euskalkultura.eus

Chino, California, USA.  This year’s Pilota Besta was celebrated on April 30^th by Chino’s Basque Club at the Bidart’s fronton.  The festival was also a tribute to the Bidart family who has generously allowed open play by everyone in the community at the fronton built at their family home. 

Over 200 people gathered to show their appreciation and affection to the Bidarts and their entire family, for their continued support and participation in the local Basque community.   The entire day was filled with various exhibitions of handball and pala.

[Players during a match (Photo: Linda Iriart)]

[Locales attentively following the action(Photo: Linda Iriart)]

[Mike Bidart, host, shows his pala ability (Photo: Linda Iriart)]

At dusk the court was converted and tables were set up so all in attendance could enjoy a barbecue.  During dessert, John Ysursa, on behalf of the Chino Basque Club, thanked Jeanette and Mike Bidart for their generous contribution, during these many years, to California’s Basque community.

[View of the fronton with dinner tables set during Pilota Besta 2011 (Photo Chino Basque Club)]

[John Ysursa, on behalf of the chino Basque club, thanks Mike and Jeanette Bidart for their contribution to the Chino Basque community.(Photo Chino Basque Club) ]

The evening concluded with a dance with music provided by Denis Petrissans and Denise Duhart.

-Chino Basque Club site
-Nancy Zubiri’s article on the event on the EuskalKazeta website