Château-d'Oléron: an end of season celebrating street arts with Festiv'Arts

On August 26 and 27, the citadel of Château-d'Oléron is transformed into a festive place where street arts take center stage.

After more than twenty years of programming music based around jazz and pyrotechnics, Festiv'Arts reinvented itself last year. "We're proud of the reception and feedback from the public last year," says Camille Le Ribault, head of the cultural department at Château-d'Oléron. "We plan to start again on the same basis." For this ^23rd edition, the organizers have seen things in a big way, while remaining consistent with 2024.

More than 11 shows will be performing at the Château-d'Oléron citadel on August 26 and 27. This late-summer date wasn't chosen at random, says Camille Le Ribault. "We made sure to target the Oléron population. The festival is a good transition to the start of the school year, and also to mark the end of summer."

The festival aims to be as Oléron-centric as possible, the organizer admits. "We involve local associations to highlight the people who bring the region to life all year round." One of the organizers' main challenges is to plan Oléron-based campaigns to showcase them. "The island of Oléron is at the heart of Festiv'Arts." And for this new edition, the challenge has paid off, the organizer announces.

The citadel wasn't chosen at random. Camille Le Ribault explains this choice as a desire to showcase the town's sites. "It's a beautiful playground. There are large bastions where we hold exhibitions. This unique setting allows people to rediscover this place," she insists. "This little-known site is the ideal place to showcase street art."

Inspired by the model of the now-defunct street arts festival, O! Les Rues in Dolus-d'Oléron, the Château's cultural services team redesigned Festiv'Arts, formerly Jazz en feux. "We specialized in jazz, but this music reaches far fewer people. We wanted to open up to a new audience and, above all, highlight street arts, which no longer existed in Dolus," says the organizer.

"We're offering a wide range of shows featuring a variety of artists," announces Camille Le Ribault. "There will be theater, dance performances, and even a fireworks display." The latter will only be held if weather conditions permit. Music will also punctuate these two festive days, with performances by the groups Transbal Express and Uk'n'love.

Caroline, a mother of three, traveled to the island of Oléron for the last week of August. She hadn't heard of the festival yet, and she definitely plans to go. "It's great to see such unusual events," she exclaims, making no secret of her eagerness to go with her family.

The organizer promises a trip to Festiv'Arts, in a lighthearted atmosphere. The only concern: the weather. Economic difficulties have forced the organizers to charge for the festival. Free for children under 12, admission costs 10 euros for the day and 15 for two.