Fête de l'Ail Blanc de Lomagne

Beaumont-de-Lomagne, city of white garlic

Beaumont-de-Lomagne, a royal bastide founded in 1276, is the historical heart of the Gers and Tarn-et-Garonne Lomagne, a region of cereal and market gardening renowned for the exceptional quality of its white garlic. The Fête de l'Ail Blanc de Lomagne was born from the desire of local producers and their unions to promote this iconic agricultural product, cultivated in the rich clay-limestone soils of Lomagne for centuries.

Each year, in mid-summer, the town comes alive to the rhythm of this great peasant and gourmet celebration that brings together residents, producers, and visitors from all over the Occitanie region. The 2025 edition, organized on July 20, 2025, marks an exceptional anniversary: the 30th anniversary of the festival.

The 14th-century medieval halls, a unique setting

The heart of the festival beats under the 14th-century Gothic halls of Beaumont-de-Lomagne, one of the finest examples of medieval civil architecture in the Southwest. These wooden and brick halls, built in the 14th century, have always housed the town's weekly market. Classified as a historic monument, they offer a splendid and authentic architectural setting for the festival, giving the event a heritage and cultural dimension that no other hall in the region can match.

A market of IGP white garlic producers

The morning of the festival is dedicated to the grand market of Lomagne white garlic producers. Grown using traditional practices, Lomagne white garlic benefits from an Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) which guarantees its origin and quality. Fresh or dried in braids, bundles, or nets, it is displayed in abundance under the halls and in the central square, allowing visitors to buy this product, known for its culinary and medicinal virtues since antiquity, directly from the producers.

Alongside white garlic, other local producers offer products from the Lomagne and Tarn-et-Garonne region: melons, tomatoes, green beans, free-range poultry, artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, jams, honeys, and regional wines.

The meal for 1,000 people

The highlight of the day is undoubtedly the grand meal for 1,000 people, served outdoors in the central square of the bastide. This popular banquet, organized by local associations and producers, offers a menu worthy of the finest Gascon traditions:

• Garlic soup (Tourin à l'ail): Traditional Gascon soup made with white garlic, eggs, and bread, drizzled with white wine, the absolute culinary emblem of Lomagne
• Duck confit: Generous duck legs preserved according to the ancestral recipe of the producers, served with Sarladaise potatoes and Tarbais beans
• Desserts and regional wines to conclude a meal worthy of Gascon generosity

This giant meal, a true institution, brings together guests from all over Lomagne and beyond in an atmosphere of popular joy and conviviality that perpetuates the traditions of the great rural feasts of the Gers and Tarn-et-Garonne.

Entertainment and festivities

The day is punctuated by numerous festive activities: traditional and popular music concerts, brass bands, Occitan dances, costume parades evoking the rural traditions of Lomagne, games, and activities for children. Local artisans and creators exhibit their works, making the festival a cultural as well as a gastronomic event.

30 years of tradition in 2025

In 2025, the Fête de l'Ail Blanc de Lomagne celebrates its 30 years of existence. Launched in the 1990s by producers from the cooperative and local elected officials to promote Lomagne white garlic against international competition, the festival has grown over the decades to become a major event in the festive calendar of Tarn-et-Garonne. It has contributed since its inception to the reputation of the Lomagne garlic sector, the promotion of regional agricultural heritage, and the economic and tourist dynamism of Beaumont-de-Lomagne.