Upcoming events
Udaleku 2026
Formerly known as Music Camp, Udaleku came into being in April 1974 when various Basque clubs joined together to create the North American Basque Organizations, Inc. (NABO) with the purpose of promoting and encouraging our common Basque heritage. Since those early days the bonds between Basques here in the United States have been strengthened and extended. The annual Udaleku sponsored by NABO, and hosted by one of our member organization, has contributed much to this growth.
Southern California Basque 80th Annual Picnic & NABO Convention
Join us for a weekend of fun at our 80th Annual Basque Picnic & 2026 NABO Convention starting on July 3rd and continuing to the Picnic July 5th. Gather with your fellow Bascos, we’ve got you covered!
58th Annual Reno Basque Festival
Saturday, July 18th at the McKinley Arts and Culture Center at 10:00am with a Basque social dance to follow at Lead Dog Brewing Co. at 8:00pm.
#RenoBasqueFestival Zazpiak Bat Basque Reno #BasqueCulture City of Reno - Parks and Recreation
Gazteak on the Green
Grab your clubs and your crew!
Mendiko Youth Fundraiser Golf Tournament is coming August 7th at Carson Valley Golf Course — a 4-person scramble celebrating Basque Picnic weekend and supporting local youth cultural programs. All skill levels welcome!
$125/player | $500/team
Includes green fees & cart, lunch, and prize eligibility.
Sponsorships also available!
Contact Aline or Joe to sign up!
Aline at aline_izoco@yahoo.com
Joe at leonislawns@yahoo.com
BFS: TWO SHORTS (ZORTZITIK INFINITURA + PIGEON HUNTERS)
BFS: TWO SHORTS (ZORTZITIK INFINITURA + PIGEON HUNTERS)
Join the BEO for two short films: “Zortzitik Infinitude / Basque Cinema: A Journey through Its History” and another Basque short film, “Abata – Pigeon Hunters” as part of our partner, the San Francisco Basque Cultural Center’s Udako Besta.
ABOUT THE FILMS
Zortzitik Infinitura, Basque Cinema: A Journey through Its History”
By means of a journey through the life of the filmmaker Benito Ansola and with the writer Miren Agur Meabe by our side, we will travel through the history of Basque cinema, from the germ of both Basque cinema and of films made in the Basque language until their present-day efflorescence. But Miren Agur Meabe won’t be alone. On this voyage, we will have magnificent assistants. Myriad eminent Basque filmmakers who have played a lead part in and witnessed its evolution will tell us its story.
2024, directed by Naia Laka Arrizubieta, 61 minutes, color, in Euskara and Spanish with English subtitles.
2024 San Sebastian International Film Festival Selection
Abata – Pigeon Hunters
In 1955, fascinated by the ingenious hunting of pigeons with wooden paddles and nets, Orson Welles directed the documentary The Land of Basques. Today, from a borda on the border between Navarre and France, Gerardo Damboriena, a veteran pigeon hunter, reveals in Basque the secrets of this tradition of more than 700 years, on the verge of extinction.
We accompany Gerardo, leader of the last generation of dove hunters in the Etxalar Valley, as he reflects on his masters, his love for the ancestral hunt, and his feeling of belonging to a vanishing culture. A story where English is learned from Basque. A story narrated by Gerardo Damboriena and Orson Welles.
2025, directed by Aner Etxebarria & Pablo Vidal, 25 minutes, color, in English, Euskara, Castilian with English Subtitles.
Basque Film Series: Xalbador - Izana eta Izena
Basque Film Series
Hosted by the Basque Educational Organization, a partner of the Basque Cultural Center.
2026 will mark the 50th anniversary of the passing of Xalbador (Fernando Aire Etxart, 1920–1976), who was a beloved Basque bertsolari and shepherd from Urepel in the Aldudes Valley, Baxe Nafarroa (North Basque Country). Known for his profound, heartfelt improvised verses on rural life, nature, and faith, he is considered one of the most iconic figures in modern Basque literature and improvised poetry.
In this documentary, we learn about the life of Xalbador through his four children and his poetry.
Synopsis:
Xalbador is a myth in the Basque Country. A poet shepherd who would sing to his flock. So great that he was able to convert whistles into applause. So profound that death chose to take him on the very day of the homage to his person. Ferranddo Aire "Xalbador" (1920 - 1976) - His four children bring us closer to him...
