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Basque Festival video

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 11:39 AM PDT

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Basque dancers perform at the Western Folklife Center. (Ross Andreson/Elko Daily Free Press)

ELKO — The 44th National Basque Festival starts at 6 p.m. Friday in front of Stockmen’s Hotel & Casino with a special kick-off, featuring Basque dancing, weightlifting, wood chopping, music and food. At 7 p.m. is the famous “Running From The Bulls.”

The festival draws large crowds to check out the colorful activities. Video from last year’s festival is available here at www.elkodaily.com.

The festival continues Saturday with the Basque Festival/Fourth of July parade at 11 a.m. downtown. The parade ends at the fairgrounds where old country games, dancing, food, music and another “Running From The Bulls” will take place, starting at 1 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults 12 and older, $2 for Basque Club members and free for children younger than 12.

Handball semi-finals are at the Elko City Park Fronton at 5 p.m., and a dance is at 9 p.m. at the Basque Clubhouse, 1601 Flagview Drive. Admission is $10, and the dance features Basque and American music by the Mercedes Mendive and Jean Flesher bands.

Sunday, handball finals are at 9 a.m. at the fronton, followed by the shepherd’s bread contest at 10:30 a.m. and a Holy Mass at 11 a.m. in the Main City Park.

A Basque picnic featuring dancing, weightlifting, wood chopping and a Jota and Irrintzi contest starts at 12:30 p.m.

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