The Green Escape
The Green musical Escape of Craponne-sur-Arzon
2026
There is no edition scheduled in 2026 for this event. This page remains accessible to archive the history of the manifestation and will be updated if a new edition is announced.
About The Green Escape
The Green Escape — edition 2026
ℹ️ 2026 Edition: no The Green Escape. The Green Escape (formerly Festival Country Rendez-Vous) has been dormant since its last edition in 2019, and no 2026 edition under this name has been announced. However, the country spirit lives on at Parc des Étoiles thanks to the Festival Country de Craponne, which takes place on the last weekend of July — July 25th and 26th, 2026 for this edition.
ℹ️ 2026 Edition cancelled — festival dormant. The Green Escape is not scheduled for 2026. After the financial difficulties encountered during the 2019 edition (sharp drop in attendance and deficit), the Festival Country Rendez-Vous association did not renew the event under the name The Green Escape, and it has remained dormant since.
Country continues in Craponne-sur-Arzon
The country tradition of Parc des Étoiles has not disappeared: a new event, the Festival Country de Craponne, perpetuates the last weekend of July gathering on the same site each year. The 2026 edition takes place on July 25th and 26th, 2026 at Parc des Étoiles, with an international country lineup — among the announced artists: Sam Morrow, Gary Quinn, Eloïz, Ashland Craft, The Wild Horses and The Grasslers — as well as a free Festival Off in the city center (entertainment, American vehicle parades, dance initiations).
Practical information — The Green Escape
Practical Information
Access
Craponne-sur-Arzon is located in the department of Haute-Loire (43), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, on the Velay plateau.
- By car: From Le Puy-en-Velay, take the D906 then the D498 (approx. 45 minutes). From Saint-Étienne, follow the N88 towards Le Puy-en-Velay then turn off towards Craponne-sur-Arzon (approx. 1h15). From Clermont-Ferrand, take the A75 then the D906 via Ambert (approx. 1h30).
- By train: Nearest stations are Le Puy-en-Velay (45 km) and Saint-Étienne (80 km).
Parc des Étoiles
Concerts were held at the Parc des Étoiles, a fenced and secure site in the heart of nature, a 7-hectare natural amphitheater. Free parking was available nearby, as well as 73 spaces at the municipal gymnasium 200 meters away.
Festival Off
The town center of Craponne-sur-Arzon hosted the Festival Off with free access: musical entertainment, parades of American vehicles and Harley-Davidsons, stalls, crafts, and catering.
Contact
Association Festival Country Rendez-Vous — 6, place Croix de Carle, 43500 Craponne-sur-Arzon. Phone: 04 71 03 25 52. Email: [email protected].
The Green Escape: When Country Opens to the World
Born in 1988 under the name Festival Country Rendez-Vous in Doré-l'Église in Puy-de-Dôme with only 250 spectators, the festival settled in Craponne-sur-Arzon in 1993 to find an exceptional natural setting. Over the decades, it became one of the most important country music festivals in Europe, hosting legends like Bill Monroe, Alison Krauss, or Emmylou Harris, and attracting up to 30,000 spectators in its best years.
The Green Escape: A New Identity
In 2018, after thirty successful editions, the association Festival Country Rendez-Vous, chaired by Delphine Magaud, decided to rename the event The Green Escape. This new name reflects an acknowledged musical openness: the programming is enriched with rock, folk, blues, bluegrass, Americana, and rockabilly, while retaining country as its identity base. The name also evokes conviviality, friendly reunions, and the magnificent landscapes of Haute-Loire.
Two Memorable Editions
The first edition under the name The Green Escape, in July 2018, made a mark with the appearance of the legendary British band Status Quo, alongside artists like Sam Outlaw, Southern Avenue, Gunwood, and Blue Water Highway. The 2019 edition continued the momentum with an eclectic program featuring Beth Hart, Kiefer Sutherland, Wade Bowen, Kris Barras Band, JigJam, Elliott Murphy, and Mile Twelve.
An Exceptional Natural Site
The concerts were held at the Parc des Étoiles, a 7-hectare natural amphitheater nestled on the Velay plateau, offering a unique setting under the Haute-Loire stars. The town center of Craponne hosted the Festival Off with free entertainment, parades of American vehicles, Harley-Davidsons, cheerleaders, and country dance initiations.
Difficulties and Legacy
Despite the artistic renewal, the 2019 edition suffered a 40% drop in attendance, resulting in a deficit of 107,000 euros. The association, whose budget reached 500,000 euros and whose revenue depended 80% on ticket sales, could not organize an edition in 2020. The Green Escape nevertheless remains an important chapter in the musical history of Craponne-sur-Arzon, a legacy that is now carried on by new local initiatives dedicated to country music.
Where does it take place — The Green Escape
The Green Escape in brief
History of The Green Escape
Edition 2025 Jul 2025Other festivals near Craponne-sur-Arzon
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