Patron Saint Festivities of our Lady of the Port      The festivities in honour of Our Lady of the Port are held in the town for one week during the first fortnight in September. They include different festive events (regattas, live performances by music bands and choirs, sports competitions, fairs, bullfights, fireworks and the bulls of fire, etc.), but the most important are the “Sea Procession”, the popular “marmitada” (stew), the bullfights and the floats on humorous themes. Sea Procession. This is held on September 7 when Our Lady of the Port is carried through the streets of Santoņa followed by many devotees, and embarked on one of the boats from the fishing fleet of Santoņa. The boat then sails over the waters of the bay followed by all the boats of the fisherman’s guild. The Grand “Marmitada”. This is the most important gastronomic event in which a typical meal is prepared, known as the “marmite”, consisting of tuna fish and potatoes, which is dished out free of charge together with bread and wine in the area of the Promenade, for more than eight thousand persons. Regattas. Although there are rowing competitions of different types (there is a rowing school), both on fixed and moving benches, the regattas forming part of the provincial league and other championships during the season are organised in one important regatta in which the boats compete to win the "Standard of Santoņa", alongside boats from other autonomous regions in Cantabria. Also during that week, the bull ring of Santoņa receives many important bullfighters in events organised for all those who enjoy bull-fights.