San Sebastián is a coastal city and municipality located in the Basque Autonomous Community that is well-known for its Great Week (Semana Grande or Aste Nagusia), which is held every mid-August during the Feast of the Assumption week. The festival is kicked off on a Saturday with the traditional cañonazo (cannon shot) and the artilleryman song at Town Hall at 7 pm.
During the Great Week, hordes of visitors from all over the world rush into the city. You can observe colorful shows all week long: live music performances, crazy street parties jam-packed with concerts, and gastronomic events. The musical stage is located at Plaza Tomás Alba, east of Zurriola Beach. There are also sports activities such as horse racing, a beach volleyball tournament, and "herri-kirolak" exhibitions (Basque rural sports). Many events are offered for children as well. All of this takes place in a beautiful city with beaches and spectacular landscapes.
International Fireworks Contest
One of the essential elements of Great Week or Semana Grande is the International Fireworks Contest, with the traditional starting point in the Alderdi Eder Gardens. The fireworks are launched daily at 22:45. Participants of the contest are arriving from all across the globe to show off their best pyrotechnical displays throughout the week. Every day features a different competitor. The winner is announced to the tune of a particular musical fireworks display on the last night of the week. You can observe the fireworks from many places throughout the city, but the most magical spot is deemed to be right along Paseo de la Concha.
Parade of the Giants
Another Great Week highlight is the march of giants and big heads or gigantes and cabezudos. You can't miss that parade that occurs daily! Giants are big papier-mache dolls over two meters high and dressed in national Basque costumes. Cabezudo are justbig papier-mache heads with a mean face expression. About 13 cabezudos, which participate in the parade, chase passers-by and try to smack them with inflated pig bladder balloons.
Toros de Fuego or Fire Bulls
Fire Bulls or Toros de Fuego is another interesting San Sebastian tradition. After dark, groups of two men wearing a metal frame resembling a bull, with fireworks attached to it, run around town and set it alight, chasing people in the streets. The spectacle can be observed daily at 11:30 pm on Calle Miramar. The fake bulls produce fountains of sparks to the delight of children and teenagers.
Abordaje Pirata
Abordaje Pirata or Al Abordaje is is a fun family-friendly event that takes place at La Concha Beach. People dressed as pirates meet early in the morning in the port area to work on homemade rafts, using unusual supplies and plenty of creativity and imagination. In the afternoon, participants launch set off on a journey across the bay and to Concha Beach. Some of the rafts get really crowded and the race itself is very colorful and chaotic. The event, which involves thousands of participants, was started in 2002.
