The Madeleine Festival

The Madeleine Festival pay homage to the famous Foire de la Madeleine that made Beaucaire famous in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The festivities kick off each year on July 21, the feast day of Sainte Marie Madeleine, patron saint of the town of Beaucaire.

Program :

SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2024 - OPENING OF THE FETES DE LA MADELEINE

• 7:30pm : Confrères de la Confrérie Sainte Marie Madeleine renew their vows at the Collégiale Notre Dame des Pommiers. Free.
  
• 9pm : Opening parade of the Fêtes de la Madeleine. Over 700 costumed participants and more than 100 animals march past.
  2024 theme : Camargue and Provençal traditions around the Drac, 100th anniversary of the Croix de Camargue and 120th anniversary of the Nobel Prize for Literature awarded to Provençal writer and poet Frédéric Mistral.
  Course : Departure from the Beaucaire-Tarascon bridge, quai du Général de Gaulle, Fontêtes traffic circle, boulevard Maréchal Foch, Goya traffic circle, boulevard Maréchal Joffre, rue des Anciens Combattants d'Afrique du Nord, avenue des Arènes, allée François Canto, arrival at the Paul Laurent bullring.
  
• Opening proclamation of the Fêtes de la Madeleine in the Paul Laurent Bullring

MONDAY JULY 22, 2024

• 7pm : Encierro in Square Eyssette with the Manade Labourayre. Free. Square Eyssette
  
• 9:30pm : Recortadores show with Forcados at the Paul Laurent Bullring. A Portuguese tradition in which men challenge the bull with their bare hands. Fighting bulls from the Manade Jalabert, bandas, feria atmosphere. Regular price: €10, concessions: €6, free for children under 12. Information 04 66 59 10 06.
  
• 10 pm : Encierro with the Manade Labourayre. Free. At the Encierrodrome, Champ de Foire

TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2024

• 7pm : Bandido de la Redoute with Manade Labourayre. Free. On boulevard Maréchal Joffre.
  
• 9:30pm : Olympiades Beaucairoises at Arènes Paul Laurent. Regular price: €10, Reduced price: €5. Information on 06 46 78 78 40.
  
• 10pm : Encierro with the Manade Labourayre. Free. At the Encierrodrome, Champ de Foire.

WEDNESDAY JULY 24, 2024

• 6pm : Musical aperitif with resident DJ at Les Voiles restaurant, 11 cours Sadi Carnot. Information on 06 62 72 65 46
  
• 7pm : Abrivado du Canal with the Manade Lescot.
  Start and finish: boulevard Maréchal Foch
  Course: Rond-point des Fontêtes, pont de Fourques, quai de la Paix, anse du Canal, quai du Général de Gaulle, rond-point des Fontêtes. Twice in the same direction, once in the opposite direction. Free.
  
• 9:30pm : Beaucaire Rodeo'Show at Arènes Paul Laurent. Come and watch a Bull Riding competition with professional cowboys. You'll also discover bull-riding, acrobatics, equestrian demonstrations and much more. Adult price: €15, child price: €12, free for children under 5. Information on 07 68 80 72 21.
  
• 10pm : Encierro with the Manade Labourayre. At the Encierrodrome, Champ de Foire.

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024

• 10:30 am : Abrivado de Saint-Roman preceded by the blessing of the horses with the Manade L'Amista. Free.
  Departure : Saint-Roman Abbey
  Route : Chemin de la Tapie, RD999, route de Nîmes, avenue de Farciennes, Boulevard Maréchal Joffre, rue des Anciens Combattants d'Afrique du Nord, avenue des Arènes, Allée François Canto.
  Finish : in the Paul Laurent Arena
  
• 5pm : Course Camarguaise “Palme d'Argent” at the Paul Laurent Bullring. Preceded by a Capelado or parade. Competition between 7 manades, with the best cocardiers and raseteurs of the moment. Regular price: €9, concessions: €7, free for children under 12. Information: 04 66 59 10 06
  
• After the Palme d'Argent : Bandido with Manade L'Amista. Free
  Departure from in front of Arènes Paul Laurent, Champ de Foire.
  
• From 6 pm : Opening of the Salon Taurin. Bodégas and catering.
  
