Fête des Airelles-Myrtilles
Edition 2026 Gastronomy Local Produce Farmers' Market

Fête des Airelles-Myrtilles

The iconic festival of the blueberry from the Hautes Chaumes du Forez

Sauvain — Loire (42) Since 1975
Dates 14 Aug — 15 Aug 2026
Location Sauvain (42)
Prices 5.00€ — 5.00€
Status

About Airelles-Myrtilles

Every August 14th and 15th, the characterful village of Sauvain, perched at over 900 meters altitude in the Hautes Chaumes du Forez, celebrates the wild blueberries and bilberries, emblematic fruits of its mountains. Created in 1975 by the village youth club, then taken over by the Festival Committee in 1983, this popular festival attracts 2,000 to 3,000 visitors each year with a local producers' market, folk groups, a visit to the Fourme and Traditions Museum, and especially the tasting of the "sauvagnet" — a blueberry fritter whose name is a contraction of "Sauvain" and "beignet" (fritter), made by the village bakers only once a year, exclusively for this festival. Entrance: €5, free for children under 12 and from 4 PM.

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The Fête des Airelles-Myrtilles: Half a Century of Tradition in Sauvain

Since 1975, the village of Sauvain, nestled in the heart of the Hautes Chaumes du Forez in the Loire region, has paid tribute to bilberries and blueberries, these small purple wild fruits that grow naturally on the high-altitude plateaus of the massif. Every August 14th and 15th, this characterful village — the birthplace of fourme de Montbrison — comes alive for a popular festival that has become one of the unmissable summer events in the Loire department.

The Sauvagnet: A World-Unique Blueberry Fritter

The undisputed star of the festival is the sauvagnet, whose name is a contraction of "Sauvain" and "beignet" (fritter). It is a large, thick pancake tinged purple by the blueberries used in its preparation. The village bakers make this fritter only once a year, exclusively for the Fête des Airelles-Myrtilles, making it an absolutely unique specialty. Tasting a hot sauvagnet in the village streets is to savor a tradition that can be experienced nowhere else.

From Popular Origins to a Recognized Regional Festival

The history of this festivity dates back to 1975, when the village's youth club came up with the original idea of highlighting the bilberries and blueberries that grow on the high pastures of the Hautes Chaumes. While the initiative came from the young people of the time, it was the Festival Committee of Sauvain that took over the organization in 1983, structuring the event and giving it the scale it has today. Since 1998, the Museum of Fourme and Traditions (Maison Sauvagnarde) has been a partner of the festival, enriching the program with exhibitions and demonstrations of ancient know-how.

A Festive Program Combining Terroir, Folklore, and Heritage

The festival begins on the evening of August 14th with a convivial meal and a free open-air cinema for all ages. August 15th, the main day, offers a dense program:

  • Local Producers' Market: Cheesemakers, charcutiers, beekeepers, and artisans from Forez and Monts du Forez present their specialties.
  • Sale of bilberries and blueberries (subject to availability) and tasting of sauvagnets in the village.
  • Folk Groups: Traditional dances and music from Forez and Auvergne animate the village streets.
  • Sport Woodcutting Show: Impressive demonstrations of axe and chainsaw woodcutting.
  • Museum of Fourme and Traditions: Open from 10 AM to 6:30 PM, it showcases on 800 m² the making of fourme de Montbrison, the operation of the hydraulic reciprocating saw, clog making, and a dozen exhibitions on past life in the Monts du Forez.
  • Family Activities: Clown show, dog trainer, exhibition of vintage tractors and cars, BMX.

The lunch on August 15th, served in the countryside area, features blueberry dishes with a menu including beef shoulder in blueberry sauce, potatoes, fourme cheese, and blueberries for dessert.

The Hautes Chaumes: A Natural Setting for Wild Blueberries

The Hautes Chaumes du Forez, vast high-altitude plateaus (1,200 to 1,640 m) located on the border between the Loire and Puy-de-Dôme departments, are the natural habitat of wild blueberries and bilberries. These heather and blueberry moors, swept by the winds, are protected areas with remarkable natural heritage. However, climatic hazards — hail, late frosts, drought — regularly threaten the fresh blueberry harvest, reminding us of the fragility of this wild fruit and the importance of celebrating it.

