Les Pestaculaires
Family-friendly and eco-responsible street performance festival in Montaigu-Vendée
About Les Pestaculaires
Les Pestaculaires: a festival for young and old
Created in 2013 by the association Art Sonic, a founding member of the Collectif Icroacoa, Les Pestaculaires is a family festival that takes over the magnificent Parc Henri Joyaux (formerly Parc des Rochettes) in Montaigu-Vendée every early summer. What began as a festive day gathering 2,000 people has become a must-see event in the Vendée bocage, attracting up to 4,000 spectators.
A multidisciplinary and committed program
Each edition revolves around a unifying theme that runs through the entire program. The festival hosts a dozen regional and national companies offering street theater, circus (clowns, acrobats, stilt walkers, aerial arts), music, dance, and storytelling. Friday evening opens with a concert and a grand popular ball, while Saturday offers a full day of shows and activities.
Workshops to awaken the senses
About twenty participatory workshops are available to festival-goers: introduction to diabolo, unicycle, making juggling balls, body percussion, face painting, inclusive dance led by partners specialized in disability. These workshops engage the five senses and allow participants to learn while having fun, in a spirit of popular education.
An eco-responsible and solidarity commitment
The festival stands out for its eco-responsible approach: reusable cups, dry toilets, local and organic catering in partnership with GAB 85 (Groupement des Agriculteurs Biologiques de Vendée). Inclusion is at the heart of the project, with the participation of people with disabilities (SAVS, ESAT) in decoration and organization, as well as a "kids' bar" run by young volunteers. Admission is pay-what-you-want, so everyone can participate according to their means.
Les Pestaculaires — edition 2026
Les Pestaculaires celebrate their 10th edition on Wednesday, June 3rd (3 PM-7 PM) and Saturday, June 6th, 2026 (11 AM-11 PM) at Parc Henri Joyaux in Montaigu-Vendée. On the theme « Les P'tis Courants d'Air » (Little Drafts), the family-friendly and eco-responsible festival offers circus shows, burlesque tales, street theater, a Latin concert, a carousel, wandering performances, and about twenty participatory workshops centered around wind and movement. Admission at a free price.
2026 Edition: 10th Anniversary on the Theme of Les P'tis Courants d'Air
For their 10th edition, Les Pestaculaires inaugurate an extended format over two non-consecutive days at Parc Henri Joyaux: Wednesday, June 3rd dedicated to an anniversary snack and two opening shows, followed by Saturday, June 6th which deploys the entire program, from workshops to the children's mega surprise party at the close.
The Theme: « Les P'tis Courants d'Air »
The 2026 edition revolves around wind and movement. The park's spaces bear evocative names — Tramontane, Alizés, Rose des Vents, Zéphyr, Zonda, Ponant, Chergui, Mistral, Nordet — each hosting a type of entertainment or show. The public is invited to travel from one draft to another, from wind turbines made in workshops to bird migration, from kites to aerial juggling.
Five Stages, Eleven Shows
On the Zonda stage, on Wednesday at 3:30 PM then Saturday at 11:15 AM, the company Cabotinée (Alice Delhumeau) presents « Prise de tête bassinale », a circus and street arts show for all audiences. On Saturday evening, the same stage hosts La Banda Brebio (Latin orchestra) at 7 PM, the young audience show « Plastic Monsters » by Lechapus & Bérangère Barathon at 8 PM, and the children's mega surprise party at 9 PM to close the festival.
The Ponant stage offers « Pile Poil » by the Compagnie Des Plumés (circus, 35 min) on Wednesday at 5 PM, then on Saturday Le remu-manège by Le Peuple de l'Enfance (carousel for ages 3 and up, sessions at 11:15 AM, 4:15 PM and 7 PM) and « La véritable histoire des barbes à papa » at 2:30 PM, a circus fable by the same company.
The Chergui stage is dedicated to tales: « Et BiM eT bam et BoUM » by Emeline David Conteuse, at 12 PM and 3:45 PM, for ages 3-9. The Mistral stage hosts « Génèse » by the Cie aen (Paula Paradiso) at 5 PM, a 20-minute aerial impromptu. On the Nordet stage, the Compagnie Barolosolo presents « Barolo sous l'O » (circus, 55 min) at 6 PM.
Participatory Workshops and Radio Street Art
Throughout Saturday, the workshop areas offer wind turbine making, bird migration exploration, kite building, wooden games, music and dance, flying object making, pancake cooking, face painting and juggling initiations. Micro Circuit, continuous radio street art on the Zonda stage from 11 AM, punctuates the day with sound interventions.
