On 21 December, San Sebastián, Bilbao and other Basque towns become farmers’ markets: txistorra, talo, cider and music. The kick-off to the festive season.

Every 21 December, St Thomas’s Day, several towns in the Spanish Basque Country (Hegoalde) hold the Santo Tomás fair. In 2026, it falls on a Monday. According to Euskadi Tourism, it marks the start of the Christmas season and takes place in towns including San Sebastián (Donostia), Bilbao, Azpeitia, Lekeitio, Errenteria, Irun, Hondarribia, Usurbil and Mondragón (Arrasate).

Where does the fair come from?

According to Donostia Kultura, in the mid-19th century, tenant farmers from Gipuzkoa came to San Sebastián on St Thomas’s Day to pay their annual rent to the landowners. In return, the landowners gave them salt cod and chocolate. The farmers made the most of the trip to shop in town and sell their farm produce: the fair was born. It survived improvements in transport, even though these had made it unnecessary.

What happens

The city turns into a rural market whose undisputed star is txistorra, a thin Basque sausage.

Txistorra served in a talo (maize flatbread) or in a sandwich, washed down with cider
Farm produce: cheese, txakoli, crafts
Displays of farm animals
Music: trikitilaris (diatonic accordion), txalapartaris, bertsolaris and brass bands
Activities for children
Many people dress up as baserritar, in traditional farmer’s costume

In San Sebastián, the fair centres on Plaza de la Constitución and now spills over into several neighbourhoods.

Guides: San Sebastián · Bilbao.

Sources

Dates and times can change: always check the official website before you travel.

Santo Tomás Fair

Where does the fair come from?

What happens

Sources