La P'tite Garenne Festival

A festival at the crossroads of performing arts and ecology

The La P'tite Garenne Festival transforms the town of Nérac into a huge festive playground every spring. Supported by the City of Nérac and the Espace d'Albret, this festival is distinguished by its sparkling energy, family spirit, generosity, and commitment to the living. Under the motto 'Let's cultivate the living!', it invites young and old to marvel, slow down, and celebrate life during three days of festivities and encounters.

A rich and eclectic program

La P'tite Garenne offers a varied program that combines artistic disciplines and environmental awareness:

• Performing arts: traveling puppet theater, circus, clown, contemporary dance, poetry, and participatory performances
• Music: concerts and festive evenings in a friendly atmosphere
• Street arts: parades, outdoor shows, and ephemeral installations
• Biodiversity: immersive walks, naturalist stands, participatory workshops on local flora and fauna

The festival addresses ecological issues through performing arts rather than moralizing speeches. As artistic director Romain Clément emphasizes: 'culture is an excellent way to raise awareness'.

Iconic locations in Nérac

Artists and naturalists take over several sites in the town:

• Esplanade de l'Espace d'Albret (Esplanade Gisèle Halimi): traveling arena and theater under a big top
• Place de la Liberté et des Droits de l'Homme: big top dedicated to circus arts
• Parc de la Garenne: workshops and activities on biodiversity, participatory inventory of flora and fauna

The offerings also extend to public gardens, urban spaces, and unique indoor and outdoor venues.

The Labo'Diversité: science and culture hand in hand

The festival includes a scientific and participatory component called Labo'Diversité, offering conferences, workshops, and debates on biodiversity. In partnership with the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux, the CEN Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and other environmental organizations, the festival contributes to the participatory inventory of local biodiversity (ABC de Nérac) through a citizen application.

A festive heritage rooted in the territory

La P'tite Garenne is the heir to La Garenne Party, a festival that enlivened Nérac for thirteen years before the health crisis. After a three-year hiatus, the event returned in April 2023 under this new name, with a strengthened ecological dimension. This renewal embodies the desire to offer a small festival for great moments of conviviality: an ephemeral, joyful celebration, rooted in its territory and imagined with and for its inhabitants.