Rêves de Cirque Festival

Rêves de Cirque: When Circus and Street Arts Take Over the Villages of the Ain

Since 2013, the Rêves de Cirque festival has transformed the Dombes and Val de Saône area into a vast open-air stage every year. Born from the initiative of the La Passerelle community centre in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne, this touring cultural event has become one of the unmissable summer gatherings in the Ain department.

A Community-Driven Cultural Project

Rêves de Cirque is not a festival like any other. It is driven by a collective of local residents who actively participate in the artistic programming and the organisation of shows in their own towns. This participative approach lies at the heart of the project: using culture as a catalyst for social connection, encounter and discovery. Six other community centres in the Ain department also collaborate on this collective adventure, broadening the festival's reach well beyond Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne.

An Eclectic and Family-Friendly Programme

Over three weeks, from early to late June, shows take over village squares, parks, market halls and gardens in more than twenty towns. The programme joyfully mixes performing arts disciplines: contemporary circus, acrobatics, tightrope walking, aerial acts, clown numbers, puppetry, juggling, one-man shows and pyrotechnic performances. Companies, selected for the quality and accessibility of their creations, offer shows suitable for all ages, from the very young to the very old.

The magnificent Parc du Clos Janin in Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne and the town's medieval market hall serve as the festival's flagship venues, but each participating town provides a unique setting that enriches the audience experience.

A Free Festival Open to All

True to its philosophy of cultural accessibility, Rêves de Cirque is entirely free. All shows are open-access and outdoors, enabling as many people as possible to enjoy this artistic summer interlude. The festival attracts more than 6,000 spectators each year, a testament to its local roots and the popular enthusiasm it inspires.

Strong Local Roots

By taking over rural towns in the Ain, Rêves de Cirque contributes to the cultural life of areas far from major urban centres. The festival thus plays a role in local vitality and the tourist appeal of the Dombes and Val de Saône, while creating moments of conviviality and sharing between residents, artists and visitors.