Each year at the end of October, the village of Espelette in the Basque Country celebrates its red pepper as the harvest season comes to a close.
The streets fill with music, markets and shared meals. Growers hang long strands of peppers to dry on white facades, a familiar scene here.
The festival includes a large food and craft fair with regional products.
Basque musicians and dance groups perform in the main square, and on Saturday evening many residents join a communal dinner.
On Sunday, a mass is followed by the blessing of the peppers and a parade of food fraternities in traditional dress.
Local restaurants prepare pepper themed dishes for visitors. The event can draw as many as 20,000 people.
