Description
A Week of Festivities in Mèze
The Mèze Festival is now in its 218th year. For a whole week, the quays, squares, and streets of the historic center come alive to the rhythm of artillery salvos, the ringing of bells, and dawn serenades performed by the pe%F1as. It is the major summer event in M%E8ze, one that the town and its associations prepare for several months in advance.
Two events to kick things off
Before the festivities, the city is hosting the “Balade artistique mézoise” exhibition at the Carré d’Art Louis Jeanjean, in the wine cellar of the Château de Girard: amateur painters and visual artists who share two things in common: talent and a place they call home that inspires them—Mèze. A gourmet market then takes up residence on the Yves Piétrasanta Esplanade, featuring local products and musical entertainment. The big carnival follows right on the heels of this event, taking over the same esplanade and the Place des Tonneliers, open every evening until late into the night.
On opening night, Friday
All the action takes place on the forecourt of the Girard Castle wine cellar: the flower contest awards ceremony in the presence of the queen and her runners-up, followed by a complimentary aperitif for the public, accompanied by the Agde Swing Orchestra. Lanterns are distributed free of charge behind City Hall before the opening parade—a Venetian-style procession that brings the Ox and the Easel out into the streets, carried by the pe%F1as Bastid?and Co and Los amigos, the SNSM, the two jousting clubs, and the Tambourin Club M%E9zois. The evening then shifts to the castle’s light show, organized by the City with a theme dedicated to French songs.
Traditions at the Heart of the Program
Le Chevalet, the town’s totemic animal, the “death of the ox” ceremony, and the “course à la bigue” race—better known as Lou Capelet—are among the most eagerly anticipated events. The harbor basin hosts two regional Languedoc jousting tournaments, organized by the Nouvelle Lance Mézoise and the Jeune Lance Sportive Mézoise, preceded byby a parade of jousters starting from City Hall and followed by an awards ceremony on the forecourt of the Girard Castle wine cellar.
Sports, Games, and Shared Meals
In addition to the traditions, the festival gives local clubs a chance to shine: a carré boules tournament in the downtown streets, a scooter race, a bathtub race, an obstacle course in the historic center, beach volleyball at Jardin Montet, doubles tennis, and a pétanque tournament at the Boulodrome de la Parée. The Vignerons Coopérateurs set up a brasucade at Place des Micocouliers, the seniors’ dinner brings the Pr%E9au du Sesquier together for a live band, and the SNSM opens its doors at the Le Taurus water sports center.
Evenings at Place des Micocouliers
Every night features a musical event with free admission: the Sweet Pulse band, the Olé Bodega night with DJ Ksido, the Trait d’Union-Périer band and its sixteen performers, followed by a concert by Christian Delagrange, with Les Latinos Lovers as the opening act. The fireworks display, set off off the coast of the small beach, brings the festivities to a close.