Hey Gamins !
The contemporary music festival for children in Chécy
About Hey Gamins !
Hey Gamins !: The festival that shakes up ideas and makes eyes shine
Since 2012, Hey Gamins ! has been the unmissable event for families on the banks of the Loire. Conceived by the City of Chécy and L'Astrolabe, a contemporary music venue in Orléans (SMAC), this free festival celebrates music, creativity, and letting go every year in mid-June at the heart of the Base de loisirs du Val des Pâtures.
The children's kingdom in a wild and gentle universe
Hey Gamins ! is above all an invasion of hyperactive kids who move from concert to concert and bounce between the most outlandish activities. But it's also an artistic universe designed for all ages, where the little ones find moments of gentleness: creative workshops, outdoor readings in the Bibliovore (reading space hosted by the Chécy media library), relaxation areas, and a musical hand-cranked carousel.
A demanding and accessible musical program
Each edition offers a selection of contemporary music concerts specially designed for young audiences, halfway between a show and a rock concert. The invited artists explore various universes — rock, funk, hip-hop, world music, electro, chanson — with humorous lyrics and staging adapted for children. Among the artists who have marked past editions: Radio Tutti, Bénin International Musical, Maman du Congo, Les Frères Casquettes, La Complet Mandingue, Soul Béton, Madalitso Band, Supermarket & Les Futuristes, and Cactus et Mammuth.
Two days of celebration on the banks of the Loire
The festival unfolds over two days: Saturday from 4 PM to 9 PM and Sunday from 12 PM to 7:30 PM. The program, in addition to concerts, includes a multitude of free activities: artisanal screen printing, workshops in partnership with the FRAC Centre-Val de Loire, drawing and comic strip contests (Carnets de Sel), wooden games, agility courses, entertainment from the town's youth service, and street performances. Food trucks and a bar are available on-site, and picnics are allowed.
A renewed theme each year
Each edition of Hey Gamins ! revolves around an original theme that permeates the programming, scenography, and workshops. The 2025 edition immersed families in the world of Western, while the 2026 edition explores a futuristic imagination under the title Joy Play and Robot, where robots and humans coexist to invent an ideal future blending technology, nature, and harmony.
A committed and accessible festival
Admission is always free, without reservation, true to the festival's popular and family-oriented mission. Access is encouraged by carpooling, bicycle, or bus (TAO network). Supported by the City of Chécy, Orléans Métropole, and the Centre-Val de Loire Region, Hey Gamins ! attracts several thousand visitors each year in a joyful and welcoming atmosphere.
Hey Gamins ! — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Hey Gamins! will take place on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the Base de loisirs du Val des Pâtures in Chécy, on the theme Joy Play and Robot. This youth festival, organized by L'Astrolabe and the City of Chécy, explores an imaginary future where circuits, robots, and humans coexist joyfully. The program includes concerts, creative workshops, whimsical activities, and immersive experiences, all with free admission.
2026 Edition — Joy Play and Robot
The 14th edition of the Hey Gamins! festival invites families to explore a future where circuits come alive and children become inventors, dream programmers, and creators of a world where technology rhymes with celebration. For two days, the Base de loisirs du Val des Pâtures transforms into a huge whimsical, playful, and festive laboratory, along the Canal d'Orléans.
Hours
- Saturday, June 13, 2026: 4:00 PM → 9:15 PM
- Sunday, June 14, 2026: 12:00 PM → 7:30 PM
The Festival
Organized by L'Astrolabe (Orléans contemporary music venue) and the City of Chécy, Hey Gamins! is the essential youth event in the Orléans metropolitan area. On the menu: six concerts for young and old ears, workshops led by artists and associations, and a large activity area offered by the Youth and Activities department of the City of Chécy.
On Site
Bar and food trucks on site, picnic possible. Bike path along the canal and bike parking. Access by bus from Orléans via TAO network lines 8, 15, 56, 64, and 65. Car parks near the gymnase des plantes and next to the football stands.
