With the proximity of the self-managed and participative festivities of the old town, which are located in the highest hill of Vitoria-Gasteiz, this is a good opportunity to make these festivities known. There are many examples similar to this one, but it is not easy to see the color and variety that this neighborhood covers over seven days.

Zahaz Harroko’s festivities are driven by an assembly of neighbors and popular movements in the neighborhood. Every neighbor is invited to this assembly and organization work, so year after year, there are new participants, each with their degree of commitment. Therefore, one more year, as in every year, the program is composed of neighbors and neighbors of the old party or people or groups with whom it relates in some way.

However, to complete this varied program of this level, it is essential the collaboration of the bars and small shops of the neighborhood. Among others, Zahaz Harrokos has been assisted by more than 160 shops and bars around the world for his program. With the number of shops in the neighborhood, almost all of them collaborate at parties.

All this, breaks with the festive model of txosnas and giant concerts, breaks with the traditional festive model and with an alcohol-based party. This year will also be from 22 to 28 June.

Despite the obstacles, go ahead

But it is difficult to bring about popular festivities of this kind. It's often difficult to coordinate so many people, and so many decisions need their time, from someone proposing, until everyone accepts. It is not uncommon for a conference to meet a concert or a theatre with a climbing show with such a broad programme, but it must be ensured that there is sufficient material and support in each area. But there's nothing to do with wanting and participating.

But if we add to that a political persecution, the parties can get complicated, yes, but surely the neighborhood will be added more. This happened on 30 June 2012, in the framework of the Zahaz Harroko program, with a kalejira in which she denounced the situation of the inmates and exiles of the neighborhood and gave support to their relatives. The police did not go to the place, but some public videos began to arrive at the house with requests for almost 20 years in prison. The National High Court judged a total of eleven people for a crime of alluding to terrorism, including family members, music singers or bertsolaris, among others. With the latter, the “Bertsolariak Libre” dynamic emerged, in which the bertsolaris of Euskal Herria showed their solidarity with the bertsolaris Iker Pastor and Jagoba Apaolaza. Finally, after receiving the support of all the neighbours, both in Vitoria-Gasteiz and in Madrid, the accused were released on charges.

And this year what?

In addition to the program, this year’s festivities come with a great peculiarity: the neighbors will be able to recover during the festivities the Plaza de Santa María, stolen and not used for so many years. There, among other things, will be a popular meal that will bring together hundreds of people and that each of the neighbours will offer to others whatever they want.

The programme will consist of six main areas, each of which will be framed in dance, music, cinema, theatre, speech and incidence, children's activities.

As in previous years, if time accompanies, most of the activities will take place in the street, taking advantage of the different spaces of the neighborhood: places or bars provided by the different participants, fronton Auzolana, Gaztetxea...

It’s hard to summarize these festivities in a few characters… It’s best to enjoy them! Great opportunity from 22 to 28 June in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Old Part.

Info +: https://zaharrazharro.wordpress.com/