It starts on Saturday December 7 and ends on Sunday January 5. The Enchanted Bastide event, which attracts visitors well beyond Villeneuvois, returns to the heart of the bastide for the end-of-year holiday season. And the 2024 edition is experiencing profound changes, due in particular to a Sainte-Catherine square narrowed by the church construction site.
The 35 chalets of the Christmas market will therefore, this year, be scattered across Place Lafayette and Rue Lakanal, “which will allow a circuit over the entire bastide”, specifies Béatrice Vaquier, assistant in charge of events and commercial attractiveness. Facing the market and not far from the Lot, artisans, creators and take-away treats will be set up, as well as Santa's House and the giant mailbox. “We are opening the pop-up store on rue de Paris again, for three exhibitors,” specifies Béatrice Vaquier.
The chalets dedicated to food will be on Place Lafayette. The latter, just like last year, will be largely occupied by the ice rink, which will once again revolve around the fountain. But, this year, as previously announced in our columns, it will be made of ice, “at the request of many of our amateur skaters who were disappointed to slide on synthetic. Only the little ones found what they wanted there,” specifies the elected official. In order to protect the track from bad weather which could be fatal, a transparent courtyard, “to continue to enjoy the sky above your head”, was erected.
Disco party on the ice
The infrastructure will be at the center of Christmas entertainment, and the scene of two evenings, on Saturdays December 21 and 28, disco and fluorescent. For each, the appropriate dress code is encouraged, the DJs will have a set in the theme.
The square will not be emptied of any substance. It will host the educational Christmas farm, with a horse, a dwarf zebu, rabbits, sheep, ferrets… “A specialized keeper will accompany the children to approach and better know the animals present”, underlines the assistant to the event. The little enchanted bastide, dedicated to the youngest, does not change its habits, settling in the Libération parking lot. What's new is the arrival of an electric kart circuit on the track.
To create a festive atmosphere, the municipality once again invited street companies. There will be five of them roaming the bastide, in turn, “so that each weekend is different and that people want to come back”. The traditional pyrosymphonic show will take place on Saturday, December 21, at Saint-Cyr Park, to an original soundtrack from Disney films.
Winning tickets
The Federation of Merchants of Greater Villeneuvois changed the situation this year by offering, not a raffle, but scratch tickets. 10,000 will be available in shops in downtown Villeneuve-sur-Lot, but also in Sainte-Livrade and Casseneuil. In total, 200 prizes are up for grabs – travel, jewelry, bicycles, etc. – worth 25,000 euros.
