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.