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The 29th edition of the National Festival of Foreign Communities held its beginning events in the beginning of September and will conclude next weekend with a large Gastronomic Fair. As part of the Federation of Foreign Communities, the Euskal Echea Association in Comodoro Rivadavia will be part of the fair, not only with typical dishes but also with dancing.  The Euskal Echea (sic) in Comodoro is, at 93 years old, the oldest Basque entity in Patagonia. 

Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina.   Organized by the Federation of Foreign Communities, the National Festival of Foreign Communities in Comodoro Rivadavia, in the province of Chubut, began on September 3rd.  The event will run for two weekends, and will gather nearly 20 communities at the local fairgrounds.

This next weekend, the second of the festival September 9-11, will include the Gastronomic Fair, one of community’s most anticipated dates.  As every year, the local Euskal Echea Basque Association will have its stand at the fair and will provide piperade, pintxos, talo with txistorra as well as beverages like zurrakapote and kalimotxo.

The typical dishes won’t be the only attraction since there will also be performances where the local Basque dancers will also participate. Members of the Haize Dantzariak will dance over the three days of the Fair.  The txikis, and intermediates will perform on Sunday.

Gala and Children’s Fair

Also as part of the 29th edition of the Fair, two activities were held last weekend, with their habitual success, that also served as a teaser for the Gastronomic Fair.  During the Gala various communities performed their dances, and in the case of the Basques with a special choreography created just for them.  The Children’s Festival also included the participation of the euskal etxea.  The children danced with hoops and sticks and the intermediates did “Zinta Dantza.”  They concluded their performance with a kalejira.

There were also activities leading up to the festival.  On August 27, the Queen of the Federation of Foreign Communities was chosen, with the club being represented by Johana Endrinal.  The following day, and also as a teaser to the festival, there was a parade of “Patagonian Pioneer Immigrants.” The Ikurriña Basque flag was present during the entire route thanks to the club’s youth.