2014, directed by Eneko Dorronsoro, 90 minutes, color, in Euskara with English Subtitles.
The Basque Club of Utah's Annual Basque Picnic
Kaixo!
Our club picnic is coming up on Sunday, June 28, and we hope to see you there! Mass begins at 12:00 PM, with the picnic immediately after.
Note that we are in a new location this year:
Hidden Village Park
555 W 5430 S St, Murray, UT 84123
In addition to great food, we'll have a performance by the Utah'ko Triskalariak, a strongman show from the Black Flag Strength & Fitness Harri-Jasotze Eskola, our annual Jay Shortsleeve Memorial Horseshoe Tournament, souvenirs for sale, and kids games with prizes!
Menu:
Steak and chorizo barbecue lunch
Includes beans, salad, bread, and cheese.
Steak Lunch: $15
Chorizo Lunch: $10
Chorizo Sandwich: $5
You can also bring your own food. We will not have drinks for sale, so be sure to bring your own beverages along.
Homedale San Juan Eguna
When the sun goes down on San Juan Eguna, the feast day of St. John the Baptist, many a bonfire is set ablaze in the Basque Country to mark the celebration.
Txoko Ona has brought this unique celebration to Homedale.
Join us for the San Juan Eguna Basque Festival at Txoko Ona on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
12:00 PM | *Tony Larrocea 8 King Mus Tournament
5:00 PM | Gates Open
6:00 - 7:30 PM | Dance & Musical Performances by the Oinkari Basque Dancers, Herribatza Danzariak and Txantxangorriak
7:30 PM | Children & Adult Games
Live Music by Hori Bai
9:30 PM | Bonfire & Performance of San Juan Zortziko
Whether you are Basque or Basque-at-heart, join us for a unique festival experience!
The festival will feature food, beverages, dance and musical performances, games for children and adults, live music, and a bonfire!
This is a FREE, family-friendly event. Chairs and shade canopies are welcome. Please leave pets and outside food and beverages at home.
*Contact John Lejardi to register and learn more about the mus tournament. (208) 573-2495
About San Juan Eguna
When the sun goes down on June 23rd, many a bonfire is set ablaze to mark San Juan Eguna, the feast day of St. John the Baptist.
Basques became Christianized around the 8th century by most estimates. In an earlier time, the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, must have seemed magical and it spawned a wide assortment of rituals throughout Europe. In the case of the Basques, we are not certain what those pre-Christian rituals were, but what has survived is their rough form with a new Christian context. Thus, what we now know as San Juan Eguna, the day of St. John the Baptist, seems likely to have been adaptations of earlier rituals marking a day when it seemed as if the sun stood still in the sky.
The arrival of San Juan Eguna is marked by parties, festivals, neighborhood rituals, and of course the omnipresent bonfires. There are many places in the Basque Country that celebrate this holiday in big ways or it can be as simple as a group of neighbors joining together to build a bonfire. In addition, herbs are gathered on the morning of San Juan and kept throughout the year. Legend has it that the ashes cure skin diseases and that one should jump the fire a minimum of three times to have a good year.
For some, it still marks a special day on their religious calendar. For others, the rituals of San Juan Eguna still serve as a way of bringing the community together.
Winnemucca 46th Annual Basque Festival
Please join the Euskaldunak Danak Bat Basque Clubin Winnemucca, Nevada for its 46th Annual Basque Festival on Saturday, June 13th at the Winnemucca Convention Center.
The festivities begin with a parade at 10am that will end at the Convention Center, followed by opening ceremonies at 11am on the Nixon Lawn.
A lamb stew lunch will be served at 1:30pm, and the afternoon will be full of Basque dance performances, and games for all to enjoy.
A public dance begins at 6pm to the music of Amerikanuak, and Chorizo burgers will also be available for purchase in the evening.
For more information, visit them on Facebook. Oso ondo pasa!
64th Annual San Francisco Basque Picnic
64th Annual San Francisco Basque Picnic on Sunday, June 7th, 2026 at Penngrove Park
Basque Film Series: Lurdes Iriondo, ez gera alferrik pasako (Lurdes Iriondo, we will not waste our time)
The film pays tribute to a key figure in the recent history of the Basque Country. Through an intimate yet resolute approach, the filmmakers highlight the life and legacy of Lurdes Iriondo — a pioneer of Basque-language music and a symbol of cultural resistance.
