From Friday, August 23 to Monday, August 26, the streets of Biot will resonate with warm moments of conviviality offered by the City of Biot, the Biot Traditions Association, and the Biot Sprint Cycle Club on the occasion of the Saint Julien Patronal Festival.
img41962|left> According to local historian J.-A. Durbec, the relics of Saint Julien were transferred from the Diocese of Glandèves to Biot in 1644. He also notes that the popularity of patron saints and the festivals dedicated to them has always varied over time: “However, one can say that Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Julien have been venerated here since the Middle Ages and have constituted the patronal festivals of Biot since time immemorial, with the festival of Saint Julien gradually gaining ‘popularity’ at the expense of the festival of Saint Mary Magdalene.”
The procession recalls the traditions rooted in the town’s history, sporting and playful challenges create a joyful buzz, varied performances set the atmosphere while children are at the heart of the attention.
Each day of the Saint Julien Festival offers many occasions to gather around religious and secular traditions, to dance and listen to music, to participate in or support sporting challenges, or to delight the children.
A patronal feast. The procession orchestrated by the Biot Traditions Association, accompanying the bust of Saint Julien from the Sainte Marie Madeleine Church in the historic center to the Saint Julien Chapel, has followed its path in local history since at least the 17th century. The Provençal mass will take place on Sunday, followed by a farandole offered by the La Brissaudo association. To perfect this return to roots, the Émile Cheval Communal Oven will be open throughout the patronal feast.
Challenge time. To compete, or even to stand out or simply to applaud in a convivial atmosphere, the Saint Julien offers a bike race on Saturday morning, boule competitions, the European championship of square boule games, and new activities such as musical chairs, tug-of-war, festive jousting, or waiter races.
Ball time. Every evening, Place de Gaulle will be draped in a different musical ambiance with, on Friday, the Salsa night animated by Alma Latina company, on Saturday the nightclub spirit unleashed by DJ Paradis’, and on Sunday the greatest hits covered by the group Synthèse.
A paradise for children. The little ones will be spoiled for choice with fairground stands, the boule competition, the musical chairs game, face painting sessions, and the Monday show “Dis Maman, le ciel il commence où en vrai ?”.
FULL PROGRAM
Saturday, August 24
8 am – 12 pm: “Grand Prix Cycliste des verriers” bike race (Biot Sprint Cycle Club) – Place de Gaulle
12 pm: Award ceremony for the race and welcome drink – Place de Gaulle
3 pm: Triple arranged boule competition at the cours – registration at 2 pm (Biot Friendly Boule Club)
5 pm: Commemoration ceremony of the Liberation of Biot on August 24, 1944 – War Memorial – Rue Saint Sébastien (gathering at 4:45 pm at Place de la Chapelle)
6 pm – 6:30 pm: Children’s musical chairs game – Place de Gaulle
From 5 to 15 years old – Registration limited to 40 participants.
Tournament procedure: Players must walk around the chairs while music is playing and sit on a chair when the music stops. The one who fails to find a seat is eliminated and leaves the game.
The goal of the game is to find a seat to sit on before all other participants do.
Many prizes to win!
Registration required with the Tourist Office: 04 93 65 78 00
6:30 pm – 7 pm: Adult musical chairs game – Place de Gaulle
Over 15 years old – Registration limited to 40 participants.
Tournament procedure: Players must walk around the chairs while music is playing and sit on a chair when the music stops. The one who fails to find a seat is eliminated and leaves the game.
The goal of the game is to find a seat to sit on before all other participants do.
Many prizes to win!
Registration required with the Tourist Office: 04 93 65 78 00
7 pm – 7:30 pm: Mixed team tug-of-war competition – Rue Saint Sébastien
Minimum 14 years old – Registration limited to 80 participants.
Tournament procedure: Teams compete one against one. The winning teams will face each other one-on-one until the grand final.
Many prizes to win! The winning team will receive a selection of sports products: 1 pedometer, 1 watch, 2 jump ropes, and 1 ball.
The runner-up team will receive 5 flashlights.
Registration required with the Tourist Office: 04 93 65 78 00
7:30 pm: Award ceremony for competitions, races, and games – Place de Gaulle
8:30 pm: Fire show – Rue Saint Sébastien
9 pm: DJ night with DJ Paradis’ – Place de Gaulle
Sunday, August 25
11 am: Provençal mass – Sainte Marie-Madeleine Church
11 am – 12:30 pm: Provençal farandole – Historic Center
12:30 pm: Speech and welcome drink offered by the City of Biot in the presence of Miss Biot 2013 and her runners-up – Place de Gaulle
2 pm – 5 pm: Children’s face painting by professional makeup artist Mélanie Cassella – Place des Arcades
2 pm: Registration for the European square boule championship – Place de Gaulle
3 pm: European square boule championship – Historic Center
7 pm: Award ceremony for the European square boule championship – Place de Gaulle
8 pm: Waiter’s race – Rue Saint Sébastien
Minimum 14 years old – Registration limited to 40 participants.
Course procedure:
Participants must complete the course carrying a server’s tray with 1 pitcher and 2 glasses filled with water. Among the first 5 arrivals, the ranking will be established based on the total amount of water carried back.
Many prizes to win!
Registration required with the Tourist Office: 04 93 65 78 00
9:30 pm: Grand variety ball with French and international music by the group Synthèse – Place de Gaulle
Monday, August 26
9 am: Saint Julien procession by the Biot Traditions Association, departure from the Sainte Marie-Madeleine Church forecourt
3 pm: Mixed triplet boule competition
3 pm – 6 pm: Children’s face painting by Mélanie Cassella – Place des Arcades
4 pm – 6 pm: Roumpa pignata and children’s games – Place des Arcades
6 pm: Children’s show “Dis maman, le ciel il commence où en vrai ?” by Cie Reveida – Frédéric Mistral Garden
Information: 04 93 65 78 00
tourisme@biot.fr
