Feria d’Alès: in the bodegas and casistas, “from one year to the next, we know where we are going”

Christophe Moreton spent Sunday installing Les Fanatonic’s. FREE MIDI – CHARLES LEDUC

Les comptoirs de la bodéga du Cristal Bar sont en place. MIDI LIBRE – CHARLES LEDUC

La casita des Randonneurs de Deaux prend forme. MIDI LIBRE – CHARLES LEDUC

Le début de cette semaine, dans l’hyper-centre de la capitale des Cévennes, est consacré aux préparatifs pour recevoir les festaïres.

They're getting busy! While the imposing white tents were set up on Friday May 3, the little hands of the Alès feria are, on this morning of Monday May 6, in the midst of preparations. On Boulevard Louis-Blanc, bodegas and casistas are taking shape to welcome party-goers from this Wednesday, May 8.

Adapt to climatic conditions

In front of the Crater, Christophe Moreton sits in the heart of his Fanatonic’s bodega and appears serene. He has more than twenty years of Ascension feria behind him; he "part of the furniture". His team started assembly on Sunday, at 8 a.m., only to leave in the middle of the night, at 1 a.m. "We knew it was going to rain this Monday, so we changed our plans", he explains. "We'll be ready tonight. If we wanted, we could even open!" But the security commission, giving the green light to any opening to the public, is not expected this Tuesday, May 7, in the afternoon…

"Every year, it’s the same thing", they say at the Cristal Bar

Across the street, at the Cristal Bar, we'll also be prepared! "We attacked the installation on Saturday and we spent the day there on Sunday", says Florent Julian. "There are four of us ; we are used to it and we are experienced; every year, it's the same thing." All the equipment belongs to the brewery, only the counters are provided by the brewer. Thus, this bodega, which will remain open until Sunday, May 12, in the middle of the afternoon, will look very similar to what it was last year. "From one year to the next, we know where we are going…", smiles Amandine Barral.

"We're going to put the spots there! Test them before plugging them in…"

As for the casistas, we also get our hands dirty. At Lou Regain, on the town hall square, we were already busy this weekend. And at that of the Randonneurs de Deaux, on the Louis-Blanc, we also talk about "well-established mechanics". The team arrived in the morning to install all the kitchen equipment, around thirty tables and benches to provide around 200 seats. "We're going to put the spots there! Test them before plugging them in…", says Bruno Barry, the president of the association, to a friend. He also has a smile: "In the evening, everything will be installed. Tuesday, only the finishing touches will remain."