Here we go for eight days of entertainment and traditions in Vauvert, one of the biggest votive festivals in the Gard

Here we go for eight days of celebration, abrivado, bandido and aperitif!

Les dix équipes de jeunes ont participé à l'ouverture de la fête votive avec la remise des clés de la Ville.

It's off for eight days of celebration in Vauvert, until Sunday, August 18. The mayor handed over the keys to the city to the youth, this Saturday, August 10, in the heart of the market. Midi Libre offers you the full program of these ten days of celebration, one of the most important in the department.

Saturday August 10: at 5:30 p.m., Trophée de l'Avenir race counting for the 40th Christian-Mestre Trophy and the 13th Nicole souvenir
Cartalade-Dumatras organized by the Abrivado bullfighting club with Lancier de Cuillé, Tambourin de Méjanes, Vannier de Cavallini, Gadjo de Plo, Julot de Vinuesa and Merlot de Didelot-Langlade. Guest raseteurs: Boukharta, Ranc, Friakh, De Andrade, Martin and Gibert. Entrance: 10 euros; 7 p.m., bandido followed by a musical aperitif with One; official opening of the party; 9 p.m. and 15 p.m., youth parade accompanied by the Camargua peña; 9:30 p.m., toro de fuego followed by a night race, manade Martini; 11 p.m., ball with One.

Sunday August 11:2nd edition of the girls' day, organized by the association Les Démoniaks; at 9 a.m., lunch at the meadows; at 11 a.m., abrivado departure from the meadows; at noon, musical aperitif with Damien Inesta; at 5:30 p.m., 22nd Trophée de l’Avenir counting for the 2nd day of the Trophée des vignerons with Nocturne d’Aubanel, Braco de Lautier, Carmel de Raynaud, Lou Grès de La Clapière, Othelo de Nicollin, Corail de Layalle and Souchet by Cavallini. Guest raseteurs: Zidan, Ayme, Gibert, Boukharta, Ranc, Chanat, Leal and Martin. Entrance: 10 euros; at 7pm, bandido followed by a musical aperitif with Damien Inesta and Florian Falgairolle; at 10pm, bull-pool, Franquevaux manade; at 11pm, dance with Damien Inesta and Florian Falgairolle.

Monday 12th August: Camargua Forza day, at 9am, lunch in the meadows; at 11am, abrivado departure from the meadows; at noon, musical aperitif with Florent Manzanera; at 5pm or 5:30pm, Manades League race: Lautier, Saumade and La Clapière. Raseteurs designated by the FFCC; at 7pm, bandido followed by a musical aperitif with DJ Kiara; at 10pm, night festival, Gardon and Saint-Louis manades; at 11pm, dance with DJ Kiara.

Tuesday, August 13: Generations day, at 9am, lunch in the meadows; at 9:30am, Master Winegrowers of Vauvert and Gallargues day, lunch in the meadows and meals on the fairground, by registering at the stand or at the cellar on 04 66 88 20 31; at 11am, abrivado departure from the meadows; at noon, musical aperitif with Totoff; at 5pm or 5:30pm, cocardière cow race with Emuna de Nicollin, Impériale des Baumelles, Bellogia de Raynaud, Macarena de Mogador, Sylva de Blatière-Bessac, Saint-Rémoise de Plo, Galante de Nicollin and Domi de Chapelle. Raseteurs invited: Castel, Larroudé, Oudjit, Cayacan, Sola, Martin and Sanchez; at
7pm, bandido followed by a musical aperitif with Olivier Darock; at 10pm, inter-village, manade Félix. Free entry; at 11pm, dance with Olivier Darock.

Wednesday 14 August: children's day, at 9am, lunch in the meadows, little train for children, by reservation at 04 66 73 17 35; at 11am, abrivado departure from the meadows; at noon, aperitif-foam with Jérémie Challier; at 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m., final of the 5th Trophée des Prémices with the eight best bulls from the four selection races who participate in the final shaved by the bullfighting schools.
7pm bandido followed by a musical aperitif with La Jungle; at 10pm, evening of bullfighting clubs gathered at the arenas with swimming pool bull and calves for children and rodeo bulls. Entrance: 4 euros, free up to 10 years old; at 11pm, dance with La Jungle.

