Festiv'Ô Rhône
A free day of river discovery along the banks of the Haut-Rhône
2026
About Festiv'Ô Rhône
Festiv'Ô Rhône is a free, open-to-all event dedicated to discovering the Rhône and its natural treasures. Organized by the Syndicat du Haut-Rhône, the festival is itinerant, moving each year in September to a different town along the Haut-Rhône—following the 2025 event at the Kanoti campsite in Yenne, the 2026 edition will take place in Seyssel on both banks of the river on Saturday, September 5th. The day is packed with activities, including boat trips, escape games, performances, games, hands-on workshops, biodiversity exploration, and meetings with local stakeholders, all available either freely or by reservation.
Festiv'Ô Rhône — edition 2026
Festiv'Ô Rhône returns on Saturday, September 5th, 2026, in Seyssel, spanning both banks of the Rhône for a free day of river discovery organized by the Syndicat du Haut-Rhône. The program includes: guided boat cruises on the "Le Seyssel", two escape games, nature workshops, kamishibai storytelling, sound walks, and an activity village at the Place des Festivités, followed by the closing show "Histoires naturelles et poétiques" at 6:00 PM.
2026 Edition: Saturday, September 5th in Seyssel
The Syndicat du Haut-Rhône invites you on Saturday, September 5th, 2026, to Seyssel, on both banks of the Rhône, for a day entirely dedicated to the river and its natural treasures. Walks, boat trips, shows, games, activities, participatory workshops, biodiversity discovery, meetings with local stakeholders, and dining options will be available from morning until evening. The event is free and open to everyone.
A flexible program
Several sessions and outings are scheduled for each activity: you can build your own itinerary for the day by stringing together the time slots that interest you. Activities requiring reservations can be booked online, slot by slot, via the official festival page at haut-rhone.com. The activity village at the Place des Festivités and the closing show are freely accessible without a reservation.
Getting to Seyssel
- By bike, via the ViaRhôna
- By train, from the Seyssel-Corbonod station
- By bus, using the A33 Seyssel / Bellegarde-sur-Valserine line
- By car, parking lots are located near the event areas
Dining
Le Glacier du Port will provide food and drinks throughout the event along the banks of the Rhône: locally-flavored ice creams, refreshing drinks, and regional snacks.
Highlights Festiv'Ô Rhône 2026
- Guided cruise on the Haut-Rhône aboard the "Le Seyssel", a flat-bottomed wooden boat — five departures from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Two escape games: "Jean du Rhône" in the streets of Seyssel and "En Eaux Troubles" exploring the secrets of water
- Closing show "Histoires naturelles et poétiques" at 6:00 PM, no reservation required
- Activity village at the Place des Festivités from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM: birds, amphibians, hydromachines, nature sketching, Natura 2000
- Entirely free day, spanning both banks of the Rhône in Seyssel
Programme Festiv'Ô Rhône 2026
Saturday, September 5th, 2026 — Activities requiring reservation
- 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 3:30 PM — "Jean du Rhône" Escape Game: an investigation through the streets of Seyssel alongside Jean du Rhône, caught up in a smuggling mission (1h30, children must be accompanied by parents)
- 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM, 5:00 PM — "En Eaux Troubles" Escape Game: observation, teamwork, and logic to unlock the secrets of water (1h, ages 7+, must be accompanied, groups of 6 people max)
- 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM, 5:00 PM — Cruise on "Le Seyssel": a guided tour on the Haut-Rhône aboard a flat-bottomed wooden boat to discover the landscapes and wildlife (1h)
- 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM — Cit'in Crise: a flood simulation to manage as a team (2h, ages 15+)
- 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM — Les marches ïnouies: an immersive sound walk through the soundscapes of the Rhône (1h, ages 10+, must be accompanied)
- 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 3:00 PM — Photography workshop: learn to photograph landscapes and water environments with a professional photographer; bring your own camera or phone (1h30, ages 6+, must be accompanied)
- 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM — Creature of the Rhône and more: discover the river's iconic species and legends, then create your own creature drawing (1h, ages 6+, must be accompanied)
- 10:30 AM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM — Nesting box and shelter workshop: bird nesting boxes at 10:30 AM and 4:00 PM, bat shelters at 2:00 PM (1h30, 1 shelter per group or family, children must be accompanied)
