Jaialdi festival organizers have had ten years to plan Boise’s biggest event of the summer, and they expect it to set records.
The festivities kick off on the Basque Block next Tuesday, July 29, and roll all the way through the weekend to Sunday, Aug. 3.
Planning Your Festival
Just like any multi-day festival, you have to pace yourself. Uberuaga told City Cast Boise that the weekend evening events promise a party, and the weekday events will be more leisurely.
In addition to the schedule, there are also three main venues to balance: the Basque Block in downtown will be the focal point, but Idaho Central Arena and Expo Idaho will house larger performances and competitions.
Note that these events are ticketed at various price points depending on the venue, while the Basque Block activities are free to attend.
Roads around the Basque Block will be closed during Jaialdi, but official closures and times weren’t provided by our deadline today — I’ll update you as soon as I find out!
Embracing the Diaspora
For Basque Boiseans, the festival is a chance to gather with loved ones, see family traveling from out of town, and meet other Basques. But for those coming from the Basque Country, Jaialdi is a chance to experience the connection between their roots with an Idaho flavor.
“I think a lot of the performers that come here … really embrace the cowboy-ness of coming to Boise. It’s Basque cowboy vibes, they love it,” Uberuaga said.
