the essential
After welcoming more than 45,000 festivalgoers in mid-May, President Gilles Boyer, his office and all the volunteers involved in the success of the Condom festival in turn celebrated together on Saturday evening.
In the Pierre de Montesquiou room, the 446 volunteers of the 51st bandas festival divided into 17 commissions met for their reward evening. President Gilles Boyer immediately announces “It is you who make the festival and together we have achieved a somewhat crazy challenge”.
The record for paid entries with 45,762 exceeded that of 2023 by 372 entries with also a record for 3-day pre-sales. Security was optimal with continuous monitoring and controls. Violence prevention was also well managed with the complicity of Masseube high school students. Also a first for the festival with the 6,000 “glass hoods” offered by the partners. The toilets, which were a big problem hanging over the organization, were more numerous, free and always impeccable. The bandas bodega with the new podium on Place des Argentiers was unanimous. It made it possible to put the musicians back at the heart of the party in a more appropriate and more intimate place. It is clear that it is a place where the public could sit down to share banda music. The cloister is becoming complicated, a reflection is underway. On Saint-Pierre Square, with the modification of the circuit, it was easier to move around there, the crowd having been made more fluid. The very friendly mascot offered a rugby stadium atmosphere. A success also for the children’s bodega and their Sunday day.
In a generally high musical level, the foreign bands delighted the festayres with their particular atmospheres. Some 5,570 meals were served to volunteers and musicians at the De Montesquiou Hall in flawless organization. The VIP restaurant, the association stands, and the atmosphere satisfied the organizers and festivalgoers, the majority of whom 500 discovered the Landes race in symbiosis with the banda atmosphere. Windows and houses in red and white also lit up the party. Condomois likely to provide accommodation are widely expected for the 52nd edition on May 9, 10 and 11, 2025.
