The festivities of Our Lady of Begoña, on August 15 , are the culmination of the so-called Big Week of Gijón.
Although Gijón's summer is in full swing from June to September, filled with festivals and pilgrimages held in the different neighborhoods and parishes of the municipality, it is in August when the revelry reaches fever pitch in the heart of the city.
In the late afternoon and evening, it's time for free, top-level concerts , alternating between the stages in the Plaza Mayor, for more intimate music: jazz, electronic, folk, and the stage on Poniente beach where more popular bands perform, not forgetting the traditional open-air dances held in the heart of Gijón on the Begoña promenade.
Later on, the party continues along the route, the Arena and Cimadevilla , where the musical variety is still present and the action is centered in bars, pubs and nightclubs.
During these days there is also no shortage of cider , the Asturian liquid takes its place on its own throne with an event in its honor, the Gijón Natural Cider Festival, which among other events includes the awarding of quality prizes to the best cider makers, a cider pouring championship and even a world record attempt, with half the city pouring a small glass simultaneously on San Lorenzo beach.
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This week also sees the bullfighting festival , somewhat unusual in the Cantabrian region but with a long tradition in Gijón, where breeders and bullfighters, fans and agents, authorities, opinions, and countless debates abound. Everyone eagerly awaits the opening of the gates at Gijón's El Bibio bullring.
On the eve of August 15th, the main festival day, fireworks light up the Gijón sky with bursts of color. Hundreds of thousands of spectators fill San Lorenzo Beach and its surroundings to witness a pyrotechnic display of remarkable sound and visual impact.
On Begoña Day , the Paseo del Muro once again becomes the gathering place for Gijón residents and visitors, this time to dance the Danza Prima together . All participants—children, young people, adults, and the elderly—join hands and accompany the music with their voices, offering a heartfelt tribute of remembrance and solidarity to those who were once forced to emigrate from their homeland. A few minutes later, in the Fomento area, the Restallón firework announces the end of the festivities with a resounding bang.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
