Toulouse. The town hall and the fairground finally agree: here is where the Saint-Michel party will be held
By Thibaut Calatayud
Published on
It took time, but the dialogue finally led to a positive outcome. Tuesday, September 6, 2022, the Toulouse City Hall announced that it had reached an agreement with the Federation of Showmen of France for a new location for the St. Michael’s Day.
24 sites offered to showmen
In March 2021, the municipality had indicated to the fairgrounds that the funfair could no longer be held on the Zenith car park. The town hall had then justified its decision by the “nuisances, especially noise, suffered and deplored by the residents”, but also by the creation of hundreds of additional housing units as part of the urban renewal program of the Cartoucherie.
“Aware that this celebration is part of the Toulouse tradition, the Town Hall has examined no less than 24 sites on the perimeter of the municipality of Toulouse and beyond to propose relocation sites.”
For a year and a half, Cecile Dufraisse, the assistant in charge of the commercial occupation of the public domain, and the Fédération des Forains de France negotiated to find a place that suited everyone.
Island of Ramier, Ginestous or Malepère
1uh last September, the City offered fairground stallholders the opportunity to set up their attractions on Ramier Islandat the level of the right-of-way the old exhibition center.
“At first, they refused it by letter dated September 2, 2022. This was a shame because it is located in the grip of the former Exhibition Center, which has welcomed millions of visitors for decades, and that without problem”, then regretted the town hall of Toulouse.
In the process, two new proposals were made by the municipality: the site of the Malepère sector, chemin des Carmes and the land north of the Ginestous area, avenue Salvador Dali.
The party will take place on the island of Ramier
After reflection, the showmen finally decided to backpedal. This Tuesday, September 6, in writing, they announced that they agreed to set up the carnival on the island of Ramier. All’s well that ends well then…
The town hall of Toulouse will now mobilize to “prepare this land as appropriate, but within extremely tight deadlines”.
As a reminder, the Saint-Michel festival is necessarily held between mid-September and mid-October.
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