Between popularity and environmental preservation, this festival seeks balance

Mass Hysteria, Ibrahim Maalouf and Joey Starr. Great headliners for a festival which runs until Sunday May 19 in a postcard setting. How can we find financial balance and popular success while preserving the environment? This is the challenge that the Petites Folies festival takes on each year in Lampaul Plouarzel in Finistère.

A few days before its opening, the Petites Folies festival in Lampaul-Plouarzel in Finistère was already sold out. A first after twelve editions.

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Mass Hysteria, Ibrahim Maalouf and even Joey Starr… It must be said that the poster is attractive even though the capacity is rather small: 10,000 tickets per day, or 30,000 places in total.

We no longer want to grow in size to limit numerous impacts, particularly environmental.

Yann Autret

Festival Director

We are far from the figures for the biggest Breton festivals: up to 340,000 festival-goers at Vieilles Charrues in Carhaix or 950,000 visitors over 10 days at the Lorient Interceltic Festival.

“Since 2019, it is a commitment that we have madeassures Yann Autret, director of the festival. We no longer want to grow in size to limit numerous impacts, particularly environmental.“

We are in a public port area, not in the Natura 2000 zone of the Iroise Marine Park.

Yann Autret

Festival Director

Because the other advantage of the festival is that it takes place in a real setting of greenery and sea, in the heart of the north-west coast of Finistère. “The place is extraordinary, the director is also proud. We have Ouessant and Molène opposite.” A breathtaking view, but if the site is not classified and protected, it remains sensitive, because it is located on a dune.

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So despite its growing success each year, the environmental question arises: is a festival on a dune really reasonable?

“We have all the authorizations, because we are in a public port area, not in the Natura 2000 zone of the Iroise Marine Park, justifies Yann Autret. He there is a GR (a long-distance hiking trail) which passes over it. There is trampling all year round. So there is human use.“

We are on the old municipal campsites. Many Brestois came on vacation to Lampaul.

Yann Autret

Festival Director

A dune where traces of the festival would quickly disappear, according to the organizer: “Indeed, each time, we know that we are going to lose a little grass, but we know that the site will recover since it is sandy, that the seeds will remain.“

And animation, this dune of Lampaul Plouarzel has known for a long time: “We are on the old municipal campsitesrecalls Yann Autret. It is a strong entertainment area: many Brestois came on vacation to Lampaul and took advantage of this immensity and this extraordinary view of the Iroise Sea.“

Obviously, an event like that would be a lie to say that it has no impact.

Yann Autret

Festival Director

For the moment, no impact study has been carried out despite the wishes expressed by some environmental associations. When contacted, they did not wish to speak.

“Obviously, an event like that would be lying to say that it has no impact“, recognizes Yann Autret who claims to seek solutions every year to limit it:

“We are doing a lot of work on waste with the local community.he assures. We are doing a lot of work on mobility with the development of shuttles where we leave from Ploudalmézeau, Saint-Renan which are somewhat transversal municipalities of the country of Iroise and then shuttles which make round trips which limit travel in thermal vehicles.“

This year, an audit on electrical practices is being carried out by the festival with the aim of reducing, next year, the use of generators and therefore fuel oil.

The second event [Les Petites folies Quiberon] allows us synergies and economies of scale.

Yann Autret

Festival Director

Efforts that the organizers would like to see more supported by the public authorities. In the meantime, they seem to have found the right economic balance:

“We created [les Petites Folies] Quiberon, because in the continuity of our model, we must develop economically, because we have absolutely no public support apart from the commune of Lampaul Plouarzel and the community of communes of the Pays d’Iroise. This second event allows us synergies and economies of scale.“

And to maintain minimal gauges while maintaining the success of the festival.

This Sunday, May 19, these are the pieces the trio LEJ, DJ Bob Sinclar or the Argentinian tribute group “God Save the Queen” who will stand facing the sea. Before the sound of the wind takes over this little stretch of Finistère coast.