Fêtes

On July 2,2005,  Chalabre held its Street Festival. During the afternoon and the night, street merchants sold food, wine and various local products. There even were a couple of booksellers, including us. (We sold a dozen books.) At 8 p.m., tables had been set up all around the central market square and an excellent communal dinner was served. There was plenty of music everywhere, including a Brazilian-style band and samba dancers. The festivities went on until 4 a.m.

During the long weekend of the Ascension (Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 May in 2006), the Fête Foraine moved into Chalabre. This year, it was located on the Cours Colbert and the Cours d'Aguesseau (it alternates Cours every year). It consisted of the usual array of rides, booths and stands, and was topped at the bottom of Cours Colbert by a bar and a stage used by a very loud band that pummeled the ancient houses with way too many amps of basse sound until 2 a.m. every night.

The bar, or buvette, is being set up right by our front entrance (the green door to the left). (Oh, joy!) A miniature go-kart circuit is set up with inflatable barriers for the kids. Neighbor M. Roger sets up his poney rides. Churros, one of the new delicacies currently in fashion. (Just like in L.A.!) The shooting gallery. The lottery booth. Cagnotte means treasure chest or piggy bank. A manege for the children. Grandparents watch their kids on the bumper cars. Win a stuffed animal! If you can grab it, it's yours! Mickey presides over this kids' carousel. A food stand full of yummy fair food.

THE MAJORETTES DU PAYS D'OLMES are the local cheerleading squad. They arrived late Sunday Afternoon and their bravura performance was the closing ceremony of the Fair.