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With national and international reach, the Grape Harvest Festival is the most popular in the province of Mendoza.  The festivities are part of the local folklore and gather winemakers and everyone who works year-round in the vineyards and soil with the locals.  After 20 years, the Euskal Etxea once again participated in the festival, adding music, dance and Basque images to the already colorful festival.  

Mendoza, Argentina.   The National Grape Harvest Festival took place this year from February 26-March 6th.  The Denak Bat Basque Club was especially invited by the organizers and participated in the event representing the community on a float in the so called 'Carrusel,' a parade that crosses the center of the city carrying the queens of each department, traditional centers and community, among other institutions.

The Basque club’s float was especially decorated for the occasion with Ikurriñas, Lauburus, and traditional images.  Riding on it were the dantzaris and the txikis who danced, and waved to the crowds, as well as handing out grapes to those that approached the float.  “We want to stress that the float was on a huge truck from the “Los Vascos,” company owned by the Lecea family that has a long tradition in our club.  Vicente Lecea, who regretfully passed away a few days ago, was a founder of Denak Bat, had also served as club president,” Alicia Aguirre current club president said.

“We were very proud to once again participate in this important and massive event.  Some estimates have the crowd at nearly 200,000 people.  We had participated some 20 years ago, but later we lost that tradition.  This return is important for the people of Mendoza as well as for us in the club, since we see how it strengthens our work in pursuit of spreading our culture,” Aguirre added.

[Summary of the Denak Bat’s participation in the National Grape Harvest Festival (Video EE)]

2017Activities

After this brilliant start to the year, the Euskal Etxea is already preparing to start its annual program of activities.  With this goal in mind, members met on Saturday, February 25 for a meeting that gave rise to the proposals that will be developed during the year.  In 2017, Denak Bat will host a Basque Film Series, pilota classes, mus classes, a series of talks, monthly dinners with typical dishes, and existing courses in dance and euskera will also continue.