4 days dedicated to Gascon culture – A unique opportunity to (re)discover the culture and cuisine of the region, in a festive and friendly atmosphere!
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“A living culture, unique to our identity and open to others. A culture that is passed on and shared”.
On the programme: workshops, discussions, conferences, exhibitions, screenings, storytelling walks, heritage discovery, games, courses, dances, songs, traditions…
– Thursday 14th :
9am – Parc du Casino: Walking tour with food breaks, local produce. Organised by the association Benoit, un sourire pour la vie. Price: €10 – Registration 06 28 30 08 81.
9am – Parc du Casino: Discovery workshops for children – Games, music & Gascon culture (4-12 years) Registration required.
10am – Complexe du Casino: Musical conference – Popular and Occitan music (V. Touzet)
10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 6pm – Casino complex: Exhibitions until Sunday – Fauna, Flora & Gascon Culture.
2pm – Casino complex: Introduction to Gascon – Discovery (B. Arrous), registration required.
3pm – Casino complex: Gascon conference – Bèstias e mots d’ací (B. Arrous).
3pm – Complexe du Casino: Children’s show – Confitura de calhaus (all audiences), in partnership with Oc-Bi.
5pm – Square Lauret: Pyrenean singing competition – Polyphonic encounters.
6pm – Square Lauret: Cantèra – Polyphonic singing for all.
9pm – Town centre: Retreat of the guides on horseback
10pm – Parc du Casino: Folklore group show.
– Friday 15th :
9.30am – Parc du Casino: Petanque competition (licensed players) organised by the Boule Luchonnaise.
10am – Parc Thermal: Traditional 15th August mass – procession of guides from the church to the Thermal Baths kiosk, blessing of the ice axes and traditional mass.
10am – Complexe du Casino: Société Pyrénéenne conference – Witches without broomsticks (I. Gratacos).
2pm – MJC – Espace Nelson Mandela : Occitan dance workshop – Beginners or advanced (congo). Registration required.
2pm – Complexe du Casino: Introduction to Gascon – Discovery (B. Arrous), registration required.
3pm – Complexe du Casino: Concert lea eta anuxka – Discover the songs of the Western Pyrenees with a duo of young Basque girls of undeniable talent. Price: €5
4pm – Casino complex: Herbularius workshop – Botanical encounter with M. Baudoin (ethnobotanist).
5pm – Casino complex: Lecture on Pyrenean flora – Medicinal plants (R. Pujol) in partnership with the Académie Julien Sacaze.
5pm – Town centre: Cantèra tour of the town – Polyphonic groups.
7.30pm – Parc du Casino: Aperò’cantèra & bal a la voix.
9pm – Parc du Casino: Ball with the musicians of Comminges – From the groups Arredalh, Eth Chot, Estornapic, Airetères, Toti Tres… some twenty musicians have put together a programme of dancing and singing to delight the ears and feet of the public. Admission free
– Saturday 16th :
10am and 3pm – Fronton de Luchon: Introduction to pelota and grand chistera demonstration.
10am – MJC – Espace Nelson Mandela : Passejada natura – Fauna/Flora walk in the woods.
(M. Baudoin & F. Rachou).
10am – MJC – Espace Nelson Mandela – Traditional singing course – Polyphonies of Gascony (W. Abo). Registration required.
10am to 5pm – Complexe du Casino – Bowling and wooden games – Nine-pin bowling and Pyrenean six-pin bowling.
2pm – 5pm – Complexe du Casino: Poetic sound journey – Sono-therapy by Médéric. Registration required.
2pm – MJC – Espace Nelson Mandela : Occitan dance classes – Improving your skills (bourrées). Registration required.
2pm – Complexe du Casino: Introduction to Gascon – Discovery (B. Arrous), registration required.
3pm – Complexe du Casino: Play “a trauca pairols” – Comedy with surtitles by Les Galéjaires d’Ariège.
4pm to 6pm – Town centre: Entertainment around town – Fanfares and street music, Tarabastar and Mandadors.
5pm – Complexe du Casino: Botanical conference – Geohistory and the Pyrenees (J.C. Sanchez).
6.30pm – Parc du Casino: Aperò’trad and bandas.
8pm – Parc du Casino: Concert by La Mal Coiffée (Languedoc), Plume (Auvergne) and Orchestrina Trama (Catalonia). This is an open evening for our neighbours from the Occitanie region, who will be showcasing a wide range of musical styles and sounds from the region. La Mal Coiffée, pioneers of female vocal groups, will be presenting their new album. In a festive, danceable atmosphere, these three groups will take you on a journey of discovery. Free admission
– Sunday 17th :
9am to 6pm – Parc du Casino: Gascon market – local producers and craft workshops.
10am to 5pm – Complexe du Casino: Book fair – meetings with authors.
10am to 5pm – Casino complex: Bowling and wooden games – 6 and 9-pin bowling from the Pyrenees.
10am – Caravan park, Badech area: Passejada contada – storytelling walk (F. Handy).
11am – Complexe du Casino: History conference “Plants, vegetables and gardens of the Pyrenees” (H. Lassus-Pigat – Clab)
10am to 4pm – MJC – Espace Nelson Mandela : Instrument courses: diatonic accordion, bagpipes, clari, flute (registration required).
12pm – Parc du Casino: Shared and sung meal.
2pm – Complexe du Casino: Introduction to Gascon – Discovery (B. Arrous), registration required.
3pm – Complexe du Casino: Storytelling show – open to all (F. Handy).
5pm – Théâtre du Casino: Concert by Airetères (Comminges) and Rambalh (Val d’Aran). To close the Festival, two groups from the central Pyrenees will be performing their moving songs. Price: €5
