With 2,000 exhibitors, the largest garage sale in Orne is in Bagnoles

Saturday May 11 and Sunday May 12, 2024, many visitors are expected for the Fair of the Andaines of Bagnoles-de-l’Orne-Normandie, in Orne. The organizers are on deck to settle the final details.

What will be the weather report ? Every year for a quarter of a century, this is the ultimate question that the organizers of the Foire des Andaines ask themselves as a new edition approaches. “This weekend will be the 23^e because there were none in 2020 and 2021 due to covid” underlines René Jarry, president of Avenir Espoir 2000.

A growing garage sale

For the record, the association was founded in 1998 under the crook of the late Remy Jarry. “It all started with a simple garage sale in Saint-Michel-des-Andaines which went as far as the Grande Prize,” remembers René.

Over the years, it has grown, arriving at the gates of Bagnoles. It then took place over a single day.

But, in 2006, the edition was exceptional with great weather, and there were not enough places for exhibitors.

The following year, the fair was then organized over two days for the first time, with the installation of dry toilets on the route.

Between 2010 and 2014, the unpacking continued in the streets of Bagnoles. “But it had become complicated to manage for various reasons, and it was therefore decided to stop it at the racetrack stop sign” says René Jarry, who became president in November 2021following the death of his brother Rémy.

Since then, the team has continued to keep the event going, which returned in May 2022.

What is the fair for?

In addition to allowing bargain hunters to indulge in their pleasure and exhibitors to make a little money, the Andaines Fair also has a economic role.

“Initially, it made it possible to invest in the rail bike, recalls the president. First in 2003 for the cleaning of the line, then purchasing the first handcars a little later to replace those that had been lent to us by the Pont-Erambourg rail bike. Today we have around ten.”

In the space of 25 years, the fair and the bike-rail have also enabled the hiring of 30 seasonal workers and four permanent employees. “They made it possible to invest in horse-drawn carriagesRosalies, mountain bikes, electric bikes, to finance the House of Fear in the former Couterne flour mill, to manage the canoe base in Breath“.

Lack of time, Future Hope 2000 organizes fewer garage sales than in the past, “but we have kept Sainte-Madeleine, which will take place on July 21, and the autumn fair, scheduled for September 22.”

5 km round trip

Coming from all over Franceor even neighboring countries, approximately 2,000 exhibitors are expected for two days. ” He is possible to come and settle in from Friday, 2 p.m., specifies René Jarry. We have around 70% of faithful who return every year.

From January onwards, we follow up with them by post.” Beforehand, the 2,700 locations available have been marked on the ground on either side of the departmental 386, i.e. 5 km round trip.

If it is well established today, this organization would be nothing without the volunteers thanked by the president. “There are 25 of us in the association and we also have the support of around fifteen ACBO* members for the car parks.” On the security side, two ambulances are planned as well as gendarmerie patrols. “We have seven catering points, and for people who have bulky objects to transport, they can use an electric vehicle with a trailer that the city makes available to us,” concludes René Jarry.

*ACBO: Ornaise Citizen Band Association.

Saturday May 11 and Sunday May 12, between Saint-Michel-des-Andaines and Bagnoles-de-l’Orne. Free admission. Price of pitches: €3/ml one day; €5/ml two days. Reservations: 06.71.12.77.47.

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