Portiragnes: The wind festival returns this weekend for a 10th edition

Le Festival du Vent est de retour pour une 10e édition Midi Libre – Pierre Saliba

After several years marked by Covid and the suspension of competitions, the Portiragnes wind festival is back in its full format this year, on Riviérette beach.

An unmissable event in Portiragnes, the 10th wind festival, organized by the town hall, in partnership with R-Sky, is being held this Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Riviérette beach. On the program: kites in all their forms!

First of all, the sky will be colored by static monofilaments placed on the beach. Whales, manta rays, and even a Star Wars ship will be raised for the pleasure of visitors' eyes and their cameras. As for entertainment, the party will be brightened up by superheroes inflated by blowers, such as Hulk, Spiderman, and a giant 10-meter-high King Kong. As every year, Edy Angelino, a regular at the event who can be described as a magician, will demonstrate tricks with four kites, which he handles all by himself. Finally, a sand sculpture of about 5 meters will be executed throughout the weekend.

Return of the freestyle competition and new features

After several years in degraded mode, the competition is making a comeback and will host the World Kite Master Tour, explains Philippe Calas, deputy in charge of festivities at the town hall: “The festival benefits from a world tour of freestyle kite specialists. It's a delicate exercise where the lines must not get tangled! This year we will have four of the best French kite flyers, but also two Spaniards, a Chinese, a Dutch and a Belgian”.

Apart from kite flying, the city provides the public with paddles and kayaks free of charge. With the sea forecast to be rough, they can be used safely on the Rivièrette pond, which overlooks the site's Natura 2000 areas.

In terms of organization, the festival is learning from the high attendance at the 2023 edition, notes Philippe Calas: “With 5,000 car passages counted last year, we decided to open several additional car parks with the help of the campsites. And cyclists are encouraged to take their bikes out, they will find guarded parking spaces near the festival site."

The Festival du Vent, Riviérette beach in Portiragnes, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September from 10 am to 6 pm. Takeaway food available on the beach.