Dear Members and Friends,
Remember last year’s Basque Festival…rain and cold temperatures made us move our evening dance inside the clubhouse? Who would have ever thought that it could be any worse than that? Well…here we are in 2020…social distancing, businesses and restaurants are closed, schools cancelled for the year and people are suffering, scared and worried.
Under these circumstances and with the guidance of the Kern County Public Health Department, we regret to inform you that the Kern County Basque Club’s 48th Annual Basque Festival on Memorial Day Weekend (May 23-24, 2020) will be cancelled. We believe this is the right decision in order to keep our members and friends as safe and healthy as possible.
What would the picnic be if we couldn’t give our customary two cheek kiss, fight the crowds for our drinks, lamb chops and lukainkas, gather to worship, watch our Basque dancers and Klika on the packed handball court, and avoid all the toe stepping during the evening dance.
We want to thank everyone who have generously supported our annual celebration – our dancers, dance teachers, klika, choir, pelotaris, mus players, volunteers and our financial supporters. We look forward to making the 2021 Basque Festival, another fun and memorable event. Stay safe, healthy and proud! #basquestrong
KCBC Board of Directors
———Schedule of events for the 2019 picnic are below——–
Ongi Etorri to the Kern County Basque Club’s 47th annual Basque Festival.
Picnic Schedule
Friday, May 24th, 2019
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – NABO Convention Meeting
7:00- Start the party early by enjoying a delicious dinner at the historic Noriega Hotel. Dinner is served at 7 pm and costs $25. After dinner, enjoy drinks and dance to the music of Luhartz from the Basque Country. The dance will begin by 9 pm and go until 11 pm. Dinner reservations are mandatory, so call Noriega’s at 661-322-8419 today. We hope to see you there!
Other recommended dinner options that evening would be Benji’s or Wool Growers.
Saturday, May 25th, 2019
8:00 a.m. – Mus Registration- $35 per player (Lunch included)
*1st Place Team – $500
*2nd Place Team – $250
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – NABO Pilota Finals
9:00 a.m – Jr. Mus Tournament
Lunch: Barbeque Chicken Lunch – Adults: $20 Children: $15
3:00 p.m. – NABO Tripota/Lukainka/Chorizo Contest
4:00 p.m. – Pelotaris from Euskadi
5:00 p.m. – Mikel Markez, Julen Alonso, & Andrea Bidart (from NOKA)
6:30 p.m. – Tri-Tip Dinner – Adults: $25 Children: $20
7:00 p.m. – 2019 NABO Bizi Emankorra award presentations
7:30 p.m. – Dance Performances by visiting dance groups and KCBC Adult Dancers
9:00 p.m. – Dance – Music by Luhartz
Sunday, May 26th, 2019
8:00 a.m. – Park opens
10:00 a.m. – Mass by Aita Antton Egiguren OFM, along with KCBC Klika and Choir
11:30-1:30 p.m. – Mikel Markez, Julen Alonso, & Andrea Bidart (from NOKA)
11:30-2 p.m. – Lunch: BBQ Lamb; Adults – $30 and Honorary Members/Children 12 and under – $20
2:00 p.m. – KCBC Dancers; Klika perform
4:30 p.m. – Lukainka sandwiches and ham/cheese sandwiches – $8
5:00 p.m. – Pelota/Handball Game – Pilotariak from Euskadi
7:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. – Dance – Music by Amerikanuak & Luhartz
8:30 p.m. – Drawing – $5 a ticket or 5 tickets for $20
*1 st Place Prize – $1000 cash
*2 nd Place Prize – $500 cash
*3 rd Place Prize – $250 cash
There will be four handball players from Euskadi that will be playing handball on Saturday and Sunday.
We are proudly hosting the following Pelotaris and accompanied by their coach Aritz Escudero;
Back Player: Xabier Telletxea
Back Player: Manex Balerdi
Front Player: Julen Alberdi
Front Player: Eneko Labaka
Monday, May 27th, 2019
Don’t miss out on the delicious traditional Basque breakfast that is served at Woolgrowers from 8:30am-12:30pm. Following breakfast, help your digestion with some dancing and a few drinks.
If you have not booked your rooms for the festival, you can try the following hotels although the block of rooms are no longer available.
HOTEL ROOMS
Due to the Memorial Day holiday, hotel space will be limited. We have secured a block of rooms and special hotel rates at the following locations. Make your reservations now!
DoubleTree Bakersfield
Rate: $99.00
Group code: KBC
Reservation deadline: 4/22/19
3100 Camino Del Rio Court
Bakersfield, CA 93308
Phone: (661) 323-7111
Hotel Link: https://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/R/RLBK-DT-KBC-20190523/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG
Bakersfield Marriot at Convention Center
Rate: $101.00
Group code: Kern County Basque Club Festival
Reservation deadline: 4/23/19
801 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 565-9320