Festival Petit Patapon

A unique festival dedicated to toddlers

The Festival Petit Patapon was born in 2009 from a desire to offer toddlers and their families a quality cultural event, adapted to their age and needs. Supported by the association CGA (Cran Gevrier Animation), based at 21 rue du Vernay in Annecy, the festival has become over the years a must-attend event for early childhood in Haute-Savoie, attracting hundreds of families each year in a dozen towns.

A traveling festival at the heart of the territory

The originality of Petit Patapon lies in its traveling nature. For a month, from early April to early May, the festival travels through the towns of the Annecy basin — Annecy, Cran-Gevrier, Seynod, Meythet, Annecy-le-Vieux, Faverges-Seythenex, and other towns in Haute-Savoie — to offer shows and activities directly in media libraries, community halls, nurseries, and local cultural spaces. This itinerant approach allows it to reach a wide audience and promote access to culture for all, including in more remote towns.

A program designed for artistic awakening

Each edition of the festival offers a rich and varied program: live performances designed for very young audiences (theater, puppets, dance, music), adapted film screenings, readings by storytellers, creative workshops, and educational games. The artists and companies programmed specialize in creation for early childhood, ensuring shows adapted to the sensitivity and attention span of 0-6 year olds.

The 2026 edition, celebrating the festival's 18th anniversary, invites people to connect generations through an intergenerational theme, combining readings, cinema, activities, and shows that create bridges between grandparents, parents, and children.

An accessible and family-friendly festival

Many festival activities are free, and paid shows remain at very affordable prices. Petit Patapon is designed for families: strollers welcome, changing facilities, schedules adapted to the rhythms of toddlers. The festival contributes to making early childhood a highlight of cultural life in Haute-Savoie, going far beyond simple entertainment.