L'Été Buissonnier — Shows and concerts in the Thann-Cernay Community of Communes

A festival born from the desire to bring culture to the villages

L'Été Buissonnier is an open-air traveling festival created in 2023 by the Cultural Affairs department of the Thann-Cernay Community of Communes (CCTC). Its ambition is to offer free cultural evenings as close as possible to the residents, in communes that do not always have dedicated cultural facilities. By taking over village squares, schoolyards, and communal meadows, the festival transforms everyday places into ephemeral open-air stages, creating moments of sharing and discovery for all generations.

A traveling format between the valley and the foothills

Each summer, L'Été Buissonnier schedules five to six evenings spread from July to the end of August in communes within the territory. The locations change from one edition to the next: Roderen (village hall parking), Wattwiller (place des Tilleuls), Bourbach-le-Haut (Foyer rural meadow), Aspach-le-Bas (courtyard of Espace Joséphine), Bitschwiller-lès-Thann (village hall) or Steinbach. This cultural nomadism allows it to reach a diverse audience and spread throughout the intercommunal territory, from the bottom of the Thur valley to the slopes of the Vosges foothills.

Professional artists and amateur competition

The originality of L'Été Buissonnier lies in its pairing of professional artists and local amateur talents. Each evening is divided into two parts: the first part features the winners of the Amateur Artistic Competition, an event organized each year by the CCTC at the Relais Culturel Intercommunal de Thann, who take the stage to share their art. The second part features a professional company with a street performance, circus show, song, or theater performance. Among the artists invited in recent years: Cie Les Objets Volants (new circus), Cie L'Arbre à Vache (street theater and magic), as well as French chanson, pop-folk, and blues bands.

Friendly outdoor evenings

L'Été Buissonnier cultivates a spirit of village festival. Local associations run refreshment stands and light food stalls, extending the evenings in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The shows generally start in the late afternoon, at 5 p.m., allowing families to enjoy the event with children. In case of bad weather, indoor alternatives are planned in each commune. Admission is completely free, in line with the community of communes' commitment to cultural accessibility.

A springboard for local amateur artists

The Tremplin de l'Été Buissonnier, organized each year in February or March at the Relais Culturel Intercommunal de Thann, is open to all amateur artists with at least one member residing in the CCTC territory. Six artists or groups are selected by a jury to perform in the opening act of the summer evenings, in front of an audience of over a thousand spectators cumulatively throughout the season. This initiative provides a real showcase for local talent and strengthens the festival's local roots.