Descent of Sella 2024

WHERE: Ribadesella, Spain
WHEN: 03th August 2024

From a small event, to a mass event, with almost 90 years of history behind it, and the recognition of a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 1957.
Today, the Descent of Sella is an event that attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators from all over Spain every year. It is also known as the Canoe Festival.

Along the more than 15 km that separate the Arrionda and Ribadesella bridges, hundreds of canoes compete in an extraordinary sporting event. The descent ends in Llovio, a small town in Asturias.

An event that combines sporting competition with the typically playful element, with dances, songs, competitions, popular games. An extraordinary occasion for cohesion and celebration.
And, since it is a sports competition, the winners will have the great satisfaction of finding their name on the two stones located on the sides of the Ribadesella Bridge.

The Descent of Sella has now become one of the most important festivals in all of Spain, thanks above all to the extraordinary following of participating countries and spectators.

Photo ©, Fernando Garoz Crespo. Imported from 500px by Archive Team

PRACTICAL INFO

HOW TO GET

Ribadesella is about 65 kilometers away by car from Gijon, and just over 100 from Santander, via the E70.
Anyone wishing to reach the town by public transport can use the train. The train station is located near the center, a 5/10 minute walk away.
Ribadesella is located on the Oviedo-Santander line.

DESCENT OF SELLA 2024 PROGRAM

The event takes place, as usual, on the first Saturday of August.
The program includes a canoe race on a course of about 18 kilometers between the Arriondas and Ribadesella Bridges.
It starts at 12:00, from the Arriondas Bridge, after all the participants have walked the streets of the country forming a real procession, to the singing of the song “Asturias, patria querida”.
The race must finish no later than 18:00.

After the descent, the party continues in the nearby village of Llovio. Here participants, spectators and locals meet, dressed in regional, exotic costumes and the typical paper necklaces.
In parallel, competitions and skill tests are held.