Programme Hey Gamins ! 2026
Saturday, June 13, 2026 — 4:00 PM → 9:15 PM
Concerts
- 4:20 PM → 5:00 PM — Boom Boom Kids (percussive and mischievous show)
- 6:15 PM → 7:15 PM — Boum Shakalaka (participatory hip-hop, breakdance, beatbox, DJing)
- 7:15 PM → 8:15 PM — Le Bal de Pat Kalla (mixed-genre dance party reinventing songs chosen by children)
Performances
- 5:00 PM → 5:30 PM — Professeure Postérieur (offbeat aerobics ceremony)
- 5:30 PM → 6:15 PM and 8:15 PM → 8:45 PM — La Turfu Academy (karaoke of the future)
Workshops and Activities
- 4:00 PM → 6:00 PM — Heading for Superpolis: become the architect of the future! (science fiction vehicles, Salzburg Superpolis fresco)
- 4:00 PM → 7:00 PM — Futurarium (cosmic makeup, interactive installations, live electronic music)
- 4:00 PM → 8:00 PM — Silkscreen workshop by Atelier Pomme
- 4:00 PM → 9:00 PM — Activities in all its forms (Chécy Youth Service): Takeoff to the moon, Clubber Hit DJ set, Journey to the center of the universe, Planet Factory, Space Battle, Time Capsule, etc.
- 4:00 PM → 9:00 PM — Au Bibliovore (reading area by Chécy library)
- 4:00 PM → 9:00 PM — Mission Décollage (Les Petits Débrouillards — rockets and aerospace)
- 9:15 PM — Site closes
Sunday, June 14, 2026 — 12:00 PM → 7:30 PM
Concerts
- 1:30 PM → 2:30 PM — Madalitso Band (Malawian trance, babatone bass and traditional banjo)
- 3:15 PM → 4:05 PM — Epiq Les P'tites Oreilles (rock, blues, metal for little ears)
- 5:45 PM → 6:45 PM — Gangbé Brass Band (Beninese brass band, traditional rhythms and Afro-American heritage)
Performances
- 2:30 PM → 3:15 PM and 4:35 PM → 5:15 PM — La Turfu Academy (karaoke of the future)
- 4:05 PM → 4:35 PM — Professeure Postérieur (wild and grotesque aerobics)
Workshops and Activities
- 12:00 PM → 6:30 PM — Silkscreen workshop by Atelier Pomme
- 12:00 PM → 7:00 PM — Librairie Jaune Citron: make your future reading glasses
- 12:00 PM → 7:00 PM — Carnet de Sel: Turfu Machine, absurd poems, improbable animals, dedications
- 12:00 PM → 7:00 PM — 24h de la Biodiversité « Re-pollinisons le monde » (with L'Abeille de Chécy and L'Abeille abraysienne)
- 12:00 PM → 7:00 PM — Mission Décollage (Les Petits Débrouillards)
- 12:00 PM → 7:00 PM — Activities in all its forms: On the road (alien solidarity challenge), Sun beret, Re-pollinate the world (eco-citizen future class)
- 2:00 PM → 5:00 PM — Futurarium
- 7:30 PM — Site closes
Highlights Hey Gamins ! 2026
- Free youth festival organized by L'Astrolabe and the City of Chécy
- 2026 Theme: Joy Play and Robot — a future where humans and robots coexist joyfully
- 6 concerts including Madalitso Band, Gangbé Brass Band, Boum Shakalaka, and Le Bal de Pat Kalla
- Science workshops (Les Petits Débrouillards), silkscreen printing, reading, biodiversity, and beekeeping
- The Futurarium: immersive experience with cosmic makeup and interactive installations
- La Turfu Academy: karaoke of the future to become the star of the intergalactic show
- On the banks of the Canal d'Orléans, accessible by bike and bus from Orléans
Prices Hey Gamins ! 2026
Practical information — Hey Gamins !
Practical Information
Location
Base de loisirs du Val des Pâtures — Chemin du Port, 45430 Chécy (near the municipal campsite, on the banks of the Loire).
Hours
- Saturday: 4 PM to 9 PM
- Sunday: 12 PM to 7:30 PM
Prices
Free admission, no reservation required.
Access
By bus: TAO network from Orléans.
By bike: La Loire à Vélo route passes nearby.
By car: Parking available at the leisure center. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
On-site
Bar and food trucks. Picnics allowed. Shaded areas and relaxation spots.
Contact
L'Astrolabe — Tel: 02 38 54 20 06 — Email: [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Hey Gamins !
Base de loisirs du Val des Pâtures
Chemin du Port, 45430 Chécy