BEO Book Club
Meetings are held via Zoom. If you are not currently a BEO Book Club member, join today for FREE and get the insider’s scoop (like the Zoom details).
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The short of it: A contemporary novel originally written in Basque (Amek ez dute), now available in English translation. It’s a sharp, thoughtful exploration of motherhood, creative ambition, and the emotional burdens women carry.
The longer synopsis: A mother kills her twins. Another woman, the narrator of this story, is about to give birth. She is a writer, and she realizes that she knows the woman who committed the infanticide. An obsession is born. She takes an extended leave, not for child-rearing, but to write. To research and write about the hidden truth behind the crime.
Mothers don’t write. Mothers give life. How could a woman be capable of neglecting her children? How could she kill them? Is motherhood a prison? Complete with elements of a traditional thriller, this is a groundbreaking novel in which the chronicle and the essay converge. Katixa Agirre reflects on the relationship between motherhood and creativity, in dialogue with writers such as Sylvia Plath and Doris Lessing. Mothers Don’t plumbs the depths of childhood and the lack of protection children face before the law. The result is a disturbing, original novel in which the author does not offer answers, but plants contradictions and discoveries. [Amazon]
A REVIEW:
“It might seem that everything has already been said about the experience of motherhood and its darkest reverse sides, but Mothers don’t shows that there are still many corners to explore, and it does it with accuracy and intelligence”―Aixa de la Cruz
Basque Film Series: Karmele (Seattle, WA)
KARMELE is a story of sustainability, resilience, and dignity in the face of oppression—a journey woven through culture, music, and art.
Based on the real experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi and inspired by the novel "Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua" (Time to Wake Up Together) by Kirmen Uribe.
2026 Suffield Basque Fest
Join us for an exciting day of traditional Basque wood-chopping, great food and good community.
ENTRANCE FEE:
$30 - Food & non-alcoholic beverages
$50 - Food & alcoholic beverages
RSVP by May 23
BEO Film Club
May 26 @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm PDT
Meetings are held via Zoom. If you are not currently a BEO Movie Club member, you can learn more and sign up for free.
Pikadero (2016)
Pikadero is a warm, offbeat romantic comedy set in a coastal Basque town, where young couple Amaia and Iñigo are very much in love — but have nowhere to be alone. Still living with their parents and short on money, they embark on an increasingly inventive (and often hilarious) quest to find a private place together, leading them to cars, hillsides, empty lots, and other unlikely corners of their surroundings. Along the way, the film paints a gently humorous portrait of family life, youth, and the awkward transition into adulthood. Beautifully shot, it also doubles as a visual tour of the Basque landscape, capturing both its rugged coastline and its everyday urban spaces with affection. Light, relatable, and quietly charming, Pikadero finds comedy in ordinary frustrations while celebrating the persistence of love.
Kern County Basque Picnic
Saturday, May 23, 2026
8:00 a.m. – Mus Tournament ($40 per player- includes lunch)
1st Place Team – $500
2nd Place Team – $250
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.- Lunch: Barbeque Chicken Lunch: Adults: $25 Children: $20
2:00 p.m. – Local Handball Games
4:30 p.m. – Pelotaris from Euskadi
Sunday, May 24, 2026
8:00 a.m. – Park opens
10:00 a.m. – Mass by Aita Antton Egiguren OFM & Deacon Fred Ansolabehere with
KCBC Klika and Choir
12 p.m. – 2 p.m. – BBQ Lamb Lunch – Adults: $40; Honorary Members: $35; Children 12 & under: $25
2:30 p.m. – Performances by KCBC Dance Groups and Klika
5:00 p.m. – Lukainka/Ham & Cheese Sandwiches – $14
5:00 p.m. – Pelota/Handball game – Pelotaris from Euskadi
7:00 p.m. – Dance by Luhartz from Euskadi
8:30 p.m. – Drawing – $5 a ticket or 5 tickets for $20
1st Place Prize – $1000 cash
2nd Place Prize – $500 cash
3rd Place Prize – $250 cash
Monday, May 25, 2026
Basque Breakfast at Wool Growers
Pelota Players from Euskadi
We are thrilled to announce the pelotaris (handball players) from Euskadi for the pelota games on Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 24th.
• Javier Oscoz
• Hegoi Txoperena
• Aitor Alduntzin
• Unax Apeztegia
Basque Film Series: Karmele (Bakersfield, CA)
KARMELE is a story of sustainability, resilience, and dignity in the face of oppression—a journey woven through culture, music, and art.
