Poupet's closing night, Jublains turns back time: this weekend in the Loire

This weekend, July 25 and 26, has an unusual shape in the Pays de la Loire. Half of our picks last only a day or two, and won't happen again until next summer. Jublains, Heinz Fest, the Fête des Jeux d'Antan: these gatherings all land on the same dates, almost by coincidence. Meanwhile two Vendée regulars have been running for weeks, Puy du Fou and the Festival de Poupet, which wraps up its season this Friday. Would you rather sit in a 6,000-seat venue or join a party started by forty friends? This week, our pick leans toward the small village gatherings, without ignoring the bigger stages. Here's the full picture, from the Mayenne countryside to the Vendée coast.

Festival de Poupet in Saint-Malô-du-Bois (85): the last night for the summer's big names

The Festival de Poupet wraps up its 2026 season this Friday, July 24, in its open-air 6,000-seat theatre carved out of the Vendée countryside. Running since 1987, this site in the bocage has hosted some of the biggest names in French and international music. The line-up mixes rock, chanson, variety and world music. The mood stays relaxed despite the venue's size, framed by open-air terraces and surrounding forest. For this closing date, booking early is worth it: final nights sell out fast. A solid way to end the week on a concert, right before the region shifts toward its small village fêtes.

La Cinéscénie at Puy du Fou, Les Épesses (85): the 23-hectare stage keeps turning

Every summer evening through September 12, La Cinéscénie du Puy du Fou takes over the Vendée countryside, and this weekend is no exception. Created in 1978 by Philippe de Villiers, it remains the largest night-time show in the world. On a 23-hectare stage, 2,400 volunteer actors, the Puyfolais, retrace seven centuries of Vendée history through the saga of the Maupillier family. Fireworks, water jets, laser projections and 3D video mapping run alongside 360-degree spatial sound. Tickets sell out well in advance, and site access needs planning ahead, so arrive early. A Vendée classic that still delivers something different despite its popularity.

Les Escales in Saint-Nazaire (44): three days of world music facing the estuary

From July 24 to 26, Les Escales sets up its stages on the Île du Petit Maroc, between the Loire estuary and the Atlantic Ocean. Founded in 1992 by Patrice Bulting, this Saint-Nazaire gathering blends world music, pop, rock, electro and French chanson across three days of concerts. The festival has broadened its line-up toward contemporary music while keeping its original outward-looking identity. The setting plays its own part: estuary views, a working-harbour feel, sea breeze in the evening. It's a broad, general-audience format rather than a single-genre show. For a weekend of concerts by the Loire, it's hard to beat in Saint-Nazaire.

Les Nuits Salines in Batz-sur-Mer (44): concerts set among the salt marshes

From July 24 to 26, Les Nuits Salines stages night-time concerts in the salt marshes of Batz-sur-Mer, in Loire-Atlantique. The idea is simple and rare in France: live music outdoors, at night, among the salt pans. White mounds of salt, an open sky and the sea air of the Guérande coastline create a backdrop unlike any other festival in the region. Three evenings of concerts are scheduled for this 2026 edition. It's the kind of event people talk about as much as they listen to, since the setting carries as much weight as the line-up. A good pick for a different mood without leaving the coast.

Aux Heures d'Été in Nantes (44): around fifty free shows across the parks

Running through August 7, Aux Heures d'Été fills Nantes' parks and gardens, and the July 25-26 weekend sits right in the middle of its fifth week of programming. Created in 2005 by the Association culturelle de l'été, the festival offers close to fifty free shows: world-music concerts, shows for children, open-air cinema and readings. The format favours proximity, spreading events across several neighbourhoods rather than one single site. It works equally well for families and for visitors just passing through the city in summer. Why choose between a concert and an open-air film screening? In Nantes, summer lets you have both on the same weekend.

Les Soirs d'Été in Le Mans (72): Friday turns the squares into a stage

Every Thursday and Friday in July and August, Les Soirs d'Été turns Le Mans' squares into an open-air stage, and Friday, July 24 is part of the schedule. Street theatre, circus, dance, music and comedy follow one another for free, no booking needed. Running for more than thirty years, this popular event animates the Place de la République and other spots in the city centre. The format suits passers-by just as well as regulars who show up on purpose. It's an easy outing after work, with no need to commit to a full evening. For a Friday night in Le Mans on a budget, the formula has proven itself for a long time.

Fête de la Sardine in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie (85): a Sunday for the region's favourite fish

On Sunday, July 26, the harbour of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie celebrates the sardine, the fish that shaped the town's economic history. On the Quai de la République, fishermen, cannery workers and food lovers gather around giant open-air grills. Recognised as a Site Remarquable du Goût for its fishing and canning heritage, the town turns its working harbour into a one-day popular festival. The event draws locals and visitors travelling the Côte de Lumière alike. It's a short format, just one day, but one that sums up the town's maritime identity. For anyone spending the weekend in the Vendée, a Sunday of grilled sardines by the harbour has its own charm.

Week-end Curiosités de Jublains (53): a Roman camp to close out July

On July 25 and 26, the Gallo-Roman archaeological site of Jublains holds its Week-end Curiosités, in partnership with the Les Nuits de la Mayenne festival, the town and the Forum Métiers d'Art. For two days, the village steps back into antiquity: a re-enacted Roman camp, a craft market and live shows fill its streets. The departmental archaeological museum, on Rue de la Libération, anchors this family event. It's a hands-on way to make Roman history accessible to children and adults alike, without the usual static museum visit. The weekend format, rather than a single day, leaves time to see everything without rushing. An outing that stands apart from the music-heavy rest of this list.

Heinz Fest in Maisoncelles-du-Maine (53): from a group of friends to 800 festival-goers

On July 25 and 26, the Filer Ô Soleil association runs Heinz Fest in Maisoncelles-du-Maine, in the Mayenne. Born from a private gathering of around forty friends, the event has grown edition after edition to now draw close to 800 participants. Since 2024, the festival has opened to the general public, with a weekend of concerts and offbeat entertainment. The atmosphere still feels like a party among friends, even as the crowd has multiplied since the early days. It's the kind of small festival that has grown without losing its original spirit, run by the same volunteers from the start. For anyone who likes festival origin stories built around a campfire, this one is still being told this weekend.

Fête des Jeux d'Antan in Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes (53): a day of traditional wooden games

On Sunday, July 26, the medieval town of Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes, ranked among the Plus Beaux Villages de France, holds its Fête des Jeux d'Antan. For one day, the town centre hosts around twenty traditional wooden games: tug of war, skill games, strength games, waiter's races. The ramparts and cobbled lanes of the village provide the backdrop for this free, family event. It's a festival built on simplicity, with no stage or sound system, just games and a striking setting. Adults and children compete side by side, with no age divide. For a different Sunday in the Mayenne, between eleventh-century ramparts and wooden games, head to Sainte-Suzanne.

Worth a mention too

• Festival Rock'n'Beer in Brétignolles-sur-Mer (85): Saturday, July 25, open-air rock concerts and craft beer at the Parc des Morinières, a local tradition since 1996.
• Festival Electr'Au Dub in Montaigu-Vendée (85): July 24-25, electronic music and sound system culture at the Landes des Corprais site, with more than thirty artists across two stages.

Want to explore other regions this weekend? Head to our full weekend agenda. Enjoy your time in the Pays de la Loire.