This Saturday, July 4th, the city invited Nice residents to the Promenade du Paillon, at Place du Général Leclerc, to celebrate the anniversary of American independence. From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., a New Orleans brass band, jazz concerts and artistic workshops punctuated the afternoon organized by the city, in the presence of mayor Eric Ciotti and the US General Consul in Marseille, Jessica Huaracayo.
Speeches encouraging Franco-American friendship
The US General Consul in Marseille, Jessica Huaracayo, took the floor. She recalled the particular significance of this edition celebrating, in her view, “250 years of freedom, democracy and unwavering friendship between our two countries.”
The consul reflected on France’s role in the War of Independence, with the figure of the Marquis de La Fayette, who joined George Washington at the age of twenty.
A friendship that was strengthened through the two world wars to become one of the “most enduring” alliances in modern history.
Nice, a central city for France/United States collaboration
As for the mayor of Nice, he hailed an event that goes beyond, in his view, “a symbol”, which constitutes an essential key to this friendship dating back to the alliance treaty signed in 1778.
A relationship that persists according to Eric Ciotti: nearly 650,000 American stays are recorded each year on the French Riviera, making Americans the leading foreign clientele in the territory, alongside nearly 300 American companies already established locally, a figure the municipality wishes to double.
Not forgetting Nice’s sister city relationships with Houston, Miami and New Orleans, as well as the opening in May of a new direct air link to Boston, completing existing flights to New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington.
Workshops, dancing and music animated the square
Alongside the official speeches, the afternoon took on a festive atmosphere. A company of professional dancers, the Ambianceurs (NKP Productions company), provided a choreographic performance for the occasion, commissioned by the city of Nice. Christelle, CEO and producer of the company, summed up the spirit of her performance: “it’s always interesting and pleasant to participate in this type of event.”
On the public’s side, Mailys, present with her grandmother who came accompanied by her country dancing club, was delighted with an intergenerational gathering. “It brings generations together, it continues the memory”, she said.
The youngest visitors were not forgotten, with a portrait workshop led by artist Moustache and his daughter Jasmine. The objective was for “children to enjoy making portraits”, created in oil pastels to make them easier to handle and explore colors.
Young participants left with a personalized portrait accompanied by a slogan rhyming with their first name, some drawings even incorporating the visual codes of July 4th, stars and fireworks patterns.
Other stands and activities were present, including country dancing with initiation moments, flower and lemonade stands, in a friendly atmosphere throughout the afternoon.
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