Based on the real experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi and inspired by the novel "Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua" (Time to Wake Up Together) by Kirmen Uribe.
Basque Film Series: Karmele (Chino, CA)
KARMELE is a story of sustainability, resilience, and dignity in the face of oppression—a journey woven through culture, music, and art.
Based on the real experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi and inspired by the novel "Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua" (Time to Wake Up Together) by Kirmen Uribe.
Basque Film Series: Karmele (Boise, ID)
KARMELE is a story of sustainability, resilience, and dignity in the face of oppression—a journey woven through culture, music, and art.
Based on the real experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi and inspired by the novel "Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua" (Time to Wake Up Together) by Kirmen Uribe.
Basque Film Series: Karmele (Gooding, ID)
KARMELE is a story of sustainability, resilience, and dignity in the face of oppression—a journey woven through culture, music, and art.
Based on the real experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi and inspired by the novel "Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua" (Time to Wake Up Together) by Kirmen Uribe.
Basque Film Series: Karmele (Ontario, OR)
KARMELE is a story of sustainability, resilience, and dignity in the face of oppression—a journey woven through culture, music, and art.
Based on the real experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi and inspired by the novel "Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua" (Time to Wake Up Together) by Kirmen Uribe.
Basque Film Series: Karmele (San Fransisco, CA)
KARMELE is a story of sustainability, resilience, and dignity in the face of oppression—a journey woven through culture, music, and art.
Based on the real experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi and inspired by the novel "Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua" (Time to Wake Up Together) by Kirmen Uribe.
Basque Film Series: Karmele (Gardnerville, NV)
KARMELE is a story of sustainability, resilience, and dignity in the face of oppression—a journey woven through culture, music, and art.
Based on the real experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi and inspired by the novel "Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua" (Time to Wake Up Together) by Kirmen Uribe.
Basque Film Series: Karmele (UNR)
KARMELE is a story of sustainability, resilience, and dignity in the face of oppression—a journey woven through culture, music, and art.
Based on the real experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi and inspired by the novel "Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua" (Time to Wake Up Together) by Kirmen Uribe.
Basque Film Series: Karmele (Buffalo, WY)
KARMELE is a story of sustainability, resilience, and dignity in the face of oppression—a journey woven through culture, music, and art.
Based on the real experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi and inspired by the novel "Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua" (Time to Wake Up Together) by Kirmen Uribe.
Basque Film Series: Karmele (Washington, D.C.)
KARMELE is a story of sustainability, resilience, and dignity in the face of oppression—a journey woven through culture, music, and art.
Based on the real experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi and inspired by the novel "Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua" (Time to Wake Up Together) by Kirmen Uribe.
Basque Film Series: Karmele (New York, NY)
KARMELE is a story of sustainability, resilience, and dignity in the face of oppression—a journey woven through culture, music, and art.
Based on the real experiences of Karmele Urresti and Txomin Letamendi and inspired by the novel "Elkarrekin Esnatzeko Ordua" (Time to Wake Up Together) by Kirmen Uribe.
Basque Cider House Dinner
Join us for a special Cider House Dinner fundraiser for the Zazpiak Bat Dancers in support of their upcoming trip to the Basque Country this summer to continue their cultural exchange with Garaztarrak, the local Basque dance group who came to San Francisco last summer (2025).
Sponsored by the San Francisco Basque Folkloric Groups in partnership with the Basque Club & Basque Cultural Center.
Dinner Ticket Includes:
Dinner, Commemorative glass, and cider until we run the barrels dry
Early Bird Ticket Price of $75 (purchased before April 1st)
After March 31st, the price goes up to $85. Last day to purchase tickets is April 12th.
Dinner tickets sold will be limited to 200.
Menu
Soup
Bacalao Croquetas
Txuleton (Skirt Steak) & Fries
Salad
Intxaurrak, Membrilloa eta Gasna (Walnuts, Quince jelly, and Basque cheese)
All-You-Can-Drink sagardoa (Basque hard cider)
What is a Sagardotegi?
A sagardotegi makes sagardoa, the very dry, Basque style of hard apple cider. Sagardotegiak (plural) are found throughout Euskadi and are very popular places for groups to go for a fun evening. They serve an amazing dinner of steak, cod cooked two different ways, bread, cheese and walnuts, and of course all of the sagardoa a person can drink. You’re given a fork and glass, and food is brought out family-style. Between the courses, the owners yell out “TXOTX!” and everyone goes to the wooden barrels to fill their glasses - the highlight of the evening.
