Les Piragües Festivity is the only celebration in Asturias declared as an International Interest Celebration by the Asturias government. Folk, tradition and sport are part of this renowned mass party whose main event is the Sella River’s International Canoeing Descent. 

Every year’s first Saturday of August hundreds of canoeists from all over the world row down the Sella River and cover the 17 km distance between Arriondas and Ribadesella. On that date, everyone wears funny coloured paper collars and significant elements of traditional clothes of the region. Also main authorities and celebrities in the country come to Ribadesella and follow the sport event down the river from the wagons of the picturesque and traditional River Train.

Ribadesella’s bridge is the finish line of this extraordinary competition. 

In this way, the Sella River Winners’ promenade by the eastern side of the river, and the podium and the sculpture of the canonists beside the bridge, honour the sportswomen and the sportsmen who take part at this internationally recognised descent.