Festival of Threshing and Old Trades

50th Threshing Festival - Montreverd, August 3, 2025

The 50th edition of the Festival of Threshing and Old Trades was held on Sunday, August 3, 2025, in Montreverd, under a generous sun. This exceptional jubilee brought together thousands of visitors to celebrate half a century of passion for Vendée's rural heritage.

From the opening, the steam engines were started with a concert of whistles and white steam, powering the threshers that devoured sheaves of wheat before the amazed eyes of young and old. The 300 volunteers in period costumes recreated with remarkable fidelity the gestures of threshing: binders, straw men, baggers, and machine operators working in unison as in the early 20th century.

The village of old trades hosted dozens of artisans: blacksmith, wheelwright, saddler, wicker worker, clog maker, baker with wood-fired oven, washerwoman, cider press, and walnut oil mill. Demonstrations of traditional Vendée dance and folkloric musical performances provided the festive and musical touch to this great popular day. Local catering delighted guests with peasant recipes of yesteryear.

For this half-century milestone, participants from the early editions (1973-1980) were invited to share their memories, and a photographic exhibition retracing the 50 years of the festival was presented to the public.

Sunday, August 3, 2025 - 50th Edition

• 10:00 AM: Site opening - village of old trades
• 10:00 AM: Steam engines start-up
• 10:30 AM: Wheat threshing begins - steam engine and thresher show
• 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM: Demonstrations of old trades: blacksmith, wheelwright, saddler, wicker worker, clog maker
• 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM: Baker at the wood-fired oven - bread baking
• 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM: Cider press, walnut oil mill
• 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM: Educational farm and farm animals
• 11:00 AM: Parade of volunteers in period costumes
• 12:00 PM: Local lunch on site (paid catering)
• 2:00 PM: Traditional Vendée dance performances
• All day: Photo exhibition - 50 Years of the Threshing Festival (1973-2025)
• All day: Tribute to participants from the early editions
• All day: Horse-drawn plowing, traditional haymaking
• 4:00 PM: Concert of musicians and songs from the Vendée bocage

• 50th anniversary: half a century of Vendée rural heritage
• Wheat threshing with steam engines (unique show in Vendée)
• 300 volunteers in period costumes recreating the gestures of yesteryear
• Village of old trades: blacksmith, wheelwright, clog maker, baker, wicker worker
• Horse-drawn plowing and traditional haymaking
• 50 Years of the festival photographic exhibition
• Tribute to participants from the early editions (1973)
• Traditional Vendée dance and folkloric performances
• Local catering on site
• Completely free admission