The change of scenery was already planned in 2020. Before everything that had been imagined was thrown into the water – well, almost, since the spirit was largely preserved for this year – due to the covid pandemic. Thus, at the Brest Maritime Festival 2024, there will be no country in the spotlight, as in the last edition in 2016. But, instead, “Maritime Stopovers”.
These five large spaces will host activities as well as tastings, conferences, exhibitions and even concerts for four of them. The Maritime Stopovers will orchestrate their respective programs around the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Mediterranean, the Poles, as well as the English Channel and the Celtic Sea. Alongside these large spaces, six thematic villages will also offer activities such as the Children’s Village, a big new feature for this edition. The Games Village, dedicated to sports, will be resized thanks to additional partners in this Olympic year, while the one which was called “Science Quay” in 2016 has decided to focus on the issue of ocean protection. Without forgetting the villages linked to tourism, rescue and state actions at sea, as well as maritime heritage.
In short, the program is copious. “I think the visitors will be satisfied: they will be able to combine business with pleasure and leave the Maritime Festival with a better knowledge of the oceans,” smiles François Cuillandre. Fortuné Pellicano, deputy president of the event, adds: “There is indeed an issue of raising awareness among the public, who must be reminded to what extent the ocean is fragile and this maritime space must be preserved and protected.”
“Very precise signage and identification”
The mayor of Brest, François Cuillandre, does not hide his enthusiasm at the range of possibilities that will be offered to visitors to this edition of the Maritime Festival: “Imagining seeing everything in a single day is mission impossible! “.
From July 12 to 17, there is no doubt that they will indeed get their money’s worth. “It must be emphasized, however, that all events within the Maritime Festival area will be free,” point out the organizers. The only paid offer is to go to sea.” For example, the eight large ships which will be accessible to the public will be free to access: these are three sailboats (the Belem, the Santa Maria Manuela and the Gulden Leeuw), two vessels of the French Navy (the Andromeda and the Garonne), an archaeological research vessel (the André Malraux), a scientific vessel (the Thalassa) and an unusual vessel (the Hydrograaf).
And because after eight years of waiting, it is a matter of pulling out all the stops, Brest Événements Nautiques has also decided to do a lot of scenography work. “Everything has been redesigned and created to immerse the visitor in an atmosphere with very precise signage and identification. We’re not going to do Disneyland, but the idea is that we know where we are in each place.” Eight-metre-high lighthouses, a large sand-style castle and a giant crab will be placed in strategic locations for the Maritime Festivals which promise to be colorful.
