The Sanfermin Peñas

All through the Festival the "Peñas" seem to be the epitime of pure anarchy, but even pure chaos needs some basic organization.

These clubs have been gradually founded throughout the history of the Sanfermin Festival for the purpose of providing a basic structure for its members during these wild days of the fiesta. Once founded, they have gradually extended their activities to include other events throughout the year, mainly gastronomic and sport ones, but without ever forgetting that their basic and most important reason for existing is, to celebrate the San Fermin Fiesta together.

The role of the peña during sanfermin?

They have a key part to play on the terraces of the bullring during the bull-fights where their presence is fundamental. Here, the different clubs, each with their distinctive dress, and seated under their distinctive banners, are gathered together in a loud raucous crowd which totally dominates the atmosphere during the afternoon bull-fights.

They also mark the difference in the street with the continuous din of their brass-bands reverberating round the streets of Pamplona day and night. Even though there are other, more professional bands which are paid by the Town Hall to play music in the streets, there is nothing to compare with the colour and joy that the "Peñas" create. The Fiesta would not be the same without the musical parades of the Peñas as they lead the crowds singing and dancing through the streets into all hours of the night. And in fact, this difference, in the absence of the "Peñas", can be noted. On the night of the sixth, the opening day of the Festival, they don't parade in the street.

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