坦博拉达, 圣塞瓦斯蒂安, 西班牙

Tamborrada is a major annual festival held in the city of San Sebastián (Donostia), located in the Basque Country of northern Spain. Celebrated on 20 January, the day honors Saint Sebastian, the city’s patron saint, and is known for its continuous drumming processions, elaborate uniforms, and lively public participation.

Tamborrada is one of the most emblematic cultural celebrations in San Sebastián. Over a 24-hour period, the entire city is filled with the rhythms of drums and barrels, performed by thousands of participants dressed in traditional costumes.

Date and Duration

The festival takes place every year on 20 January, beginning at midnight and lasting exactly 24 hours. The opening ceremony starts at 00:00 in the Constitution Square (Plaza de la Constitución). The festivities end at 24:00 the same day, when the city symbolically “puts the drums away” for the year.

地点

Tamborrada is celebrated throughout the city of San Sebastián, but the main events occur in:

• Old Town (Parte Vieja)
• Constitution Square, the central hub for the opening and closing ceremonies
• Various neighborhoods, each organizing its own local drum groups and parades
• The festival is city-wide, and drum companies march through numerous streets and plazas.

Main Activities

• Raising of the Flag – At midnight, the Sociedad Gaztelubide, one of the city’s oldest gastronomic societies, raises the city flag in Constitution Square. This marks the official start of the festival.
• Drum Companies (Tamborradas) – Throughout the day, dozens of drum companies composed of adults parade through the city. Performers typically wear two types of costumes:
• Soldiers, inspired by 19th-century military uniforms
• Cooks and water carriers, representing local culinary tradition and daily life

Closing Ceremony

The festival ends at midnight with the lowering of the flag in Constitution Square. The final drum rhythms gradually fade, symbolizing the end of San Sebastián Day until the next year.

成本和可及性

Participation in street events and parades is completely free. All public ceremonies, including the flag-raising and flag-lowering events, are open to everyone. No tickets are required to watch any of the official outdoor festivities.