Jaialdi returns to Boise, Idaho after 10 years. The 2020 festival was cancelled because of the pandemic, but this year’s festival is expected to be bigger than ever with tens of thousands of people attending.
This is your go-to guide for Jaialdi 2025 and features all the official events and other happenings in the Boise Basque community during Jaialdi festival week. This will be updated as more events are announced.
Jaialdi, which means “festival” in the Basque language, is the biggest Basque festival in the U.S. and has been taking place every five years since 1990.
SATURDAY, July 26
Basque Open Golf Tournament
7 a.m. Check in and Chorizos
Warm Springs Golf Course
2495 E Warm Springs Ave.
Boise, ID 83712
TUESDAY, July 29
The Arborglyph Collaborative
8 a.m. – 3 p.m. A presentation on Basque tree carvings sponsored by Boise State University, the University of Nevada, Reno, and California State University, Bakersfield. The universities are part of a collaborative to document, preserve and study Basque arborglyphs – unique carvings etched into aspen trees by Basque immigrant sheepherders in the American West.
Micron Center for Materials Research
Boise State University
1435 W University Dr.
Pilota (Basque handball) Games
3:30 – 10 p.m. Daily Schedule
Anduiza Fronton
611 W. Grove St., Basque Block
Games will be livestreamed at the Basque Center, 601 W. Grove St.
Oñati Exchange Program 50th Anniversary Celebration
4 – 6 p.m. Celebration of 50 years of the Boise State University program to study the Basque language in the town of Oñati, Gipuzkoa
Idaho State Capitol Building
700 West Jefferson St.
Basque Film Festival at The Flicks
Info to come
Jaialdi Festivities
5 p.m. onward – Food and drink booths, and strolling musicians
Basque Block, 600 block of Grove Street
WEDNESDAY, July 30
Zortziak Bat International Symposium on Basque Diaspora & Cultural Expressions
8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Basque Studies Foundation is sponsoring an educational symposium that honors the legacy of “Zortziak Bat” — the “Eighth Province” — a concept that extends Basque identity to the global Basque diaspora. Scholars, artists and cultural leaders will explore the evolving tapestry of Basque identities
SKAGGS Hall of Learning, College of Business and Economics
(located at the corner of Capitol Boulevard and University Drive)
Boise State University
2360 W. University Dr.
Pilota (Basque handball) Games
3:30 – 8:30 p.m. Daily Schedule
Anduiza Fronton
611 W. Grove St., Basque Block
Games will be livestreamed at the Basque Center, 601 W. Grove St.
Jaialdi Festivities
5 p.m. onward – Food and drink booths, and strolling musicians
Basque Block, 600 block of Grove Street
Basque Night with Basque film and Pintxos
6 p.m. Pintxos with Chef Barbie Larrinaga
7 p.m. Film “Dantza”
Tickets
Share Studio, JUMP (Jack’s Urban Meeting Place)
1000 W Myrtle St.
THURSDAY, July 31
Zortziak Bat International Symposium on Basque Diaspora & Cultural Expressions
8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Basque Studies Foundation is sponsoring an educational symposium that honors the legacy of “Zortziak Bat” — the “Eighth Province” — a concept that has long extended Basque identity to the global Diaspora. Scholars, artists and cultural leaders will explore the evolving tapestry of Basque identities
SKAGGS Hall of Learning, College of Business and Economics
(located at the corner of Capitol Boulevard and University Drive)
Boise State University
2360 W. University Dr.
Special Family Programming for Jaialdi
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Idaho State Museum
610 Julia Davis Dr.
Jaialdi Festivities
12 noon onward – Food and drink booths, and strolling musicians
Basque Block, 600 block of Grove Street
Pilota (Basque handball) Games
2:30 – 6:30 p.m. Daily Schedule
Presentation with president of the Basque Country
Anduiza Fronton
611 W. Grove St., Basque Block
Games will be livestreamed at the Basque Center, 601 W. Grove St.
Sports Night
7 p.m. Very popular event highlighting Herri Kirolak – Basque rural sports – with performers from the Basque Country
Tickets
Idaho Central Arena
233 S Capitol Blvd.
Street Dance
8:30 p.m. Dance featuring Basque and Basque-American bands
Basque Block, 600 Block of Grove Street
FRIDAY, August 1
Jaialdi Festivities
12 noon onward – Food and drink booths, and strolling musicians
Basque Block, 600 block of Grove Street
Basque Government Reception
12 noon
Boise Centre
850 W. Front Street
Pilota (Basque handball) Games
2:30 – 6:30 p.m. Daily Schedule
Anduiza Fronton
611 W. Grove St., Basque Block
Games will be livestreamed at the Basque Center, 601 W. Grove St.
Festara
7 p.m. Performance of Basque Country and Boise’s Oinkari Dancers
Tickets
Idaho Central Arena
233 S. Capitol Blvd
SATURDAY, Aug. 2
Jaialdi Festivities
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Dozens of dance groups from throughout the West perform indoors on two stages. Herri Kirolak – Basque rural sports – will be exhibited at a sports arena. Vendors will be selling novelties, jewelry, and clothing. Sheep wagons for viewing. Food and drink for sale.
Here is a list of the international performers and U.S. groups that will be performing at Jaialdi.
Tickets
Expo Idaho
5610 N Glenwood St.
Garden City
Bizkaian Government Reception
Idaho State Museum
610 Julia Davis Dr.
Dantzaldi
7:30 p.m. Dance featuring Basque and Basque-American bands, including renowned Basque rock band Gatibu
Tickets
Idaho Central Arena
233 S Capitol Blvd
SUNDAY, Aug. 3
Jaialdi Festivities
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Dozens of dance groups from throughout the West perform indoors on two stages. Herri Kirolak – Basque rural sports – will be exhibited at a sports arena. Vendors will be selling novelties, jewelry and clothing. Sheep wagons for viewing. Food and drink for sale.
Here is a list of the international performers and U.S. groups that will be performing at Jaialdi.
Tickets
Expo Idaho
5610 N Glenwood St.
Garden City
Jaialdi Catholic Mass
5 p.m.
St. John’s Cathedral
807 N 8th St.
Street Dance
8:30 p.m. onward – Featuring Basque and Basque American bands
Basque Block, 600 block of Grove Street
