Festi Boudin

Vaudeurs and the Café de l'Éolienne: a village association

Nestled in the heart of the Pays d'Othe, a bocage and forest region in the south of the Yonne department, the commune of Vaudeurs (89320) is home to some 500 souls in a hilly territory, marked by cider orchards, deep woods, and a charming village life. The village owes its name to the former lordship of lands belonging to the abbey of Saint-Rémi de Sens, and proudly preserves the heritage of the first windmill in the Yonne department, built in 1923 by engineer Deplay to supply the commune with water—a technical feat now classified as a historical monument and which gives its name to the village's central square.

It is precisely on this Place de l'Éolienne that the association Le Café de l'Éolienne has established its friendly headquarters. Founded to animate an intergenerational meeting place and improve the quality of life for residents, the association is the cultural and festive engine of the village. It manages a community café, organizes meals, events, and evenings throughout the year, weaving the social fabric essential to the vitality of a small rural village.

The Festi Boudin: an unapologetic gourmet tradition

Among the flagship events it organizes, the Festi Boudin has established itself as the unmissable gastronomic event at the end of April in Vaudeurs. The recipe is simple and foolproof: homemade black pudding, prepared on-site by association members according to two distinct recipes—a plain, smooth, and melt-in-your-mouth version, and a spicy version for those who like a bit of character—served with generous fries in a cheerful atmosphere.

The event takes place at the Salle polyvalente Raymond Imbault, next to the Place de l'Éolienne. From 7:00 PM, the doors open to a dinner-concert that blends popular gastronomy and collective celebration: the menu includes homemade black pudding with fries (or a chicken and fries alternative for those less keen on black pudding), a salad, cheese, dessert, and a complimentary aperitif upon arrival. All for €16 per adult, €8 for children aged 6 to 11, and free for children under 6—accessible prices that make Festi Boudin a festival open to all.

A festive evening, a live concert

Festi Boudin is not just a meal: it's a real evening. A live music band ensures a dancing atmosphere until the end of the night. In 2025, the band Dark Eden set the dance floor on fire with a repertoire mixing pop, rock, funk, and disco—enough to get the tables moving and extend the party well after dessert. The warm atmosphere, the full hall of neighbors and families, the laughter and lively conversations: everything contributes to making this evening a rare and precious moment of village cohesion.

The event brings together the inhabitants of Vaudeurs and surrounding communes in the Pays d'Othe—Cerisiers, Fouchères, Villery, Flacy, and many others—who gather around this gourmet tradition renewed year after year. Booking is highly recommended, as places are limited to the hall's capacity, and payment is made prior to the evening.

Black pudding: a local product to celebrate

Behind the conviviality of the evening lies a genuine artisanal pride: the black pudding is made on-site by the association's volunteers. This homemade preparation, based on pork blood, onions, and spices, perpetuates an ancestral charcuterie know-how that large retailers have largely overshadowed. In honor of this often-underestimated product, Festi Boudin restores its noble status: here, black pudding is not a side dish, it's the star of the evening.

The Pays d'Othe, a land of traditional farming and agriculture, provides a natural terroir for this celebration. The oak and hornbeam forests, the wet meadows, and the cider apple orchards surrounding Vaudeurs are reminders that this region has long lived to the rhythm of the seasons and peasant productions. Festi Boudin is part of this nourishing memory, reinterpreting it with the joy and generosity of a united village association.

A popular and inclusive event

What makes Festi Boudin strong is its deep local roots. No media stars, no complex online ticketing: reservations are made by phone or directly at the Café de l'Éolienne, on Friday evenings or Sunday mornings—during the community café's opening hours. This proximity, this deliberate simplicity, are the mark of an event that does not seek to grow excessively, but to remain what it is: a beautiful village festival, gourmet, musical, and fraternal.

In a context where traditional rural festivals are becoming rare, Vaudeurs' Festi Boudin represents exactly what small communes can and must preserve: popular events that unite, that make people want to get together, and that anchor residents in a vibrant and flavorful local identity.