The proposals that Basque culture offers us in the month of October 2024 are very broad and diverse; cinema, music, gastronomy, painting,… As in jewelry or car brands, there are some more sophisticated proposals than others. The most elegant, in my opinion, are those that I tell you about in this agenda of cultural, sporting, traditional, gastronomic, congress events,… of the Basque Country!

My admiration for the seventh art is always nourished and greatly nourished in September by the famous San Sebastian Film Festival. In this month of October I propose to delve a little deeper into its history. In 1888, the first scene of Louis Le Prince’s The Roundhay Garden was filmed in October, considered the first film in the history of cinema. Just 3 days later, the first film projector was patented: the zoopraxiscope. Invented by British photographer Eadweard Muybridge in 1879, Frenchman Louis Le Prince also created and patented a more sophisticated film projector with which he filmed his movie.

The following year, also in October, Thomas Edison presents the kinetoscope. So October 6, 2024 marks 135 years since this presentation. 7 years later in 1895, the Lumières, who were also born in October, present their cinematograph once they have improved Edison’s kinescope. Also in this month, already in the 20th century, Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded ‘The Walt Disney Company’ in the United States, the first sound film in history is presented; and the World Animation Day was declared in 2003 and the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage since 2005.

On October 7, 1974 (50 years in 2024) the film Papillón, starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, was released in Spain. The first scenes of the film were shot in 1973 in the Basque Country, in the border town of Hondarribia (Guipúzcoa). 5 years ago, on October 25, El silencio de la ciudad blanca was released. A Spanish film based on the first part of a trilogy by the Basque writer Eva García Sáenz de Urturi, born in Vitoria-Gasteiz. It was filmed in the capital of the Basques itself, and its beauty is also one of its protagonists. Contact me if you want to take a tour to learn more about cinema in the Basque Country.

This October 9th, European Day of Cave Art, in honour of the 117th anniversary of the recognition by the international scientific community of the authenticity of the art of the Altamira cave. You can visit this and other Paleolithic art caves with me on personalized tours for you. October 19th is the International Day of Cathedrals. I remember the presentation of the Welsh writer Ken Follett in 2008 of his book “A World Without End”, the second part of “The Pillars of the Earth”. A book that is inspired by the restoration of the Gothic cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria-Gasteiz. And so is “The Armor of Light”, the fifth volume of the saga, but this time about the Battle of Vitoria won by Wellington against Napoleon.

The proposals are:

Basque culture activities in Bilbao and Biscay 

  • Getxo Eszena. Theatre, dance, circus, clown and music by companies from the Basque Country. Las Arenas Station Square. From May 4th to October 26th.
  • Sota Family. Art and patronage. Collecting and patronage as drivers of modern culture. Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao. From June 21th to October 13th.
  • Eduardo Chillida – Godofredo Ortega Muñoz. 2 greats of Basque and Spanish art of the 20th century who have the desire for modernity as a connecting thread. Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. From June 26th to October 21st.
  • Yoshitomo Nara. Exhibition covers Nara’s entire career from its beginnings. Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. From June 28th to November 3rd.
  • Carmina Burana by La Fura dels Baus. A sensorial, musical and theatrical show, vital and energetic, with the music of Carl Orff. Arriaga Teatro. From September 26th to October 6th.
  • 12th Santurtzi Film Festival. Short films of a maximum of fifteen minutes in length, with at least one shot filmed in the city. Serantes Theatre, Casa Torre Jauregia Palace, Kresala Hall and bars in the town. From October 3rd to 19th.
  • 16th Bilbao International Invisible Film Festival “Film Sozialak”. Promotes human development, interculturality, equity and sustainability through communication and culture. From October 10th to 17th.
  • Ja! Bilbao. 15th International Festival of Literature and Art with Humour. Celebration of the centenary of the death of Franz Kafka. Collective exhibition entitled ‘Kafka Kaleidoscope’. From 10th to 20th October.
  • Balmaseda grape harvest festival. The txakolí season begins (a light, slightly acidic wine made in the Basque Country and Cantabria). Traditional Basque cuisine. Horkasitas Palace. October 20th.
  • Balmaseda International Putxera Competition. Gastronomic festival. Putxera is a historical dish made from beans, bacon, chorizo ​​and blood sausage. The main day of the San Severino festivities. Popular meal, a pilgrimage, street parades, street parties… October 23rd.
  • Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. kyiv Ballet. Choreography by Marius Petipa. Euskalduna Palace. October 27th.
  • Lords of the sound – Movie soundtracks: Dune, Interstellar or Spider Man. Hans Zimmer‘s music occupies a special place in the contemporary film industry. Campos Eliseos Theatre. October 29th.