• 9:30pm : Concert with “Tribute Abba For Ever” followed by the Alméras Music Live Orchestra. Free. At the Salon Taurin.

FRIDAY JULY 27, 2024

• 10:30 am : Abrivado Longue de la Plaine with the Manade L'Amista. Free.
  Departure from Vieux Mas and arrival at Espace Le Chalet.
  
• 7pm : Encierro des 100 taureaux with the Manade la Santenco Aubanel Baroncelli (Pierre Aubanel et Fils). Free.
  Route : From Casino Municipal to Arènes Paul Laurent, Champ de Foire.
  
• From 6pm : Bodégas and catering at the Salon Taurin
  
• 9:30pm : Concert by Richard Gardet Orchestra. Evening bodega, French and international varieties. Free. At the Salon Taurin.

SATURDAY JULY 27, 2024

• 11am : Abrivado Carnavalesque with the Manade L'Amista. Free
  Course : From Eric Baska rugby stadium, chemin du Mas des Cailloux, arrival at Espace le Chalet, Champ de Foire.
  
• 6pm : Novillada at the Paul Laurent bullring, Champ de Foire. Prices: from €25 to €50. Information on 07 67 60 89 12
  
• From 6pm : Bodégas and catering at the Salon Taurin.
  
• 9:30pm : Gipsy Kings by André Reyes concert followed by the Laurent Comtat Orchestra in the Salon Taurin. Free.
  
• 10pm : Encierro with the Manade Labourayre. Free. At the Encierrodrome, Champ de Foire.

SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2024

• 8:30 am : Big Fair breakfast at Espace Le Chalet, 4 avenue des Arènes. Price: €20. Information on 06 82 29 41 91
  
• 10:15 am : Procession of the Confrérie Sainte Marie Madeleine
  Route : from Eglise Saint-Paul (rue de l'Hôtel de Ville) to Collégiale Notre Dame des Pommiers (rue Ledru Rollin). Free.
  
• 10:45am : great mass de la Madeleine at the Collégiale Notre Dame des Pommiers
  
• 11am : Abrivado de Pampelune with the Manade l'Amista. Free.
  Departure : Ambulances Jerrise (26 avenue Terre d'Argence), arrival at Espace Le Chalet (4 avenue des Arènes)
  
• 6pm : Novillada at the Paul Laurent Arena. Prices from €25 to €50. Information on 07 67 60 89 12
  
• From 6pm : Bodégas and catering at the Salon Taurin
  
• 9:30pm : Concert by BONEY M original Show Live, followed by a disco dance party with the Richard Gardet Orchestra. Free. At the Salon Taurin.
  
• 10pm : Encierro with the Manade Labourayre. Free. At the Encierrodrome, Champ de Foire.

MONDAY, JULY 29, 2024

• 9am : Lunch at l'Ancienne au Fer à Cheval (2175 A chemin Saint-Denis d'Argence). Price: €15. Information on 04 66 59 17 71.
  
• 10:30 am : Traditional abrivado with the Manade l'Amista. This abrivado is accompanied by a parade of people in old-fashioned costumes in horse-drawn carriages.
  Departure : Le Fer à Cheval
  Route : Chemin de la Croix de Marbre, RD90, chemin de Saint-Joseph, quai de la Paix, quai du Général de Gaulle, boulevard Maréchal Foch, boulevard Maréchal Joffre, rue des Anciens Combattants d'Afrique du Nord.
  Arrival : in the Paul Laurent Arena
  
• 12pm : Musical aperitif followed by “pâtes de Valérie” at Brasserie Les Fontêtes (12 boulevard du Maréchal Foch).
  
• 5pm : Camargue race “Finale de la Palme d'Or” preceded by a Capelado or parade at the Paul Laurent Bullring (Champ de Foire). Numbered ticket price: 17 €, Normal price: 12 €, Reduced price: 6 €, Free for children under 12. Information: 04 66 59 10 06
  
• From 6pm : Bodégas and food at the Salon Taurin
  
• 9:30pm : Concert with Cocktail de Nuit. Choreographed show. Free. At the Salon Taurin
  
• 11pm : Closing fireworks for the Fêtes de la Madeleine, fired from the Château, visible from the Salon Taurin.