La Déferlante
Free music and street arts festival on the Atlantic coast
About La Déferlante
Created in 1994 by three seaside towns in the Pays de la Loire region, the La Déferlante network now brings together 13 resorts on the Atlantic coast, from Saint-Brévin-les-Pins to La Tranche-sur-Mer, around a free open-air cultural program. In Pornic, the festival takes over the Jardin de Retz, Place Macé, and Place du Môle each year to offer street performances, circus, theater, dance, and puppet shows. La Déferlante is divided into two main events: La Déferlante de Printemps during the Ascension weekend, and La Déferlante d'Été from July to August. Since its beginnings with about twenty companies, the network now programs over 100 national and international companies each season, attracting around 100,000 spectators across all the towns. In Pornic, the network's host town in 2023, performances take place in unique locations that allow visitors to discover, in addition to live performances, the local and historical heritage of the port city on the Côte de Jade. The festival prioritizes cultural awareness and democratization, offering free access to quality performances for all audiences without exception.
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La Déferlante: The cultural wave of the Atlantic coast
Since 1994, La Déferlante has brought together seaside towns on the Atlantic coast around a common project: to offer everyone, free of charge and in the open air, a quality artistic program. Born from the desire to extend the "Les Arts au Soleil" operation, which disappeared in the early 1990s, the network has continuously grown to become one of the most popular street arts festivals in France.
Pornic, land of shows
In Pornic, La Déferlante transforms the most beautiful sites in the city into open-air stages. The Jardin de Retz, a true green setting in the heart of the city, hosts the majority of the performances in an intimate and friendly atmosphere. Place Macé and Place du Môle, facing the old port and the castle, offer a spectacular setting for large-scale street performances. The green space of the Clion-sur-Mer town hall annexe completes the setup by opening the festival to the peripheral neighborhoods.
Two seasons, one energy
The festival unfolds in two annual highlights. La Déferlante de Printemps, programmed each year during the Ascension weekend since 2007, launches the cultural season with street theater, circus, and puppet shows in a family-friendly atmosphere. La Déferlante d'Été, programmed from July to August since 1995, offers a wider range of street arts, contemporary music concerts, world music, dance, contemporary circus, and visual performances.
A network of 13 towns
The strength of La Déferlante lies in its network organization. The 13 member towns — Saint-Brévin-les-Pins, Pornic, Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, Barbâtre, La Barre-de-Monts-Fromentine, Notre-Dame-de-Monts, Saint-Jean-de-Monts, Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Brétignolles-sur-Mer, Brem-sur-Mer, Jard-sur-Mer, and La Tranche-sur-Mer — pool their resources to program high-level national and international companies. Each town has its own programmer, ensuring a program adapted to local specificities.
All street arts disciplines
La Déferlante covers all street arts disciplines: street theater, contemporary circus, puppetry, dance, music, visual performances, brass bands, and parades. Companies take over public spaces to create unique moments of sharing, where the line between artists and spectators blurs for a joyful and unifying collective experience.
La Déferlante — edition 2025
The 31st edition of La Déferlante returns to Pornic with a program running from May 30 to August 13, 2025. La Déferlante de Printemps, on May 30 and 31 at the Jardin de Retz, features "Le Roi des Petits-Boutistes" and "G.R.A.I.N. — Histoire de fous." In summer, from July 15 to August 13, six shows will take over the Jardin de Retz, Place Macé, Place du Môle, and the Clion-sur-Mer space with circus, street theater, and free concerts.
La Déferlante 2025 in Pornic — 31st Edition
For its 31st edition, La Déferlante offers Pornic a rich and varied program between spring and summer 2025, true to its mission of free, open-air cultural democratization.
La Déferlante de Printemps — May 30 and 31, 2025
The Ascension weekend opens the season at the Jardin de Retz with two shows:
- "Le Roi des Petits-Boutistes" — Object theater where the egg is at the center of a political comedy inspired by Jonathan Swift. Performances at 3 PM and 6:30 PM, duration 50 minutes, for ages 6+.
