Franck is formal: “You can ask all the fairgrounds, you will have the same answer. “This boss of a” childish “merry -go -round installed place de Gaulle does not give up, the Bayonne 2025 celebrations formula does not do the business of his corporation. “For me, it’s 50 % in less turnover compared to 2023.” The last edition of the holidays positioned at the end of July.
It was a great inbound of last fall. Bayonne had first announced his festivals at the same time as those of the Madeleine, in Mont-de-Marsan, from July 16 to 20. Before advancing them again, from 9 to 13. The goal: to reduce the crowds, to reduce the risks linked to the very large summer gathering. Burching of shields among professionals in fairground attractions anxious to find their calendar before. At the call of the Federation of Farains of France and Fairies in the Southwest, they even organized two snails operations in protest to block the city in October.
Decrease revenue
Franck took part in these snail operations. Without regret, after the first three days of the event on the advanced calendar. “Already, in 2024, the progress of the holidays because of the Paris Olympics was a loss of half. We are on the same basis this year. We do not find our activity level two years ago. The global sporting event forced the municipality to anticipate its parties, to benefit from CRS reinforcements before the Olympic Games absorb them. The city of Bayonne noted a drop in attendance at its parties from 10 to 15 %. A track to dig, when the hypertrophy of the festive week increases risks and dangers.
In Place Charles de Gaulle, the fairgrounds are within the perimeter of the paid party.
Bertrand Lapègue / « SO »
The public organizers pursue this objective of disenchantment with the 2025 calendar. This does not help Jean-Louis and Patricia Chardela. “It makes us miss the Mauléon fun fair. They had to advance their dates because of Bayonne (1). They are not doing it on July 14, this year. It was a good day for us. »Thirty years that they deploy their duck fishing stand for toddlers, in Bayonne. “I find that there are fewer people this year on these first three days,” says Jean-Louis Chardela. “We went into recipes, that’s for sure. Maybe not half, but we dropped. »»
Bursting
The couple regrets the new spatial organization of the party. Or a burst between de Gaulle and Boufflers alleys. A choice in particular made to streamline the circulation of people and limit crowd phenomena at certain critical times, such as opening holidays. “You have two fairgrounds, it’s not good for us,” says Jean-Louis Chardella. “It is not very consistent” also declares Patrick Dalbos, installed on the puffy aisles with his attraction of slot machines baptized “Riviera. »»
Many favor Wednesday and Thursday because it is still open without paying. They may have returned on weekends for their children but it’s difficult for everyone today
Armand Horion too, is installed on the Boufflers alleys, with the imposing “ferias” ride. He philosopher: “It is certain that people get lost. But we understand the security issue. He also feels “an impact” of the change of dates. It assesses its withdrawal of activity “between less than 30 and less than 40 % Thursday”.
Speaking rides to get away in the air.
Bertrand Lapègue / « SO »
Purchasing power
He still considers himself happy: the barriers of paid entrance stand in front of him. “Here I am on the perimeter with free access. We say that it will not last, but for the moment, we do not have this brake, unlike colleagues in front of the town hall. »Franck points to the bracelet at 15 euros on weekends, for non-Bayonnais. An increasing price this year: “People tell us, they count. Many favor Wednesday and Thursday because it is still open without paying. They may have returned on weekends for their children but it’s difficult for everyone today. This is the question of purchasing power. “” The paid entry, it sketches us “, opine Patricia Chardela. The municipality asserts 4 million euros in expenses for the holidays, including incompressible and growing security costs.
Stands on the Boufflers aisles. Here, access is free.
Bertrand Lapègue / « SO »
Patrick Dalbos participated in the “town hall” meetings upstream of this edition. “We only have a request is to return to the dates at the end of July. The Bayonne celebrations should take place after July 14, next year, according to an agreement found with Mont-de-Marsan. But questions related to the mastery of festive demography will always arise.
(1) From July 4 to 6.