Thursday, August 15: fancy dress day, at 9am, lunch at the meadows; at 11am, abrivado departure from the meadows; at noon, musical aperitif with the peña Camargua; at 5pm or 5:30pm, the Future Trophy counts towards the 22nd Winegrowers Trophy with Cocagne de Mermoux,
Griffoun de Cougourlier, Odin de Vitou, Orpailleur de Blanc, Claudius de Saumade and Folco de Cavallini.
Guest raseteurs: Ayme, Larroudé, Zidan, Ranc, Martin, Leal and Boualam; at 7 p.m., bandido followed by a musical aperitif with La grande parade; at 7 p.m., opening of the bodegas of the El Campo bullfighting club, the Los Manzanares taurine peña and the
Bodeg’Handisport ; at 10 p.m., toro-piscine, Aubanel manade – free entry 11pm ball with La Grande Parade.

Good deals from the Midi Libre correspondent

During the Vauvert votive festival, the Midi Libre correspondent shares the events not to be missed:   "'This Sunday, August 11, for the second year, the girls' day is organized. They will all be dressed in pink and are preparing a flash mob after the midday abrivado. This year, the sale of t-shirts reached 250 purchases". An organization of the association Les Demoniak's (Pink October…) for the benefit of the League against cancer.  

Thursday, August 15, "it's always the day when there are the most people" admits the Midi Libre correspondent who has known about the votive festival since he was 15.

Friday, August 16, the old-fashioned day. “This day was set up by the commune of Cailar a long time ago and since then many communes have organized it during their votive festival”.   A costume contest will reward children, men, women, couples and carts and the favorite will be awarded by the Vauvertoise association Sian Aqui. 

Friday, August 16: old-fashioned day, at 9 a.m., lunch in the meadows offered to costumed people, in partnership with the Sian d'Aqui association, hosted by the Peña Camargua; at 11 a.m., abrivado departure from the meadows, then prize-giving in the ring for the most beautiful costume competition (men's, women's, children's, couples' categories); at noon, musical aperitif with the Peña Camargua; at 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. Avenir trophy counting towards the Vignerons trophy with Milan de Raynaud, Grasso de Didelot-Langlade, Barcarin des Baumelles, Espéron de Félix, Frigolet de Saumade and Vertigo de la Clapière. Guest speakers: Chanat, Martin, Leal, Boukharta, Oukharti, Ranc, and Zidan. Entrance: 10 euros; at 7pm, bandido followed by a musical aperitif with the Sortie de Secours orchestra; at 7pm, opening of the El Campo bullfighting club bodegas, the Los Manzanares bullfighting peña and the Handisport Bodeg; at 10pm, night race, Agnel manade; at 11pm, dance with the Sortie de Secours orchestra.

Saturday, August 17: Spanish day, at 9am, lunch at the meadows; at 11am, abrivado departure from the meadows; at noon, musical aperitif with Gitano of Camargue; at 5pm or 5:30pm, Sol y fiesta organized in collaboration with the El Campo bullfighting club, the Coordination of bullfighting clubs of Nîmes and Gard and the city. Educational capéa with the Adour Aficion bullfighting school under the direction of
and in the presence of maestro Richard Millian Lidia completes a toro without killing by a maesto, cattle of the
ganaderia Giraud vachette for youth prize giving at the El Campo bodega after the race; at 7 p.m., bandido followed by a musical aperitif with Gitano of Camargue; at 7 p.m., opening of the bodegas of the El Campo bullfighting club, the Los Manzanares taurine peña and the Bodeg’Handisport ; at 10 p.m., night race, Cayzac herd; at 11 p.m., ball with DJ Philippe Corti.

Sunday August 18: at 9am, lunch at the meadows; at 11 a.m., departure from the meadows; at midday, musical aperitif with the peña Camargua; at 5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m., 16th Ace Trophy Final of the Camargue Medical Trophy with Gracieux de Félix, Ursule de
Cuillé, Gaalad de Lagarde, Derrick de Nicollin, Lou Pountchou de Guillierme, Perolen de Lautier and Hoffmann
from Blatière-Bessac. Guest raseteurs: Félix, Zidan, Cadenas, Oukharti, Martin, Assenat, Zekraoui and Chanat. Numbered entry: 17 euros, general: 13 € ; at 7 p.m., bandido followed by the release of 20 bulls and a musical aperitif hosted by Florent Manzanera; at 10 p.m. night race, free Carreton-Ait manade, offered by the town with entertainment and closing of the party.