Estella's La Bombada festival drums up tradition in annual celebration

La Bombada is a long‑standing act of the Estella‑Lizarra fiestas, where participants gather in Plaza de San Martín for a communal lunch provided by the Peña San Andrés before the percussion parade begins at noon. The procession, led by drummers, bombos and bagpipes from the Aula de Gaita y Tambor of the Julián Romano School of Music, winds through the city’s main streets, drawing families, children and local musicians who join the rhythm.

The event, rooted in the 1970s, continues to involve veteran performers such as Ester Villar, Juan Carlos Duñabeitia and long‑time parade leader Ignacio Ganuza, alongside newer participants like students Alejandro Esarte, Bruno Garde and Rubén Luquín. Organisers stress that La Bombada preserves a communal spirit, letting residents of all ages experience and transmit the musical heritage of Estella.