ENTERTAINMENT
Throughout the night, there will be a variety of entertainment including auctions, raffles, music, and more. Bid on an array of silent auction items, throw in a ticket or two for the 50/50 raffle, and if you want a sweet treat, the dessert auction will be the table to visit with delicious items donated by our local community.
Basque Film Series: Jone, batzuetan / Jone, Sometimes
Basque Film Series at the historic The Little Roxie Auditorium in San Francisco - 3125 16th St, San Francisco.
Hosted by the Basque Educational Organization.
Tickets $15 advance | $20 at the door.
Bilbao, mid-August. Jone (20) lives with her father and her younger sister Marta. Her father has had to leave his job, unable to continue due to the complications of Parkinson's. Meanwhile the Big Week festivities kick off in Bilbao, during which Jone will fall in love for the first time. During this summer, Jone will alternate between the sensation of immortality she enjoys with Olga, the girl she falls for, and the fear of being left alone because of her father's disease.
2025 San Sebastian International Film Festival Selection
2025, directed by Sara Fantova, 80 minutes, color, in Euskara and Spanish with English subtitles.
Trailer:
About the Director:
Sara Fantova (Bilbao, Bizkaia. 1993) studied Film Directing at the ESCAC, where she graduated with the short film No me despertéis (Kimuak, 2018), premiered in the Official Selection of the SEMINCI and selected for Rotterdam, amongst other festivals. She also participated as a director and screenwriter in the omnibus film La filla d’algú (Made in Spain, 2019), premiered in the Zonacine section of the Málaga Festival, where it landed the Silver Biznaga for Best Actress (Aina Clotet). In 2023, she joined Aina Clotet, Mar Coll and Celia Giraldo to co-direct the series Esto no es Suecia. Jone, batzuetan, her first film, competed at the Málaga Festival, where it received a Special Jury Mention for its director.
Interview with the Director:
Eloise Garmendia Bieter Chair in Basque Studies 2026: Fashion designer Oihane Pardo Pérez.
Threads of Memory: Designing Local Identity for Global Presence
Sponsored by Boise State University Basque Studies
and the Basque Museum and Cultural Center
Event will be at the Basque Center (not the Basque Museum)
Social gathering begins when Center doors open
Presentation: 6:00 pm
Oihane will reflect on iconic Basque garments, anecdotes about Basque influence in global fashion, and the role of women in cultural transmission.
Live in Concert: Kokein
Kokein has been a driving force in the Basque music scene for 25 years. Founded in Eibar in 1999, the band began its journey singing exclusively in Euskara (Basque Language). In the quarter-century since, Kokein has built a strong family around their music, touring extensively across the Basque Country, Catalonia, Spain, and even Japan.
Korrika in BOSTON, MA!
Join us for Korrika!
March 28, 2pm in Boston, MA
Plan is to meet at Boston Common Park in front of the T station entrance and do a walk around the park.
Check out their instagram for all the latest details: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUlcEaLilHO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Live in Concert: Kokein
Kokein has been a driving force in the Basque music scene for 25 years. Founded in Eibar in 1999, the band began its journey singing exclusively in Euskara (Basque Language). In the quarter-century since, Kokein has built a strong family around their music, touring extensively across the Basque Country, Catalonia, Spain, and even Japan.
Eloise Garmendia Bieter Chair in Basque Studies 2026: Fashion designer Oihane Pardo Pérez.
Small Country, Global Impact: How Design Amplifies Non-Dominant Cultures
Sponsored by Boise State University Basque Studies and the Etxepare Basque Institute
Boise State University, Student Union Building, Lookout Room
4:30 pm Doors open
Presentation: 5:00 pm
Live in Concert: Kokein
Kokein has been a driving force in the Basque music scene for 25 years. Founded in Eibar in 1999, the band began its journey singing exclusively in Euskara (Basque Language). In the quarter-century since, Kokein has built a strong family around their music, touring extensively across the Basque Country, Catalonia, Spain, and even Japan.
Basque Breakfast at JT Basque Bar & Dining Room
It’s that time! Sunday, March 22nd we will be serving Basque Breakfast from 9am til Noon. First come first serve! $19 a person plus tax… we only do this twice a year, so come see us!
🍳☕️😋