Proposals of Basque culture in San Sebastian and Gipuzkoa in October 2024

  • Exhibition “Balenciaga. Character”, 3rd part. Perspective of the couturier’s work, never before seen, and focused on what makes “a Balenciaga” recognizable. Cristobal Balenciaga Museum. From March 1st to January 19th, 2025.
  • “Chillida / Balenciaga – Fold the shape” exhibition. Within the framework of the centenary of Eduardo Chillida. Guipuzcoans, friends and with a common philosophical base between the sculptor of air and the couturier of space. Cristobal Balenciaga Museum. From March 22nd to January 5th, 2025.
  • 100 years. The modern and/or the contemporary. Basque art from the 1920s to the present. San Telmo Museum. From April 13th to December 30th.
  • Temporary exhibition “100 years of Eduardo Chillida with the Telefónica Collection“. Collaboration with Telefonica, Fundaciontef and Chillida100 in the years of the artist’s Centennial. Chillida Leku Museum. From May 15th to October 13th.
  • Perfume at the time of Balenciaga. “The invisible and definitive fashion accessory” according to Chanel. The epitome of luxury. History of modern perfume (1895-1972): fragrances, jewel bottles, boxes and displays, advertising and poetry. Collections of Anne de Thoisy-Dallem, Juanjo Ruiz Crivillé, Benegas perfumery in San Sebastián and the Balenciaga Museum itself. From May 24th to December 8th.
  • The evolution of Basque fashion from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Basque Costume Museum in Rentería. Baroque building Kapitain Etxea. From June 24th to December 31st.
  • 26 San Sebastian Gastronomika 2024: “San Sebastian open city”. Gastronomy conferences by internationally renowned chefs. Tavern and tavern-keepers forum. Exhibition area with more than 150 companies. Kursaal Palace and beyond. From October 7th to 9th.
  • Ismael Serrano. The song of our life. New musical experience, escaping from the conventional recital. Victoria Eugenia Theater. October 10th.
  • Eri Yamamoto & Bruce Barth. 4 hands piano. International Jazz. Victoria Eugenia Theatre. October 23rd.
  • Donosti (San Sebastian) beautiful swing festival. Lindy Hop and Jazz dance swing festival, with live music, classes, parties, other experiences and pure enjoyment. Kursaal Congress Palace. From October 25th to 27th.
  • Tolosa Goxua: special gastronomic fair for sweets. Some of the best confectioners and pastry chefs in the Basque Country. October 26th.

Basque culture events in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Alava in October 2024

  • María Antonia Proietti, the Italian model. Model of the Alava painters Ignacio Díaz Olano and Fernando Amárica. Museum of Fine Arts of Álava in Vitoria-Gasteiz. From May 15th to January 26th, 2025.
  • Trajectories. It shows the work of the three Basque artists Juan de Echevarría, Gustavo de Maeztu and Ángel Olarte. Works from the collection of the Álava Museum of Fine Arts in Vitoria-Gasteiz. From May 15th to January 26th, 2025.
  • Vitoria-Gasteiz Crime and Detective Novel Festival. Amurrio, Kuartango and Vitoria. From September 26th to October 6th.
  • Ander Perrino (double bass) and Jarkko Riihimäki (piano). Vitoria-Gasteiz Chamber Series. Jesús Guridi Conservatory of Music. October 13th.
  • Discover! Concert by the Municipal Band. Director: Iker Olazabal. Europa Conference Centre. October 16th.
  • Freestyle World Tour. The most prestigious event in world freestyle. Intrepid pilots defy gravity with impossible stunts and dizzying tricks. Buesa Arena. October 19th.
  • Komedialdia. IV Festival of Humor in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Motto of the year: “What you see… and what is. The power of the invisible.” 6 days, 17 activities and more than 36 artists in theaters, streets, shops… From October 22nd to 27th.
  • Depedro in concert. “A Perfect Place” Tour. Guitar. Jimmy Jazz Room in Vitoria-Gasteiz. October 25th.
  • Wine Run Rioja Alavesa. Run with the spirit of wine. 20 km, 10 km and a popular walk among vineyards and wineries. Wine fair in Elciego. October 27th.
  • Travel! Concert by the Municipal Band. Director: Luis Orduña. Europa Conference Centre. October 30th.

I hope you like the selection of Basque culture activities for October 2024. Contact me to complement your stay with an exclusive and personalized tour with Aitor Delgado Tours.

September 5, 2024