Millau: The great Christmas parade should be held on December 18 and 19<

The 6th edition of the Grande Faérique de Noël will take place on December 18 and 19.This year is marked by a novelty.The Festi-Parade association, created last April, will be the event organizer.The city of Millau as well as the Millau Grands Causses Tourist Office will provide financial and logistical support.

""The question of the continuity of the event arose,"" explains Anne Clemens, treasurer of the Festi-Parade association.The founding members were asked by the new municipality for the organization.""For us as for the town hall, it had to continue,"" says Élodie Platet former culture assistant, elected in 2014 and one of the pioneers of the event.""We asked volunteers to structure themselves in association, explains Nicolas Wöhrel, current assistant in charge of culture.It is easier for us to have an associative interlocutor than a set of volunteers.""""

Previous editions were organized by the city of Millau jointly with the tourist office.""""Cette année, ce sera un triptyque entre la mairie et l’office de tourisme, les bénévoles et l’association Festi-Parade"""", affirme Élodie Platet.

The preparations for this 6th edition have already started

The preparations for this 6th edition have already started.In the former premises of the nursing school, the seamstresses are busy for the first costumes that will be tailor.The sets are also in the rails.With a budget of around € 5,000 for dressing and sets, the members of the association do not lack imagination to find raw materials.It is recovery and donations above all.

The old pieces are recycled, the first donations of fabrics arrived. Festi-Parade est toujours à la recherche de bénévoles motivés et""""engagés"".It will thus be present on September 4 at the Cssociation Forum.

A traditional festival

The great Christmas parade was created in 2014 under the leadership of Élodie Platet and Claude Assier then elected to the municipality accompanied by Silva Ricard Dance Professor in Millau.""""La volonté était de sortir les costumes de Silva de ses malles"""", se souvient Élodie Platet.While the first edition brought together around 150 volunteers, the following went to 400 volunteers and dancers, in front of 10,000 people each evening.The route extends over a kilometer in downtown the city of Gant.

Last year, the health crisis forced the parade to adapt.The dancers paraded on the cars of the Sava association.""""Nous sommes allés directement au contact des Millavois et Millavoises, se souvient Silva Ricard.What I remember is that people who, in normal times could not move, were able to enjoy the show.""

This year, volunteers hope that the world pandemic will not disturb their plans.