International Sella Descent
- Why go
- Canoes down the Sella river and a day-long party (the Fiesta de las Piraguas) on the banks. It is held on the first Saturday after 2 August; in 2027, on 7 August.
Main festivals and calendar
The big dates of the year, month by month.
The essentials
- The big summer event is the International Sella Descent, a Festival of International Tourist Interest, between Arriondas and Ribadesella (2027: Saturday 7 August).
- In September come Asturias Day (8 September, with Covadonga) and Oviedo's San Mateo festivities.
- Cider has its own festivals: Nava's in July and Gijón's in late August.
- Holy Week 2027 runs from 21 to 28 March; in Avilés, Easter Monday is the Fiesta del Bollo.
Festival calendar
-
January
- Three Kings parade5 Jan · many towns
-
February
- Antroxu (Carnival)Feb or Mar · varies
-
March
- Holy Week (2027: 21-28 Mar)Oviedo, Gijón, Avilés
-
April
- Holy Week (some years)all Asturias
- Bollo Festival (Easter Monday)Avilés · varies
-
May
- Trasona reservoir outing1 May · Corvera
-
June
- Midsummer Night (San Juan)23 Jun · beaches and villages
-
July
- Lamb Festival1st Sunday · Cangas de Onís
- Natural Cider FestivalNava
-
August
- Sella Descent (2027: 7 Aug)Arriondas–Ribadesella
- Our Lady of the Rosary15 Aug · Luarca
- Semana Grande and Cider Festivallate Aug · Gijón
-
September
- Asturias Day8 Sep · Covadonga
- Our Lady of La Guía8 Sep · Llanes
- San MateoOviedo
-
October
- Apple Festival (odd years)Villaviciosa
-
November
- Amagüestu (chestnut feast)chestnuts and sweet cider
-
December
- Christmas lights and marketsOviedo, Gijón, Avilés
Approximate dates: they change every year (Holy Week follows Easter). Check each town hall before travelling.
The big festivals
San Mateo and America Day in Asturias
- Why go
- Oviedo's patron-saint festivities, with music, fairs and the America Day parade.
Asturias Day and Our Lady of Covadonga
- Why go
- The regional holiday and pilgrimage to the Holy Cave, with folk music and bagpipes.
Holy Week
- Why go
- Processions in Oviedo, Gijón and Avilés; in Avilés, Easter Monday is the Fiesta del Bollo.
Natural Cider Festival
- Why go
- Cider pourers, presses and music at the two big cider events.
Festivals by season
- WinterThree Kings parade (5 January) and Antroxu, the carnival, between February and March.
- SpringHoly Week and, on 1 May, the Jira at the Trasona reservoir (Corvera).
- SummerMidsummer Night, the Lamb Festival (first Sunday of July), Nava's Natural Cider Festival, the Xiringüelu pilgrimage (Pravia), Gijón's Semana Grande, the Folk Descent of the Nalón (Laviana), the Asturcón Festival (Piloña) and Our Lady of the Rosary in Luarca (15 August).
- AutumnSan Mateo, the Virgen de la Guía festival in Llanes (8 September), the Apple Festival of Villaviciosa (October of odd-numbered years), the Fiesta Gastronómica del Desarme in Oviedo and the amagüestu (chestnuts and sweet cider) in November.
Exact dates
The dates of many festivals change each year. Before you travel, confirm them on the town hall's website or at Turismo Asturias. You can also follow our festival news.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Sella Descent?
It takes place on the first Saturday after 2 August; in 2027 that is 7 August.
When is Holy Week in 2027?
From 21 to 28 March 2027.