All at the basketry party !

This gathering of basket weavers from all over Europe will take place in August 2024 in Vallabrègues, a small Provencal village on the banks of the Rhône in the Gard department.

A traditional Provençal feast high in color !

For 30 years, every 2nd weekend of August, a very nice tradition is celebrated in Vallabrègues : the fever of the 'bayssiers', that is to say the joyful return to the village of men who left several weeks to harvest the reed of Camargue.
It must be said that this small typical village has a special history. A village bathed by the Rhône, it has often suffered the whims of the river, and offered its land to the cultivation of wicker. It was initially on the right bank of the Rhône, then an island surrounded by the waters, and today located on the left bank of the Rhône (the only village of Gard on this bank, by the way) !
In the 19th century, there were no less than 250 basket-makers in the village. There is one left today, to whom we can visit.

Every year Vallabrègues welcomes craftsmen from all over Europe

They present their creations, tell our traditions and organize workshops to bring out the art of basketry to the greatest number.

During 2 days, the village is adorned with its finest outlets: baskets are hung in the alleys, we decorate all the houses and the village square.

The people of Vallabrègues, all generations combined, take the game : they parade with carriages and Provencal costumes and share their tradition with passion.

For a weekend, the villagers revive the customs and know-how of their grandparents.

Program : 

SATURDAY 10 AUGUST 2024 :

• 9am to 8pm : Opening of the basket weavers village
  
• 11am : Traditional parade "The return of the Baïssiers".
  
• 1pm to 5pm : Musical entertainment by a Peña
  
• 6pm : Tombola draw
  
• 8pm to 10.30pm : Concert by "The Pickels"
  
• 11pm to 2am : Set with "DJ JorisB"

SUNDAY 11 AUGUST :

• 9am to 7pm : Opening of the basket makers village
  
• 11am : Mass in the Arena
  
• 12pm : Musical aperitif with a folk group
  
• 6pm : Tombola draw
  
• 4pm to 10pm : Musical entertainment by "Osco"
  
• 10.30pm : Closing of the Festival

And all weekend long...

Traditional costume stalls, wooden games, street skits, visit to the Baïssiers hut, basket-making demonstrations, musical entertainment, foodtrucks, local refreshment stands and restaurants, basket-making museum...