First things first. "Basque" is not pronounced "basky," as I've done in bumbling fashion for years. It rhymes with "orange," which is odd because nothing is supposed to rhyme with that. Wait! I mean it rhymes with "mask" — as in, "What are you going to be on Halloween?" "I've got a Basque mask."

Now that we have that straightened out, get thee immediately to Saturday's Basque Fest in New London at the Parade Plaza. 

Presented by the New England Basque Club (NEBC), Basque Festival is a blizzard of fun designed to foster and promote the Spanish autonamous Basque culture and history. Anticipate and celebrate through an exhibition of Basque rural sports, a variety of tongue-seducing paellas — rich and savory stews — and small snack "pintxos," indigenous wines — white Txakoli and red Rioja wine — along with dance, music and various crafts and activities from different chapters of the NEBC.

You might call it "basky" going in, but you'll be an honorary and proud member of Basque Nation going out.

Basque Fest, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, food served 11 a.m.-4 p.m., event rain date 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday, Parade Plaza, Water St., New London; $30 adults (includes three pixtos, one serving of paella, one bottle of water), $15 children under 11 (includes one pixto, one small serving of paella and one bottle of water); nebasque.org, Thames River Greenery, (860) 443-6817.