Carnaval du Puy-en-Velay

The Carnaval du Puy-en-Velay: A Rediscovered Popular Tradition

The Carnaval du Puy-en-Velay, known as "V'là le Printemps", is a festive and educational event that celebrates the arrival of spring each year in the streets of the city. After more than a decade of absence, the children's carnival made its grand return in 2012, driven by the municipality's will and the enthusiasm of the local families.

An Educational and Artistic Project

The Carnaval du Puy-en-Velay is much more than just a costume parade: it is a true pedagogical project carried out in advance by the teachers of the city's nursery and elementary schools. In class, children explore the arrival of spring through various themes: poetry, singing, biology, visual arts. Each edition revolves around a unifying theme that fuels students' creativity and guides the making of costumes and decorations.

The children prepare wishes, drawings, and artistic creations that they bring on the day of the carnival to adorn a magical garden symbolizing the spring renewal. It is together, by chanting a magic formula, that they chase away winter and joyfully welcome the new season.

The Grand Parade and Treasure Hunt

On the day of the carnival, around 500 children from public and private schools in the commune gather in the early afternoon, often on Rue Grangevieille, for a grand parade in colorful costumes through the picturesque alleys of the old town of Le Puy-en-Velay. A myriad of colors then invades the historic heart of the city and the Henri Vinay garden.

Two treasure hunts are specially organized according to age groups: one in the Henri Vinay garden for nursery classes, the other in the streets of the old town for elementary classes. Children follow clues, solve riddles, and go on an adventure in a fun and scripted route.

Performances and a Collective Celebration

The afternoon concludes with a grand gathering on the Place du Breuil, an emblematic location in Le Puy-en-Velay, where children and their companions attend street performances: acrobats, stilt walkers, percussionists, and artistic troupes liven up the square. In 2017, the company Les Enjoliveurs offered a show of acrobatics and stilt walking, while the company Bate la Nata set the pace of the parade with its Brazilian percussion. In 2023, the carnival with a pirate theme saw children confront the pirate Barba Rossa and sing "Santiano" by Hugues Aufray all together.

A collective snack is offered to all participants on the Place du Breuil, making this moment a true highlight of conviviality and sharing for the entire local community.

A Meeting Rooted in Local Life

The Carnaval du Puy-en-Velay is part of the age-old tradition of cavalcades and carnival celebrations in the Velay region, deeply rooted in local popular culture. This free and open-to-all event contributes to the cultural dynamism of the city, in connection with other spring events such as the festival Lo Festenal, dedicated to Occitan cultures, which takes place at the same time.