Fairs Agricultural and Livestock

Notably in winter, the San Blas Fair in Abadiño, the Women’s Agriculture and Handicraft Fair in Amorebieta-Etxano, the Pork Butcher's Fair in Sopuerta and the Saint Thomas Festival in Bilbao. Spring opens with the Medieval Market in Balmaseda and the Saint Joseph Market in Güeñes. Summer offers Pepper Day in Gernika, which includes tastings, the fruits and vegetables fair and the sale of Basque handicrafts. In September, there’s the Muskiz Fair. The Durango Ecological Fair is a celebration around organic produce.

On the last Monday in October, the entire town of Gernika-Lumo has a festive air with the largest agricultural fair in the Basque Country. Also in Gernika-Lumo, there is a famous market every Monday and the first Monday in October is the livestock fair.

The Bargain Day in Zalla, the fair for the oldest caserío farmhouse in the region is an intriguing affair, a showcase of local artisan products. Every fall, Markina-Xemein holds the largest Agricultural and Livestock Fair in the region. And Orozko has the largest Saint Lucy Fair, where a variety of local livestock breeds compete.

The Saint Thomas Festival marks the start of the Christmas season. There, you’ll be able to find livestock exhibits and purchase traditional products: cheese, txakoli wine, honey, doughnuts, fruit, vegetables, handicrafts and more. Music is also a major part of the festival, with bertsolari poets, trikiti players and txalaparta players livening up the ambiance. Thousands of people gather at Bilbao's Arenal and Plaza Nueva square to have a bite to eat, especially talos (corn flatbreads filled with chorizo, txistorra, black pudding, etc.), and cider or txakoli.