Corey Pride/Los Banos, CA. Sagouspe said the only problem he’s ever had at the event is deciphering the various Basque dialects being spoken by attendees. Sagouspe is part of a younger generation who has taken over planning the annual event. He said not too much will change from year to year because he respects and shows deference to many of the club’s elders who want the event’s format to remain in place.
For the hundreds of people in attendance at the Los Banos Fairgrounds this year, the excitement was as strong as ever. The picnic attracts Basque people from around California and sometimes out of state. They eat, mingle and watch the Los Banos and San Francisco Basque clubs perform traditional dances. Feats of strength like wood chopping contests are also popular.
Ted Meza, who is not Basque, attends the picnic every year.
“So many of these people are my friends. We’ve been coming to this picnic a long time and they have treated me so great,” Meza said. “You get to meet new people here, see old people maybe you skipped over during the year and socialize.”
The Basque country is made up of seven regions that straddle the border between France and Spain. Basque people speak variations of a language called Euskara, which is unrelated to any other tongue in the world. Many residents of Basque country immigrated to America in the late 1800s and early 1900s to become agricultural workers.
Christine Etchepare sells imported items from the Basque country at the event each year.
“It’s our way of educating, perpetuating and celebrating our culture,” she said.
Sagouspe said although hundreds of people came to the picnic, he sensed attendance was down this year. He attributed the possible decline to other events taking place in the city and neighboring counties.
Sagouspe said he was glad to see the people at the picnic were having fun.
“It’s about letting loose and enjoying the day,” Sagouspe said.
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