Festivals in Bayonne begin this Wednesday, July 25th until late Sunday night or Monday morning. More than a million people will pass through the streets of the city center in white suits (well, almost white for a while!) dotted with red. Here are some tips to use it according to your taste.
How to dress?
If you go to festivals in Bayonne dressed like any other summer day, no one will say anything to you. It is not a festive mood where the wind of freedom blows. But know that they will notice you very quickly and you don’t necessarily feel comfortable. In order not to be noticed, do not really wear a uniform, but dress in white, which you can decorate with a red belt or a red beret. A red scarf is almost essential. Be careful not to tie it around your neck until the official start of the holidays, on Wednesday evening around 10 p.m. Until then, avoid the rookie mistake and just wrap it around your arm. And blue and white? Casting error: this is for the match days of Aviron Bayonnais, the rugby team at the Jean Dauger Stadium.
Where to park the car?
Nowhere! The city center and several underground car parks are largely closed to traffic and parking, although busy at this time, is highly contested. So forget the car. Two-wheelers are a good alternative, but again, plan ahead for parking and plan to walk a few hundred meters before reaching the perimeter.
Chilli Omelette World Cup.
Choose a bus (22 lines in operation until 4:00) and a train. Services adapt and increase until the end of the night. And it helps extend the party: it’s not uncommon for people to sing and dance on the way back.
What if I don’t like crowds?
More than a million people in the center of a city in a sub-prefecture can be scary. If you are afraid of gatherings that are too compact, choose to visit during the day, for example from the wake of King Léon at 12 o’clock in the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville (the crowd is already there, but let’s say we breathe again!). then walk through the streets of the city center: there are already groups of dancers and musicians to consume without moderation, competition and activities of all kinds.
If the crowds don’t scare you, you can join the perimeter around 6 or 7 pm for temporadas evenings and float parades. Later, in an alley in Petit Bayonne, a kind of wave of singing, fellowship and delirium takes hold of you: don’t try to resist, just hold the hand of the one who accompanies you. After midnight it gets even more intense, but also a bit more dangerous.
Collateral damage
It always exists. You risk losing friends with whom you formed a group at the beginning of the evening. But listening to a band, chilling at the counter, or singing with the crowd, you’ll find more friends. You can definitely ruin a pair of white espadrilles or sneakers, especially if the weather is a bit harsh. Finally, keep your money and cell phone as close to your body as possible. Unfortunately, pickpocketing is as practiced as sneaker or paquito throwing!
What about safety?
The city is deploying the entire city police force and hiring security personnel. Police are also heavily deployed and bar owners are being warned not to be overwhelmed. Finally, all security services are extremely vigilant within the perimeter. There are many urban legends surrounding delinquency during the holidays. But parties are actually very closely watched (cameras are installed just for the sake of the episode) and serious incidents are rather rare. Tip: Don’t let anyone in your party wander off alone, especially if they’ve had too much to drink.
Under 16s are free all weekend, but that’s no excuse. Parents don’t have five days off!
Because you pay for parties?
Yes and no. It is completely free until Friday 10:00. From there you have to get a bracelet for the amount of 12 euros. Unless you can prove you are Bayonnais. This charge is in force for the fourth time in order to finance part of the security and also to strengthen the cultural programme.
Right tip
If you know someone from Bayonne, they may be part of a Peña, one of these local cultural and festive associations, most of which have spaces in little Bayonne. He will be able to bring you and share a table and sa Peña’s music program. Immersion in Basque culture guaranteed. Some peñas are open to everyone.
A little advice
Wednesday, sports day and chili omelette. Thursday, children’s day. Friday, Saturday, Sunday… put together your personal menu from the official program, then get down to it, get carried away and forget what you planned. Everything is going to be fine!