- 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, 3:00 PM — Amphibian identification: learn to recognize species and their life cycles, followed by an origami activity (1h, ages 5+, must be accompanied)
- 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM, 5:00 PM — Kamicyclette Tales, kamishibai (Japanese paper theater) show: pollinators and nocturnal animals at 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM, wetlands at 2:00 PM, aquatic environments at 5:00 PM (45 min, ages 4+, must be accompanied)
- 4:00 PM — Meet Catherine Chion: behind the scenes of the creation of "Jean du Rhône" and her writing process (1h)
Place des Festivités — 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, no reservation required
- Discover the birds of the Rhône: life-size silhouettes, binoculars, and participatory workshops
- The world of amphibians: frogs, salamanders, newts
- Risk culture: natural risks related to the river, prevention, and safety tips
- Hydromachines: manage your own watershed, trigger a flood, and try to save the villages
- Sketching introduction with a professional illustrator
- Haut-Rhône Nature Reserves: French Haut-Rhône National Nature Reserve and Marais de Lavours National Nature Reserve
- Biodiversity Marathon: creation and restoration of hedges, ponds, and natural meadows
- Apprentice botanists: learn to recognize the trees of the Haut-Rhône through games
- Natura 2000: information and discussion space on biodiversity conservation
Closing
- 6:00 PM — "Histoires naturelles et poétiques" show: a musician and an actor celebrate the Rhône and nature through stories about trees, the moon, and animals (1h, ages 10+, must be accompanied, no reservation required)
Prices Festiv'Ô Rhône 2026
Some activities require reservations, slot by slot, via the online ticketing system accessible at haut-rhone.com/festiv-o-rhone.
"En Eaux Troubles" escape game: groups of 6 people maximum (incomplete groups may be joined by other participants).
Nesting box and shelter workshop: 1 shelter per group or family.
The activity village at the Place des Festivités and the 6:00 PM show are accessible without reservation.
Practical information — Festiv'Ô Rhône
Practical Information
Festiv'Ô Rhône is a free and itinerant event: it takes place every year in September in a different municipality along the banks of the Haut-Rhône (Yenne, Seyssel…). The exact location and date are announced annually by the organizer on their website.
Prices
Admission and activities are free for everyone. Some activities (canoe trips, guided walks) require prior registration due to limited availability.
Organizer
Syndicat du Haut-Rhône (SHR)
92 rue des Fontanettes, 73170 Yenne
Tel.: 04 79 36 78 92
Website: haut-rhone.com/festiv-o-rhone
Festiv'Ô Rhône: A day for those who live by the river
Festiv'Ô Rhône is organized by the Syndicat du Haut-Rhône (SHR), the authority responsible for preserving and restoring the aquatic environments of the Rhône and its tributaries, as well as flood prevention across its territory. The festival extends this mission into the field, offering a full day for locals and visitors alike to discover the river, its biodiversity, and the professions that revolve around it.
An itinerant event along the Haut-Rhône
The event has no fixed location; it changes towns every year along the Haut-Rhône, spanning the Savoie, Ain, and Haute-Savoie regions. The 2025 edition takes place on Saturday, September 27th at the Kanoti campsite in Yenne. The 2026 edition will be held on Saturday, September 5th in Seyssel, on both banks of the Rhône. The location and date are announced annually by the organizer on their website.
A free, à la carte program
The concept remains the same each year: multiple sessions are scheduled for each activity, allowing everyone to build their own itinerary. Offerings include guided boat tours, escape games, nature and creative workshops, children's shows, sensory walks, and a village of stalls hosted by local partners, including nature reserves, Natura 2000 sites, and environmental associations. Admission and activities are free; however, timed activities require online booking as space is limited.
The Haut-Rhône: A river to rediscover
Between Lac du Bourget, the Avant-Pays Savoyard, and the Bugey region, the Haut-Rhône flows through exceptional landscapes, including riparian forests, wetlands, marshes, and national nature reserves such as the Haut-Rhône and the Marais de Lavours. Festiv'Ô Rhône provides the keys to understanding these environments through activities designed for all ages, from storytelling for children aged 4 and up to flood management simulations for those 15 and older.
Where does it take place — Festiv'Ô Rhône
Festiv'Ô Rhône in brief
History of Festiv'Ô Rhône
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Yenne
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