Festi'Mômes

Festi'Mômes: Twenty-five years of magic for the little ones

Since 2000, the MJC-CS Jacques Tati in Orsay has opened its doors each autumn to young and old for Festi'Mômes, one of the oldest and most recognized children's festivals in Île-de-France. Set in the ideal setting of this historic community center, the festival has established itself over the years as an unmissable event for families in Essonne, eagerly awaited as soon as the Toussaint holidays are announced.

Its name says it all: a festival for the 'mômes' – children, little ones, budding curious minds – who also deserve ambitious and carefully crafted artistic offerings. Festi'Mômes rejects the idea of 'easy' shows for young audiences: each year, it programs creations and artistic forms that speak to children with respect and high standards, convinced that art can touch the youngest with as much depth as it touches adults.

A multidisciplinary and creative program

The richness of Festi'Mômes lies in the variety of artistic forms it offers. Each edition brings together shows of theatre, puppetry, circus arts, dance, and multidisciplinary creations that blend several disciplines into a single performance. Professional companies from all over France come to present their creations, specially designed for young audiences from 6 months old.

Among the notable shows from recent editions, we can mention:

• "Pas Bête – Philosophie Canine" by Cie des Plumés, combining theater and philosophical questioning for children
• "Un bateau" by Cie Sans Soucis, a puppet show that travels through imagination
• "Minute papillon" by Cie la Rustine, a poetic and delicate puppet
• "Le vertige de l'envers" by L'envolée cirque, a breathtaking circus performance
• "Comment attraper une étoile", a multidisciplinary creation mixing theater, puppetry, and animated film

This diversity reflects the organizers' belief that young audiences deserve an artistic offering as rich as that offered to adults, and that introduction to art in all its forms is a major issue for future generations.

The Jacques Tati cinema at the heart of the festival

The MJC Jacques Tati also houses a cinema – Ciné Tati – which plays an active role in the festival. Special screenings for young audiences, featuring animated films and short films selected for their artistic quality, complement the festival's program. This cinematic dimension distinguishes Festi'Mômes from other children's festivals in the region.

Workshops and the Family Café

Festi'Mômes is not limited to shows. Each edition offers a rich program of creative workshops – illustration, stop motion, puppet making, scenography – allowing children to become artistic creators themselves. These workshops are led by professional artists and designed as real introductory experiences to artistic practice.

The Family Café offers a space for conviviality and exchange between parents and children, between spectators and artists. This informal meeting and sharing place is one of the festival's hallmarks, which values the human experience as much as the artistic experience.

Twenty-five years of a pioneering festival

The 2025 edition of Festi'Mômes marks the festival's 25th anniversary, a remarkable longevity that testifies to the loyalty of its audience and the consistency of its artistic project. In a quarter of a century, the festival has accompanied thousands of children in their first encounter with live performance, offering them lasting memories and sowing the seeds of artistic curiosity that will stay with them throughout their lives.