- "G.R.A.I.N. — Histoire de fous" by Cie Mmm... Théâtre Marie-Magdeleine — A farce about the representation of madness, evoking Schumann, Van Gogh, Marilyn, and Batman. Saturday, May 31 at 5 PM.
La Déferlante d'Été — July 15 to August 13, 2025
Six shows will take over Pornic's iconic venues:
- July 15, 9 PM — Jardin de Retz: "Mort ou Vif" by Silembloc Cie
- July 21, 6:30 PM — Jardin de Retz: "Pile Poil" by Cie des Plumés
- July 31, 8:30 PM — Place Macé: "Les Misérables" by Cie Les Batteurs de Pavés
- August 6, 6:30 PM — Green space, Clion-sur-Mer town hall annexe: "Un Verano Naranja" by Tuga
- August 13, 6:30 PM — Place du Môle: "Rencontre du 2ème Type" by Potsikei
- August 13, 8 PM — Place du Môle: "Enfant Bulle"
Programme La Déferlante 2025
Full Program in Pornic — 2025 Edition
Spring — May 30 and 31
- Friday, May 30, 3 PM and 6:30 PM — Jardin de Retz: "Le Roi des Petits-Boutistes" (object theater, 50 min, ages 6+)
- Saturday, May 31, 5 PM — Jardin de Retz: "G.R.A.I.N. — Histoire de fous" by Cie Mmm... Théâtre Marie-Magdeleine
Summer — July 15 to August 13
- Tuesday, July 15, 9 PM — Jardin de Retz: "Mort ou Vif" by Silembloc Cie
- Monday, July 21, 6:30 PM — Jardin de Retz: "Pile Poil" by Cie des Plumés
- Thursday, July 31, 8:30 PM — Place Macé: "Les Misérables" by Cie Les Batteurs de Pavés
- Wednesday, August 6, 6:30 PM — Green space, Clion-sur-Mer town hall annexe: "Un Verano Naranja" by Tuga
- Wednesday, August 13, 6:30 PM — Place du Môle: "Rencontre du 2ème Type" by Potsikei
- Wednesday, August 13, 8 PM — Place du Môle: "Enfant Bulle"
Highlights La Déferlante 2025
2025 Highlights
- 32nd edition of the La Déferlante network (31st in Pornic)
- 8 shows programmed in Pornic between spring and summer
- "Les Misérables" by Cie Les Batteurs de Pavés on Place Macé
- Double evening on August 13 at Place du Môle facing the old port
- Object theater, circus, performances, and family shows
- 100% free and open-air programming
Prices La Déferlante 2025
Practical information — La Déferlante
Practical Information
Performance venues in Pornic
- Jardin de Retz — 44210 Pornic (main venue, green setting in the town center)
- Place Macé — 44210 Pornic (near the historic center)
- Place du Môle — 44210 Pornic (facing the old port)
- Green space, Clion-sur-Mer town hall annexe — 44210 Pornic
Prices
All performances are completely free, for both La Déferlante de Printemps and La Déferlante d'Été. No reservations are necessary.
Schedules
Performances usually take place in the late afternoon and evening, generally between 6 PM and 9 PM. Some spring performances start as early as 3 PM. Consult the detailed program on the official website.
Access
By car: Pornic is located 50 km west of Nantes. From Nantes, take the D751 or the A83 then the D758. Free parking near the town center.
By bus: Aléop line from Nantes to Pornic.
By train: Pornic station, TER connection from Nantes (approx. 1 hour).
By carpooling: The festival recommends carpooling for an ecological and economical approach.
Tips
- Arrive early for the most popular performances, seating is not numbered.
- Bring clothing suitable for the weather: performances are held outdoors.
- Check the calendar on ladeferlante.com for the exact dates of performances in Pornic.
Contact in Pornic
Cultural Service of the City of Pornic
Phone: 02 40 82 31 11 / 02 40 82 57 91
Email: [email protected]
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Travel to this festival
Book your train or bus to reach La Déferlante at the best price.
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Where does it take place — La Déferlante
Jardin de Retz, Place Macé, Place du Môle
Jardin de Retz, 44210 Pornic