Kiss Balade

ℹ️ Festival discontinued. The Kiss Balade is no longer held in Saint-Étienne-Lardeyrol. The 5th and last documented edition in this village dates back to 2010; the event then moved elsewhere in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes under the name CHaM Festival (Néronde, Valaurie) until around 2012, with no known resumption since. No 2026 edition is scheduled. This page is kept for documentary purposes.

Kiss Balade: a citizen eco-festival in the heart of Haute-Loire

Created in 2007 by the Kiss'Balade association, founded in November 2006 in Villeurbanne, the Kiss Balade festival was established in Saint-Étienne-Lardeyrol, a village perched on the high plateaus of Velay, in Haute-Loire. The event had a strong ambition: to raise public awareness of eco-citizenship through culture, music, and social connection, in an authentic rural setting at an altitude of 800 meters.

An eclectic and family-friendly program

The festival unfolded over two to three days around August 15th. The marquee evenings offered a rich and eclectic musical program, mixing rock, reggae, French chanson, world music, folk, and discoveries from the emerging scene. Among the artists who graced the Kiss Balade stage, we can mention Fat Bastard Gang Band, Deadwood, Naouack, Paté Crou, F.I.O.N, Lily Luca, and Bastien.

During the day, it was time for shows for all audiences: clowns, circus, puppets, and acrobatics delighted young and old. The company Mine de Rien - Cie Poil à Gratter notably animated several editions with its quirky and poetic shows. An open stage also allowed amateur artists to perform in a benevolent atmosphere.

An eco-citizen village

Beyond music and live performance, Kiss Balade stood out for its ecological and participatory commitment. The festival hosted:

• A market of local producers and artisans
• An associative forum bringing together local actors of the social and solidarity economy
• Rural conferences on environment, agriculture, and eco-citizenship
• A children's area with games, workshops, and dedicated activities
• A relaxation area with massages and relaxation

Catering was entirely conceived with an eco-responsible approach: organic, local, and vegetarian products, offered at a pay-what-you-want price. The craft bar offered local beers and fair trade drinks. Camping was possible on site, under the August full moon, in a friendly and nature-respecting spirit.

An itinerant and committed festival

Born in Saint-Étienne-Lardeyrol, the festival had several editions between 2007 and 2010 before expanding to other localities in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, notably in Valaurie in Drôme and Néronde in Loire, under the name CHaM Festival. Driven by a team of passionate volunteers, Kiss Balade managed to create a unique event combining culture, ecology, and rural conviviality, becoming a reference among the region's eco-festivals.

With its 5th and last known edition in Saint-Étienne-Lardeyrol, the festival gathered several hundred festival-goers in this small village in Haute-Loire, proving that an ambitious cultural event can be born and thrive in a rural environment, driven by values of solidarity, respect for the environment, and sharing. It no longer seems to be held today; if a new edition were to be organized, it would be announced by the association.