This weekend, the City of Nice will celebrate the Cougourdons Festival, featuring entertainment, folk dances, traditional singing, and balèti. Here’s the schedule for the day.
The “cougourdon” is the name given in Nice to the fruit of a plant from the gourd family. This inedible vegetable, introduced to our region in the 16th century, was quickly embraced by the people of Nice for its unique qualities: waterproof once dried in the sun, it is often used as a kitchen utensil. Moreover, its original shapes inspire artisans. Often painted, it is also engraved with geometric patterns or interlacing designs, giving it an aesthetic and decorative dimension. Musicians also see a strong musical potential in this unusual vegetable. It continues to inspire musicians and artists from Nice who perpetuate and revisit the tradition of the “cougourdon”.
Thus, this Sunday, March 26, 2022, starting at 10 AM, the city of Nice invites you to the garden of the Arènes de Cimiez!
On the program
- From 10 AM to 6 PM : Entertainment, folk dances, traditional singing, balèti
- 11 AM: Laying of a wreath at the war memorial Place Jean-Paul II
- 11:30 AM: Visit to the exhibition on cougourdons at the Archaeology Museum Nice-Cimiez
- 12 PM: Honorary drink
- 1 PM: The Discords at the Kazou – Choir
- 2:15 PM: Dance performance by La Ciamada Nissarda
- 3 PM: World Championship of pétadou (Registration at 04 97 13 45 96)
- 3:45 PM: Dance performance by Nice La Belle
- 4:30 PM: Dance performance by Lou Caireu Niçart
- 5 PM: Balèti with the Mai Qu’aco of Nice La Belle
Come also to discover “The Cougourdon, an Animal?”, featuring the personal collections of Richard Cairaschi and Raoul Gagliolo at the Archaeology Museum Nice-Cimiez. The inauguration of the exhibition will take place this Friday, March 24, 2023, at 2:30 PM and will continue on March 25 and 26. On this occasion, free activities will be offered throughout the weekend, including a “draw me a cougourdon” workshop for children who can take home cougourdon seeds.
