Les Beaux Jours

Les Beaux Jours: Saint-Herblain's Circus and Music Event

Since 2022, the Les Beaux Jours festival has established itself as an unmissable event of the Herblinois summer. Organized by Théâtre ONYX, a national interest subsidized theater for dance and circus arts, this event annually transforms Saint-Herblain's parks — Parc de la Bégraisière and Parc de la Savèze — into open-air live performance venues. For several days, contemporary circus, street arts, and music blend in a warm and popular atmosphere, open to all audiences.

Contemporary Circus and Street Arts at the Heart of the Program

Les Beaux Jours places contemporary circus at the center of its artistic identity. Each edition invites about fifteen circus and street companies to present their creations: acrobatics, juggling, balance, trapeze, clowning, and aerial performances take over the lawns, pathways, and big tops of the parks. Among the companies hosted over the editions are Cirque Inextremiste, Galapiat Cirque, Compagnie L'MRGée, Compagnie Lombric Spaghetti, Marcel et ses drôles de femmes, Compagnie La Voie Ferrée, and Collectif Primavez. These artistic proposals, sometimes poetic, sometimes spectacular, appeal to a family and curious audience.

Music, the Guiding Thread of the Evenings

Alongside the circus, music sets the rhythm for each evening of the festival. Open-air concerts, wandering brass bands, and sound performances punctuate the program, creating a festive atmosphere in the parks. The Green Line Marching Band and other groups have made the pathways of La Bégraisière vibrate over the editions, offering moments of musical sharing accessible to all.

A Popular, Accessible, and Committed Festival

One of the strengths of Les Beaux Jours lies in its resolutely accessible pricing policy: the vast majority of shows are free in the open air, while performances under the big top are offered for only 5 euros. This approach to cultural democratization is at the heart of the project led by Théâtre ONYX and the City of Saint-Herblain. The festival also incorporates a recognized eco-responsible dimension — labeled "eco-committed" by the REEVE association since 2023 — and particular attention to accessibility for people with disabilities (adapted seating under the big top, audio description, staff trained in LSF (French Sign Language), program in FALC (Easy to Read and Understand)).

Saint-Herblain's Parks, the Festival's Natural Settings

The exceptional setting of Parc de la Bégraisière, a vast green space with trees in the heart of Saint-Herblain, provides an ideal backdrop for this open-air festival. Parc de la Savèze also hosts part of the program, particularly in connection with the Sillon de Bretagne district. Spectators settle on the grass, wander between the stages, discover shows around a corner, and share a moment of conviviality in a preserved natural setting.