Fêtes de Bayonne is one of the most massive public events in the south of France. Held since 1932, Fêtes de Bayonne attracts more than 1 million people, reveling on the streets of Bayonne, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques sub-prefecture, about 3 hours from Toulouse. The Bayonne festival is the largest party in France!
Fetes de Bayonne revelers wear white clothes with red scarves and red belts. These are the colors of the city of Pamplona. The festivities celebrate the culture of the Northern Basque Country with street performances, traditional dances, parades, fireworks, and even a corrida. The 5-day event usually starts on Wednesday before the first Sunday of August or the last Sunday in July.
The festival was initiated in 1932 by a group of rugby players, that wanted to recreate an event similar to the Sanfermines of Pamplona. Fêtes de Bayonne celebrates the joy of living, featuring music, local games, and cow races. The opening ceremony of the Bayonne Festival features the traditional throwing of the city keys. The festivities also include three parades. The biggest one takes place on Sunday after the mass. A huge procession with plenty of music goes from the Saint-André church to the Bayonne town hall. Les Fetes de Bayonne ends with a large fireworks display.
