National Basque Festival
Immerse yourself in Nevada’s Basque heritage and celebrate the old country at the National Basque Festival. Started in 1964 as a local gathering for sheepherders and cattle ranchers, this beloved event now draws thousands to Elko for two days full of food, fun, and culture.
Get to the Elko Basque Clubhouse for your chance to rub elbows with the local Basque community and fill up on plates of chorizo, lamb, and paella. The red table wine will be flowing, as will Nevada’s unofficial state drink—the Picon Punch. Between bites, cheer on traditional dance performances and rural sport exhibitions like weight lifting and wood chopping. Attendees can also find out firsthand what jota, bota, and irrintzi contests are, see who bakes the best sheepherder bread, or participate in a full Catholic mass in both English and Basque.
Whether you’ve got sheepherder’s blood or you simply dig chorizo, you’re invited to Elko for Nevada’s six-decade-strong National Basque Festival—home to dancing, traditional music, woodchopping competitions, mouthwatering paella and lamb, and chances aplenty to taste our unofficial state drink, the Picon Punch.
On Saturday, a dance with live music and a full bar keeps the party going all night long. After Sunday Mass, belly up to a Basque picnic for a full meal with multiple meats, paella, beans, salad, wine, and more. A golf tournament and handball games round out the weekend offerings.
Most events are free to attend, but some require registration or admission fees. See the complete schedule of events and plan your National Basque Festival weekend by visiting Elko Basque Club’s website.
