Les Entrelacés - Festival of Street Arts

Les Entrelacés: Street Art in the Heart of Mayenne

Since 1995, the Les Entrelacés festival has transformed the small medieval town of Lassay-les-Châteaux into a vast open-air stage every summer. Organized by a non-profit association founded in 1999, this event has become a must-see cultural gathering in northern Mayenne, bringing together nearly 18,000 spectators each year for completely free shows.

A Festival Rooted in its Territory

Les Entrelacés doesn't just take over the streets of Lassay-les-Châteaux: over the years, the festival has extended its presence to 33 municipalities in Mayenne Communauté, bringing artistic creation to places sometimes far from traditional cultural circuits. This decentralization effort, led by a team of 135 volunteers and professional technicians, highlights local built heritage — medieval alleys, inner courtyards, private gardens — by transforming them into spaces for performance and encounters.

A Rich and Eclectic Program

Each year, the festival offers around thirty different artistic proposals from approximately 25 to 30 companies. The disciplines represented cover a wide spectrum of performing arts:

• Street theater and textual performances
• Circus arts: acrobatics, juggling, balancing
• Contemporary and itinerant dance
• Live music and open-air concerts
• Unusual attractions and installations
• Participatory and interactive shows

The program promotes the diversity of audiences, the cross-pollination of cultures and disciplines. Each edition sees the creation of 5 to 6 original shows, making Les Entrelacés a place for both dissemination and creation.

La Curioseraie: An Extraordinary Garden

The flowery heart of Lassay-les-Châteaux is renamed "Curioseraie" for the occasion. This space, located within the village's rose garden, hosts about fifteen unusual installations — cabinets of curiosities, short theatrical pieces, attractions — that invite spectators to discover and marvel. It is the emblematic heart of the festival, where art intimately blends with the floral and architectural heritage of the town.

A Popular and Committed Festival

The identity of Les Entrelacés is based on three founding pillars that have remained unchanged since the festival's inception:

• Total Free Access: all shows are accessible without tickets or reservations, guaranteeing access to culture for everyone.
• Public Space: performances take place in the village's streets, squares, gardens, and courtyards, blurring the lines between artists and spectators.
• Eclecticism: the diversity of artistic forms offered ensures that everyone can find a show to their liking, from the youngest to the oldest.

Every July 13th and 14th, Les Entrelacés offers a friendly, joyful, and unifying event, a true highlight of the Mayenne summer. In about twenty performance spaces spread throughout the village, the public moves from one surprise to another, from laughter to emotions, in a festive and welcoming atmosphere.

Growing Influence

Since its creation, the festival has continuously grown. The 2024 edition marked the 30th anniversary of the event with record numbers: 18,000 spectators, 74 performances, 29 companies hosted, and 30 hours of continuous programming. This longevity testifies to the public's and artists' attachment to this unique festival, which has become a benchmark for street arts in the Grand Ouest region.