Accessibility and Inclusion
The spaces and shows are accessible to people with disabilities thanks to the partnership with the Association Méli-Mélo. PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) parking spaces are provided near the park and bicycle access is facilitated.
Programme Les Pestaculaires 2026
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 (3 PM-7 PM)
- 3:30 PM — Prise de tête bassinale · Compagnie Cabotinée / Alice Delhumeau · circus and street arts (30 min, all audiences) · Zonda stage
- 5:00 PM — Pile Poil · Compagnie Des Plumés · circus (35 min, all audiences) · Ponant stage
- 5:30 PM-7 PM — 10th anniversary snack of the festival
Saturday, June 6th, 2026 (11 AM-11 PM)
- From 11:00 AM — Micro Circuit · continuous radio street art · Zonda stage
- 11:15 AM — Prise de tête bassinale · Compagnie Cabotinée / Alice Delhumeau · circus and street arts (30 min, all audiences) · Zonda stage
- 11:15 AM — Le remu-manège · Le peuple de l'enfance · carousel (40 min, ages 3 and up) · Ponant stage
- 12:00 PM — Et BiM eT bam et BoUM · Emeline David Conteuse · tales (30 min, 3-9 years) · Chergui stage
- 2:30 PM — La véritable histoire des barbes à papa · Le peuple de l'enfance · circus fable (45 min, all audiences) · Ponant stage
- 3:45 PM — Et BiM eT bam et BoUM · Emeline David Conteuse · tales (30 min, 3-9 years) · Chergui stage
- 4:15 PM — Le remu-manège · Le peuple de l'enfance · carousel (40 min, ages 3 and up) · Ponant stage
- 5:00 PM — Génèse · Cie aen (Paula Paradiso) · aerial impromptu (20 min, all audiences) · Mistral stage
- 6:00 PM — Barolo sous l'O · Compagnie Barolosolo · circus (55 min, all audiences) · Nordet stage
- 7:00 PM — Le remu-manège · Le peuple de l'enfance · carousel (40 min, ages 3 and up) · Ponant stage
- 7:00 PM — La Banda Brebio · Latin orchestra · concert (1h, all audiences) · Zonda stage
- 8:00 PM — Plastic Monsters · Lechapus & Bérangère Barathon · young audience show (1h, all audiences) · Zonda stage
- 9:00 PM — Children's mega surprise party · party (2h) · Zonda stage
Continuous workshops on Saturday: wind turbine making, bird migration exploration, kite building, wooden games, music and dance, flying objects, pancakes, face painting, juggling initiation.
Highlights Les Pestaculaires 2026
- 10th anniversary edition over two days (Wednesday, June 3rd and Saturday, June 6th, 2026)
- Unifying theme « Les P'tis Courants d'Air » (Little Drafts) around wind and movement
- Eleven shows spread across five stages (Zonda, Ponant, Chergui, Mistral, Nordet)
- Program includes circus, storytelling, street theater, carousel, aerial acts, Latin concert
- Anniversary snack on Wednesday to celebrate the festival's 10 years
- Children's mega surprise party to close on Saturday evening
- Festival accessible to people with disabilities (in partnership with Association Méli-Mélo)
- Admission at a free price, food and drink available on site
Prices Les Pestaculaires 2026
Practical information — Les Pestaculaires
Practical Information
Access
Address: Parc Henri Joyaux (Parc des Rochettes), avenue Villebois Mareuil, 85600 Montaigu-Vendée.
By car: Montaigu-Vendée is located about 35 minutes southeast of Nantes and 45 minutes north of La Roche-sur-Yon. It is recommended to park at the Montaigu SNCF train station parking lot.
By train: Montaigu-Vendée station is served by TER Pays de la Loire. The park is accessible on foot from the station.
Opening Hours
Friday: gates open at 6:30 PM.
Saturday: gates open at 11:00 AM, shows and activities all day.
Prices
Pay-what-you-want admission: everyone participates according to their desires, conscience, and means.
On-site
Local and organic catering on site (organic producers, craft breweries, crêpe makers). Drink stand with reusable cups. Dry toilets available. Shaded area in the park.
Contact
Association Art Sonic / Collectif Icroacoa
191, rue du Moulin Gros, ZA Nord et Gare, 85600 Montaigu-Vendée
Tel: 09 50 64 19 26
Email: [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Les Pestaculaires
Parc Henri Joyaux (Parc des Rochettes)
Parc Henri Joyaux, avenue Villebois Mareuil, 85600 Montaigu-Vendée