"Fiestas de la Virgen Blanca", August Festival in Vitoria-Gasteiz

The Fiestas de la Virgen Blanca are the main annual celebration of Vitoria (Vitoria-Gasteiz) and one of the most widely attended festivals in the Basque Country. They begin officially on 4 August: at 18:00, the chupinazo in the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca fires the starting gun, and the bajada de Celedón — the descent of the city's iconic character — marks one of the most emblematic moments in the Basque festival calendar. A period of pre-festival activities, the prefiestas, builds up the atmosphere from late July.

The programme is one of the most varied in the region. Music — with night concerts at the Plaza de Los Fueros — and theatre occupy a central place. Throughout the days of celebration the programme also includes gastronomic and craft fairs, fireworks, activities for children (txikis), bertsolari recitals and a range of popular events including the abarca-throwing contest and the Miss and Mister competition.

The Fiestas de la Virgen Blanca are a key reference for understanding the festive character of Vitoria and its role as the capital of Álava.