Festival Rues de l'Étang

Street Arts Festival around the Berre Pond

The Festival Rues de l'Étang is a unique cultural event that unites three towns in the west of the Berre pond — Istres, Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts, and Saint-Chamas — around a common passion for street arts. Every first weekend of August, circus, street theater, mime, acrobatics, clown, and juggling companies take over the squares, alleys, and heritage sites of these three towns to offer a rich and eclectic program, accessible to all audiences and all ages.

An itinerant festival across three towns

The originality of the Festival Rues de l'Étang lies in its itinerant nature. On Friday evening, the shows begin in Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts, at the Massane beach, with a large-scale performance in the early evening. On Saturday, the festival moves to Saint-Chamas, where five shows take place from 5:45 PM to 10:15 PM in the village streets. On Sunday, the Rues de l'Étang take over the city center of Istres as part of the Fêtes d'Istres, with shows throughout the day, starting at 10:15 AM.

Château des Baumes, a heritage site and performance venue

For several editions, the Château des Baumes in Istres has been integrated into the festival's performance venues. This heritage site offers a striking setting for aerial circus shows, physical theater, and artistic installations. Exhibitions are also presented there, such as Énergie en mouvement, visible from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM, enriching the public's cultural experience.

A free and unifying event

All performances of the Festival Rues de l'Étang are free and open to all in the three towns. This free access, supported by the partner municipalities, makes this event a moment of intergenerational sharing where families, children, and lovers of live arts come together in a festive and relaxed atmosphere. With about twenty performances and a dozen companies programmed, the festival offers a complete panorama of contemporary street arts.