will take place.
The final day of the festival, Tuesday, will be San Miguel's Day. At 11:00 AM, a mass will be celebrated, followed by a chance to enjoy first-division amateur pelota matches from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, featuring Iker Eguiguren vs. Aratz Ormaetxea and Oihan Etxeberria vs. Asier Baleri.
At 1:00 PM, there will be a txakoli (Basque white wine) tasting and a session with bertsolaris (improvised Basque singers) Amets Arzallus and Andoni Egaña. Simultaneously, a trikitixa performance by Ostolaza eta Larrañaga will begin. In the afternoon, a second bertsolari session will be held, followed by the final trikitixa performance of the festival.
As in previous years, a special bus service will operate between Zumaia and Artadi during the festival days. Buses can be boarded near Kabi. On Saturday, the bus departs from Zumaia to Artadi at 4:00 PM and returns at 8:30 PM. On Sunday, it departs from Zumaia to Artadi at 11:00 AM and returns at 2:30 PM in the morning; in the afternoon, it leaves for Artadi at 4:30 PM and returns to Zumaia at 8:00 PM. On Tuesday, the bus departs from Zumaia to Artadi at 10:30 AM and returns from Artadi to Zumaia at 2:30 PM.
This service provides residents with a convenient transportation option to attend the Artadi festivities and return home without needing to use a car.
