Festival Boucan !

Boucan! The street arts festival in Digne-les-Bains

Since its first edition in 2022, the Festival Boucan! has established itself as a key cultural event in Digne-les-Bains and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department. Supported by the association La Chamade, founded in the fall of 2020 by a collective of about ten residents of Digne, this festival aims to contribute to the cultural and social dynamism of the city and its surroundings.

A festival rooted in public space

The Festival Boucan! takes over the city center of Digne-les-Bains for an entire day, from early afternoon until late at night. The shows unfold in several emblematic locations: the courtyard of the Paul Martin school hosts street theater, aerial dance, and contemporary circus performances in the afternoon, while the Cours des Arès transforms into a concert stage for the evening.

This artistic occupation of public space is at the heart of the festival's philosophy: to bring art out of the performance halls and make it accessible to everyone, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Spectators find themselves closer to the artists, in a proximity that fosters exchange and emotion.

An eclectic and demanding program

Each edition of the Festival Boucan! offers a program that blends different live art disciplines: street theater, aerial dance, contemporary circus, acrobatics, puppetry, street opera, and music. The invited companies, from the departmental and regional artistic scene, offer original creations accessible to all audiences.

The afternoons are dedicated to street performances, usually with three consecutive shows in the courtyard of the Paul Martin school. The evenings continue at the Cours des Arès with concerts of various styles: world music, brass bands, Brazilian samba, Greek music, and DJ sets mixing afrobeat, kuduro, and deep house. A master of ceremonies ensures smooth transitions between shows, creating a festive thread throughout the day.

A popular and committed event

True to its values of accessibility, the Festival Boucan! operates on the principle of free participation via hat collection, allowing everyone to contribute according to their means. This approach reflects the commitment of the association La Chamade to open culture without financial barriers. A bar and light catering are available throughout the day, contributing to the event's friendly atmosphere.

The festival is open to all audiences, from families with children to street art enthusiasts, and is a special moment of meeting and sharing in the heart of the Digne city. Since its creation, it has continued to grow, attracting an ever-larger audience and increasingly prestigious companies each year.