What's on in San Sebastian
San Sebastian Festivals
11-15 July 2006
Festival season in San Sebastian kicks off with the 12th edition of the Donostia-San Sebastian International Theatre Festival [ details ], which is quickly gaining international recognition, alongside its better known big brothers, the jazz and film festivals (see below).
San Sebastian Jazz Festival
21-26 July
This year's 41st edition of Spain's top Jazz Festival brings big names to San Sebastian for the top music event of the summer.
This year's programme includes Caetano Veloso, Keith Jarrett, Erykah Badu and Herbie Hancock -- not to mention a free Bob Dylan concert on the beach (July 11).
Further details on the Jazz Festival website, tickets from generaltickets.com.
Semana Grande
Mid-August
For its "Big Week", San Sebastian literally erupts, with an amazing nightly firework display lighting up the bay (picture, right).
The fairs, attractions, dances, markets, bullfighting, concerts and street partying make the "Semana Grande" one of the most exciting times of the year for a visit.
Music Fortnight
August - September
San Sebastian also has an annual Quincena Musical, in 2006 in its 67th edition, with this year's programme to commemorate Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga (Bilbao 1806 – París 1826) and Mozart.
San Sebastian Film Festival
Late-September
The big names of the film world (headed last year by Woody Allen) have been coming to San Sebastian every September for the last 56 years now. True, it's not quite as chic as Cannes (which is only 5 years older), but if you come to San Sebastian in the late summer we think you'll agree that it's as much for the incomparable setting as for the tradition and the big names that people flock here. Book your hotel room early (or bring a tent)!
More details on the film festival website.
Social programme
Our social programme in San Sebastian offers those taking a Spanish course with us the opportunity to take advantage of whatever is on in San Sebastian.
Popular in the summer are the kayak trips down the Oria (picture, right, students getting kitted out for it!)
Estefanía, our activities leader, accompanies you by train to the nearby town of Orio. After taking a short walk round the historic old town, we get in kayaks and paddle down the Oria River, with the lush green hills making a magnificent backdrop.
Afterwards we take you to a local sidrería (cider-house), where you learn all about cider production and get to try out about a dozen different varieties, accompanied by Idiazabal cheese and membrillo (a sweet, sticky jelly made from quince) - an absolutely delicious combination.
And, no, you don't have to canoe back...!
Football
San Sebastian has one of the Spanish first division's most attractive sides, Real Sociedad, though they have never quite recovered their 2003 form, when they were pipped at the post for the Spanish championship.
There are the Basque derbies against Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna and the two other big games of the season are against Real Madrid and Barça.
An afternoon at the Anoeta stadium is still a must for football fans. If tickets are too pricey, or have sold out (as they may well do for the big Real Madrid and Barça games), we suggest you get yourself a good seat in any bar in San Sebastian on match day and watch the game on television. A terrific atmosphere is guaranteed...
For further information and tickets, see the Real Sociedad website.
Useful links
- Euskadi.net (All about the Basque Country...)
- San Sebastian City Council website
- San Sebastian tourism website
Spanish in San Sebastian
Further information
Lacunza International House San Sebastian, Mundaiz 8,
20012 San Sebastian, Spain
Tel: +34 943 32 66 80 | Fax: +34 943 32 68 22
www.lacunza.com | info@lacunza.com
Spanish in Spain
Spanish in Barcelona | Cordoba | Madrid | Mallorca | San Sebastian | Seville | Vejer
IH Spain comprises the International House Spanish language schools in Barcelona,
Cordoba, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Seville, San Sebastian and
Vejer de la Frontera, Spain.
www.ihspain.com