The Feria de Nîmes will start on Wednesday June 4 with a Roussataio and a closure of the Bodegas at 2 am.
At the festive level, the animations of the Pentecost Feria (from June 4 to 9, 2025) undoubtedly represents the most important budget for the city of Nîmes. An overall envelope, also counting security costs, of almost a million euros. Such a amount was worth an extra day of celebration. For 2025, the municipality decided to start on Wednesday evening with a Roussataïo, this parade of horses and mares in the streets that will leave from the Carrée house. For the occasion, bars and bodegas will close at two in the morning as on Thursday. Three hours for Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well as an hour on Monday evening.
As usual, families will attend the Pégoulade, Thursday, June 5 at 8:30 p.m., in Pégoul’art mode. The traditional parade, made up of 12 tanks and more than 400 dancers, will pay tribute to the art geniuses: Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Van Gogh, Dali, Miro … The unavoidable meetings are well understood: Sevillian Mass, Joutes Tournament, Abrivados (Allées Jaurès and Rue de la République), saint-ceremony, Taurines and equestrian shows in the gardens of La Fontaine or the third edition of the National Paella competition.
A day dedicated to teens
The 10 finalists will have to cook their own paella while respecting traditions and in a full time. They will then be judged by a jury on several criteria: the visual, the smell, the texture of the rice, the taste … During the competition, the animation will be broadcast on a giant screen in order to allow the public to not miss the test. The big winner will leave with a voucher worth 1,000 euros to be worth to a travel agency. Note, a Cabestría on Sunday, a traditional Spanish parade featuring bulls supervised by horsemen led by a lanyard. An assertive desire to give pride of place to traditions.
Mayor Jean-Paul Fournier and the elected official with the festivities Frédéric Pastor • Corentin Corger photo
On the other hand, no Abrivado planned in the neighborhoods, perhaps in September, nor a large free concert on the forecourt of the arenas, “Go to the harvest, maybe it will be on another place”says Frédéric Pastor, assistant to the city of Nîmes, delegate for the festivities. The only novelty is the launch of Feri’Ados, a day dedicated to young festaires aged 12 to 17, on Saturday June 7, at the Fontaine gardens. The latter will be able to rub shoulders with young cows in the bosquet arenas, participate in creative workshops, challenge themselves on a mechanical bull or even attend a Gipsy concert. The objective is to be able to have fun safely while learning from Taurine cultures.
26 Bodega opening requests
“It is a program that endeavors to perpetuate the fundamentals of the feria with a friendly and festive aspect”underlines Frédéric Pastor who also greets the increase in sales of subscriptions for bullfights, while this Monday sale at the counters for places per unit on Monday. With six days of celebration, the municipality hopes to beat the 1.2 million visitors, the record figure of 2024. Nearly 45 craftsmen are expected on the esplanade, 38 Casitas in town and 70 terrace extensions are planned.
On the Bodega side, the city received 26 requests for opening. “This year there is an important demand with new establishments”only specifies Frédéric Pastor while waiting for the official list. The Foreign Legion (2nd REI) and the Rugby Club Nîmes are among the new expected Bodegas. A less folklore feria than that of the harvest (19 to 21 September) which will start, on the evening of the 18th, on the final of the Abrivado competition in Nîmes Métropole.
Discover the full program of animations.
