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🇫🇷 France /Culture & Society

Bayonne festival prepares for heatwave with exceptional measures

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Bayonne, France, is implementing exceptional measures to combat a heatwave during its upcoming Fêtes de Bayonne festival.
  • Measures include free access to museums and pools, extended swimming hours, and designated cooling stations.
  • Despite forecasts of cooler temperatures, organizers are preparing for potential heat impacts on the large-scale event.

Bayonne, France, is preparing for its annual Fêtes de Bayonne festival with an unprecedented plan to combat a potential heatwave. The festival, which draws over a million "festayres," is scheduled to take place next week.

Mayor Jean-René Etchegaray stated that the festival has only been canceled twice since 1932, during wartime and the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing its importance. While recent weather forecasts suggest temperatures may drop below 30 degrees Celsius, organizers are still implementing measures to ensure public safety.

We have never imagined that the festivities could not take place due to the heatwave, as they have only been canceled twice since 1932, during the war and Covid.

— Jean-René EtchegarayThe mayor of Bayonne stated the importance of the festival and the unprecedented nature of preparing for heat.

These measures include free entry to museums and swimming pools, designated "refuge areas" for cooling off, and extended swimming hours. Firefighters will also be on hand to spray water on crowds. The festival program may be adjusted if necessary. "We have never imagined that the festivities could not take place due to the heatwave," Etchegaray said, but acknowledged the need to prepare for this edition.

The event is among the five most important in Europe. Even if, according to the latest weather forecasts, we should escape high temperatures, we will start preparing for it during this edition.

— Mathieu DuhamelThe sub-prefect of Bayonne acknowledged the scale of the event and the need for preparation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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