Fête des Ponts
The great popular festival on the banks of the Vienne in Limoges
About Fête des Ponts
The Fête des Ponts: The Popular Soul of Limoges
The Fête des Ponts is much more than just a festive event: it is the unmissable gathering for all of Limoges, a moment of popular communion rooted in the city's identity for over a century. Every year, on the second weekend of June, the quays of the Vienne are transformed into a huge party ground where all generations mingle.
A Centenary History Born on the Banks of the Vienne
It was in 1906 that the Fête des Ponts was born, at the initiative of the association "Enfants de la Vienne", in the popular district located between the Pont Saint-Étienne and the Pont Saint-Martial. The inhabitants of this district, nicknamed the Ponticauds — laundresses, fishermen, tannery workers, and boatmen — then organized large nautical festivals that attracted all of Limoges to the banks. This secular and republican festival enjoyed growing success until the First World War, which interrupted the tradition. It wasn't until 1986 that the Comité de la Fête du Pont Saint-Étienne revived this festive spirit, which has been perpetuated without interruption since then.
Three Days of Free Festivities
The Fête des Ponts program unfolds over three intense days of entirely free entertainment. On Friday evening, the Trail des Ponticauds kicks off the festivities with a ten-kilometer night race along the Vienne, followed by a grand popular ball. Saturday is the highlight of the festival with nautical activities: bathtub races, flyboard demonstrations, free jet-ski baptisms, and rowing initiations with the Limoges Rowing Club. Saturday evening is the most spectacular moment with the torchlight descent on the river, the lighting of the traditional Saint-Jean bonfire, and a fireworks display over the Pont Saint-Étienne, followed by a ball with a DJ.
Funfair, Flea Market, and Camaraderie
Throughout the weekend, a funfair is set up on the Quai Louis-Goujaud for the delight of families. Sunday hosts a large flea market and guided walking tours to discover the heritage of the Ponts district. Food stalls offer local specialties, and various activities punctuate each day: lumberjack demonstrations, fishing competitions, board games, and face painting for children. Supported by a hundred passionate volunteers who begin preparations as early as September, the Fête des Ponts embodies the neighborhood spirit and the generosity of the Ponticauds.
Fête des Ponts — edition 2026
The Fête des Ponts returns to the banks of the Vienne in Limoges from June 12 to 14, 2026. For three days, the Ponticauds district vibrates to the rhythm of the nocturnal trail run, bathtub races, the St. John's fire, fireworks over the Saint-Étienne bridge, the popular ball, the flea market, and the funfair. All activities are completely free, organized by the Comité de la Fête du Pont Saint-Étienne.
2026 Edition — June 12 to 14
The 2026 edition of the Fête des Ponts takes place from Friday, June 12 to Sunday, June 14, 2026 on Quai Louis-Goujaud and the banks of the Vienne, around the Saint-Étienne bridge. Three days of entirely free land and water activities, organized by the Comité de la Fête du Pont Saint-Étienne and its hundred volunteers.
A multi-generational festival
On the program: urban trail on Friday evening, nautical jousts, bathtub races and fishing competition on Saturday, flea market and guided hikes on Sunday, funfair all weekend, St. John's fire, fireworks launched over the Saint-Étienne bridge, torchlight descent on the river, popular balls with orchestras and DJs, as well as food and drink stalls on the quays.
The festival perimeter extends from Quai Louis-Goujaud to the port of Naveix, affecting parking and traffic in the Ponts district between June 12 and 16, 2026 (including setup and dismantling).
Programme Fête des Ponts 2026
Friday, June 12, 2026
- From 6:00 PM — Opening of food and drink stalls on Quai Louis-Goujaud
- 8:00 PM — Start of the Trail des Ponticauds (~10 km, two loops along the Vienne and through the narrow streets of the Ponts district) — organized in partnership with ALEFPA
- From 9:00 PM — Evening animated by a DJ and popular ball
Saturday, June 13, 2026
- All day — Land activities: board games, gymnastics demonstrations, children's face painting, parades, two orchestras
- All day — Water activities: jousting demonstrations, rowing races, bathtub races on the Vienne, fishing competition organized by AAPPMA Les Ponticauds
- 2:00 PM — 10:30 PM — Free jet-ski initiations with Emmanuel Jules
- 10:30 PM — Lighting of the St. John's fire
- 10:45 PM — Torchlight descent on the Vienne
- 11:00 PM — Fireworks display launched over the Saint-Étienne bridge
- 11:30 PM — Grand popular ball with the ALOHA orchestra
Sunday, June 14, 2026
- From 7:00 AM — Large flea market on the quays
- From 8:00 AM — 2CV exhibition
- From 9:00 AM — Guided walking tours to discover the Ponts district
- From 11:00 AM — Folkloric entertainment by traditional groups
- From 12:00 PM — Friendly meal on the banks of the Vienne
- From 2:00 PM — Pop-rock concert by the band GOTHAM
Funfair open continuously on Quai Louis-Goujaud from Friday to Sunday. Program communicated by the Destination Limoges Tourist Office, subject to last-minute adjustments.
Highlights Fête des Ponts 2026
- Nocturnal Trail des Ponticauds (~10 km) on Friday, June 12 at 8:00 PM
- Bathtub races and nautical jousts on the Vienne on Saturday, June 13
- Free jet-ski initiations with Emmanuel Jules
- St. John's fire, torchlight descent, and fireworks over the Saint-Étienne bridge on Saturday evening
- Grand popular ball with the ALOHA orchestra on Saturday at 11:30 PM
- Flea market, 2CV exhibition, and pop-rock concert by GOTHAM on Sunday
- Funfair continuously open from Friday to Sunday on Quai Louis-Goujaud
Prices Fête des Ponts 2026
Practical information — Fête des Ponts
Practical Information
Access
By car: Free parking at the Casseaux parking lot (rue Victor-Duruy) and the nautical base parking lot (rue du Port du Naveix). Follow the "Fête des Ponts" signs.
By bus: STCL network, stops near the Pont Saint-Étienne.
Prices
Completely free entry for all activities.
On site
Food and drink stalls. Flat terrain accessible to people with reduced mobility.
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Where does it take place — Fête des Ponts
Bords de Vienne – Pont Saint-Étienne
Quai Louis-Goujaud, 87000 Limoges