Basques in Boise

It is Jaialdi time in Boise. Summer has finally arrived in town after an unusually rainy and cold spring in the US state of Idaho. With less than 15 days to go before the start of Jaialdi 2010, hotels are almost sold out and everyone is going over last-minute details.

Jaialdi, a Basque word meaning ''party time'', is held in Boise during the last week of July. The largest Basque cultural festival held outside the Basque Country, it has already become a major city event, not just a celebration for the Basque-American community.

"Jaialdi is an event where we meet every five years with friends, to renew friendships, to make new ones, enjoy... song, dance, food, music, religion. A big festival," says Dave Eiguren, director of the Jaialdi, in an exclusive interview with eitb.com.

The Fronton now has a new look and looks ready to host the semifinals and final of the NABO tournament.

New interpretive signs have been unveiled to help visitors recognize the Basque landmarks in town; restaurants are training up new staff to help out during the festival, and two new exhibits at the Basque Museum and Cultural Center are almost ready. It is the end of a very long wait that will bring thousands to town.

The same but different

Organizing the Jaialdi takes "two and half years," Dave says. It is a long road but the hardest part comes at the end, when the organizers have to coordinate the work of most of the people.

Between 800 and 900 volunteers will work during the five days of the Jaialdi. "In two and a half years, we have put 95 percent of Jaialdi together. And that was fun. Now, we have to do that 5 percent, and it is worse for me than the 95 percent," he confesses.

Jaialdi is held every five years, and organizers try to be loyal to the essence of the festival while also giving each one a fresh touch. "Every time, our goal is to do just the same but do it different," Dave says.

This time, the sports night is taking place at the Qwest arena, with a seating capacity of 5,000 people. Also, more famous sportsmen are coming to town from the Basque Country. "In the past, we tried to get some popular names. This year we are getting the champions. We are now popular enough that we are getting the top," Dave explains proudly.

Another new feature of this year''s Jaialdi will be at Festa''ra. The show, at the Morrison Center, will include two dance groups from the Basque Country, the Oinkari Basque Dancers, currently celebrating their 50th anniversary, and the Biotzetik Basque choir.

For the first time, however, Festa''ra will also feature an interpretive dance by the Trey McIntyre project, a prominent dance company in the United States known for incorporating a wide range of music into their routines. They will perform a dance inspired by Basque culture.

Although economic crisis is still presence in Boise and certainly in the United States, it does not seem to have affected the festival. The organization expects combined attendance figures to the different events being held at this year''s Festival to reach around 50,000.

Crisis has not had a negative effect on sponsors either, and all Jaialdi events have received sponsored. The sale of tickets is going well and the Festival is expected to bring a breath of fresh air to the city, with the arrival of so many people from elsewhere staying at the hotels, eating at the restaurants and shopping for clothes.

Social media

The festival, although in some ways a reflection of old Basque traditions, is no stranger to 21st century innovation and has a presence among social networks. It is on Twitter and also has a very active group on Facebook, with more than 1600 members.

"Facebook has been really fun because people have been posting pictures from last Jaialdi, writing in Spanish, Basque and English about how excited they are to come, it has been really great," says Julie Hahn, one of the eleven members on the Jaialdi board. "It is now a lot easier to spread the word about," she adds.