Entertainment

Thousands of supporters of the Basque language (euskera) and culture are expected to meet today in Senpere to celebrate Herri Urrats 2010. Herri Urrats is a festival organized to raise money for ikastolas (Basque schools).

Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle (Basque Senpere) is a village in the traditional Basque province of Labourd, now a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. The village is scattered in several neighborhoods, with a main nucleus located at a crossroads. As its name in French conveys, the village is located on the river Nivelle.

The village is renowned for the Herri Urrats festival in support of the Basque-language schools (ikastola) held in May on a yearly basis at the Lake of Senpere since the early 80s.

Music will be the main protagonist today at Herri Urrats. Bands such as La mal coiffée, Bizardunak, Xutik, Xabi San Sebastian, Garen, Anari and Zea Mays will entertain the spectators. Even children will have a place with stands with games and clowns. The day will also be packed with dance performances as well as sports activities and other kind of attractions.

London Basque Society-Euskal Elkartea is also celebrating Herri Urrats with a picnic and festival.

They will be meeting in the Victoria Park lake cafe called The Pavilion, at around 1 p.m. today. They will then go for a walk around the lake which will simbolize Senpere lake where every year thousands of people from all over the Basque Country attend this huge event in order to support the Basque language through the ikastolas. After walking for a while, they will then have a nice picnic in the park.