The Espelette chilli festival, last weekend in October!

Chillies are the star spice of the Basque Country, so they deserve a party! And this has been the case since 1968. Every year on the last weekend in October, the village of Espelette celebrates the end of the pepper harvest! For two days, this festive, cultural and gourmet event attracts over 20,000 visitors from all over France to discover Basque gastronomy and traditions. An opportunity to spend a weekend at the campsite**** Biper Gorri in the Basque Country!

A red Basque weekend, a festival full of color and flavour!

Among the highlights of this not-to-be-missed autumn event in the Basque Country, Saturday will be dedicated to dancing and singing, with a show and a male choir concert, followed by a grand dinner concert with musical entertainment under the Espelette covered market.

On Sunday at 10am, you can attend a solemn Basque-language mass with the Espelette choir, before the traditional blessing of the peppers. The festivities continue with a parade of brotherhoods, an induction ceremony for new members, and the Prix Piment awards ceremony behind the château.

The day will also be punctuated by numerous activities in the streets of the village: Basque dance shows, bandas concerts, a parade with the makilari, free workshops for young and old, and bare-handed pelota games on the fronton!

If you’re a gourmet, the Espelette festival is also an opportunity to sample local specialities based around the famous pimento, France’s only AOC PDO spice!

At lunchtime, aperitif concerts liven up the village bars, followed by gourmet meals served in all the restaurants, featuring “Piment d’Espelette specialities”. Something to pique your curiosity and tantalize your taste buds!

If you’d like to buy some piment d’Espelette and bring back lots of goodies from your camping trip, the large gastronomic fair will literally make you blush with pleasure! The fragrant, colourful stalls of local producers are bursting with gustatory treasures and traditional Basque produce!

Reservations are still open: book your camping holiday now!

It’s not too late to book your camping weekend in Espelette! We look forward to welcoming you until November 3! We offer mobile homes, chalets and bungalows for rent in a quiet, leafy setting just a few minutes from the heart of Espelette village.

Not a second to lose! Check out our accommodation availabilities and find out more about the Espelette Pimento Festival program!