Unicaja has once again sponsored the Nalón River Folk Descent, one of the most popular and unique celebrations in Asturias, which this past weekend marked its 57th edition and attracted nearly 8,500 participants. With this collaboration, the financial institution reinforces its commitment to Asturias, one of its regions of origin, and to initiatives that help to preserve and promote the cultural heritage, traditions and activities of its municipalities.
The festival, designated as being of National Tourist Interest, saw another edition with high participation: nearly 8,500 ‘sailors’ and 41 clubs. Of the total number of participants, over a thousand were children, reflecting the intergenerational nature of this celebration.
For all these reasons, the Descent has now established itself as one of the major events of the Asturian summer and as a major attraction for the municipality and the Nalón Valley, as further demonstrated by the more than 50,000 people who visited Laviana this year.
A tradition that continues to grow
The Nalón River Folk Descent began in 1968 and, almost six decades later, its main hallmarks remain popular participation, creativity and humour. Over the course of its 57 editions, the clubs have transformed the Nalón river into the setting for a unique water parade, in which the boats built by their members take centre stage.
The event was declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in 2020, a recognition of a tradition deeply rooted in Laviana that has steadily grown in popularity.
This year, 41 clubs took part, with their members having worked for months to prepare the boats that feature in the descent. The participation of more than 1,000 children amongst those registered also highlights the continuity of a festival that remains alive and is passed down through the generations.
Four days of festivities centred on the Nalón river
The programme ran from Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 August, featuring cultural, musical and leisure activities centred on the Descent, which turned Laviana into a meeting place for locals and visitors alike during those days.
A new feature of this year’s event was the presentation of the boats and a parade through the streets of Pola de Laviana on Friday 21, serving as a prelude to the big day on Saturday.
Last Saturday, 22 August, the clubs paraded with their boats to Puente d’Arcu, from where the descent down the Nalón river to La Chalana began. The boats, designed and built by the participants themselves over several months, turn the river journey into a spectacle blending imagination, humour and collective participation.
The programme was rounded off by the Regodón Llaviana festival, which offered activities and concerts from Thursday to Sunday in the Parque de los Príncipes.
Unicaja, alongside Asturias and its traditions
Unicaja’s sponsorship of the Nalón River Folk Descent is part of its commitment to Asturias, one of its regions of origin, and to supporting initiatives that help to revitalise the social and cultural life of the region.
The organisation maintains close ties with the region and carries out its activities by supporting families, businesses, the self-employed and institutions, whilst backing initiatives linked to culture, sport and local traditions.
In this context, the collaboration with the Descent enables Unicaja to support a celebration deeply rooted in Asturian society and to help raise the profile of a festival which, year after year, transcends the local sphere.