Airelles-Myrtilles — edition 2026

51st edition of the Fête des Airelles-Myrtilles in Sauvain. Two days of festivities around the blueberry from the Hautes Chaumes du Forez: local producers' market, folk groups, visit to the Museum of Fourme and Traditions, sauvagnet tasting, shows, and open-air family activities.

51st Edition — August 14th and 15th, 2026

The Fête des Airelles-Myrtilles returns for its 51st edition on Friday, August 14th, and Saturday, August 15th, 2026 in Sauvain, in the heart of the Hautes Chaumes du Forez. After a historic 50th edition that attracted between 2,000 and 3,000 visitors in 2025, the Sauvain Festival Committee is preparing a new festive program celebrating the blueberry, the emblematic fruit of the Forez mountains.

Expected Program

As every year, the festival will begin on the evening of August 14th with a convivial meal and open-air cinema. August 15th, the Assumption Day, will be dedicated to the main festivities:

  • Local Producers' Market bringing together artisans and producers from Forez and Monts du Forez
  • Sauvagnet Tasting, the famous blueberry fritters made only once a year by the village bakers
  • Sale of bilberries and blueberries (subject to availability depending on climatic conditions)
  • Folk Groups with traditional dances and music
  • Museum of Fourme and Traditions open all day: exhibitions, hydraulic reciprocating saw, clog making, and fourme making
  • Shows and Activities: sport woodcutting, children's shows, vintage vehicle exhibition
  • Festive meals at noon and in the evening in the countryside area

The complete program will be announced in the summer of 2026 by the Sauvain Festival Committee.

Highlights Airelles-Myrtilles 2026

  • 51st edition of the Fête des Airelles-Myrtilles
  • August 14th and 15th, 2026 in Sauvain (Loire)
  • Tasting of sauvagnets, the unique blueberry fritter of Sauvain
  • Local producers' market from Forez
  • Folk groups — traditional dances and music
  • Museum of Fourme and Traditions
  • Family shows and activities
  • Open-air cinema on the evening of August 14th
  • Single price: €5, free for children under 12 and from 4 PM

Prices Airelles-Myrtilles 2026

Single price: €5 (access to the entire festival). Free for children under 12. Free from 4 PM. Meals by reservation (prices to be confirmed).

Practical information — Airelles-Myrtilles

Practical Information

Access and Transport

By car: Sauvain is located 25 km northwest of Montbrison via the D496, in the Monts du Forez. From Saint-Étienne (approx. 1h15), take the direction of Montbrison then follow the signs for "Sauvain / Col de la Loge". From Lyon (approx. 1h45), take the A72 towards Saint-Étienne, exit Montbrison.

Parking: Free parking on the outskirts of the village.

Location

The festival takes place in the village of Sauvain and on the countryside area, in the heart of the village.

Opening Hours

  • Thursday, August 14: 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM (school meal and open-air cinema)
  • Friday, August 15: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM (full day of activities, market, meals, shows)

Prices

  • Single price: €5 (access to the entire festival)
  • Free for children under 12 years old
  • Free from 4:00 PM
  • Lunch on August 15: €14 (beef shoulder in blueberry sauce, potatoes, fourme cheese, blueberries) — reservation required
  • Evening countryside meal: €9
  • School meal (August 14): €10 — reservation required

Catering

Meals served in the countryside area at noon and in the evening on August 15th. Refreshment stands, sale of sauvagnets and blueberry products throughout the day. The lunch on August 15th offers a festive menu with beef shoulder in blueberry sauce — booking recommended.

Meal Reservations

Phone: 06 31 34 27 25

Contact

  • Comité des fêtes de Sauvain
  • Phone: 06 89 42 33 69
  • Musée de la Fourme et des Traditions: 04 77 76 30 04
  • Mairie de Sauvain: 04 77 76 81 60
  • Museum Website: www.museedelafourme.com

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Where does it take place — Airelles-Myrtilles

Le Bourg et le Terrain champêtre de Sauvain

Le Bourg, 42990 Sauvain

Contact Airelles-Myrtilles

Tel
+33 6 89 42 33 69

Airelles-Myrtilles in brief

Gastronomy Local Produce Farmers' Market Mountain Folk Traditions Folklore Family Outdoor Free Loire

History of Airelles-Myrtilles