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Gooding, ID, USA. The activities will start at 11:00 a.m. with a mass, at the Basque Center, followed by lunch at around noon. “We will prepare everything the very same day,” explained Sarasqueta. The menu will consist of “ten to twelve” barbequed lambs donated by different individuals in the community (both Basque and non-Basque, as stressed by the organizer), pork tenderloin with peppers, and Basque rice - a “popular recipe” that contains txorizo, chicken, peppers, onions, garlic, and the “secret ingredient” (as Sarasqueta called the beer), red beans, salad, beverages, and bread. Tickets are available for $16 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $8 for kids.

[The Gooding Basque Association's clubhouse.  This building was built by the Basque community to house the local club and has ample room to accommodate events with large attendance.  This Sunday it will host the annual Gooding Basque Picnic (photoEuskalKultura.com)]

After lunch there will be an auction to raise money “for two main things: two scholarships that we like to give every year, for kids of any origin to go to University, and to pay the mortgage of the building (the Basque Center).” The Bengoechea family donated two lambs for the auction, as they always do, and other club members will bring things varying from Dutch oven sheepherder bread to smaller Basque items.

The Oinkari Basque Dancers from Boise will perform after the auction and then a number of competitions will take place for both kids and adults: “sokatira” (tug of war), weight carrying (50 and 100 pounds), foot races, a “bota” contest (a competition where participants have to drink from a wine holder known as a “bota” or “zahatoa” in the Basque Country, without spilling any)… Attendees will also have the opportunity to see a stone-lifting exhibition at the Club’s premises along with the exhibitions at the Gooding County Museum, located next door to the picnic that will remain open all day. There will also be bounce house for kids. 

The Boise Basque Museum will be selling Basque souvenirs at the picnic and txorizos and kalimotxo (a popular Basque drink made of wine and Coke) will be available at the bar from 3:00 p.m. on. “We always have a few hundred people,” said Sarasqueta. But this year they might have more attend since the picnic will be held at the Club “where we have A.C., so it might be better for everybody, specially the elderly.”