Hep Hep Hep — Street Arts Festival

A street arts festival in Charente

Hep Hep Hep is a street arts festival held every two years in Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure, a town in eastern Charente. Organized by the Tout Par Terre company, based in the region since 1999, this festival was launched in 2023, succeeding the event La Charente fait son Cirque which existed until 2021. With Hep Hep Hep, the company has broadened the artistic spectrum beyond circus to encompass all street arts: theater, circus, dance, music, and itinerant shows.

A weekend of outdoor performances

The festival unfolds over three days in June, transforming the streets, squares, and green spaces of Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure into as many performance stages. Friday is reserved for school performances, while Saturday and Sunday are open to the general public from 11 am. During the 2025 edition, 18 companies from France, Italy, Belgium, and Argentina presented 30 performances with varied artistic forms: juggling, acrobatics, clowning, physical theater, itinerant brass bands, and musical performances.

An eco-responsible commitment

Hep Hep Hep is distinguished by its environmental commitment. The festival implements concrete actions: use of recycled materials, selective sorting, dry toilets, encouragement of carpooling, and sourcing from short supply chains for catering. A crafts market complements the offer, allowing festival-goers to discover local know-how while enjoying food.

Activities and conviviality

Beyond the shows, Hep Hep Hep offers numerous activities: a dynamogenous stand, the mechanical carousel La Toupine, wooden games, a graffiti workshop, and a crafts market. The festival is also a place for meeting and conviviality, where volunteers, artists, and spectators mingle in a festive and relaxed atmosphere. The Tout Par Terre company mobilizes the local community — businesses, shopkeepers, artisans, and volunteers — to bring this unifying event to life.