Lyon: the festival between the Rhône and Saône brought together 35,000 people

Under a summer sun, the 4th edition of the Entre Rhône et Saône festival transformed Lyon into a veritable open-air stage for three days. From June 27 to 29, the city celebrated its two rivers with more than 300 free events, combining live shows, water sports, concerts, river cruises, and environmental awareness workshops. In total, nearly 35,000 people gathered throughout the weekend. This is fewer than for the first edition, in 2022, when between 40,000 and 50,000 people made the trip.

An iconic moment of the weekend, La Mâchecroute , a fantastical creature by Planète Vapeur, attracted 14,000 spectators to the banks of the Rhône over two evenings. The Guillotière guinguettes were not to be outdone, bringing together 6,000 people each evening in a festive and musical atmosphere.

The festival also focused on the collective experience with a giant banquet bringing together 2,500 guests around 500 kg of fruits and vegetables. The most daring tried drift swimming on the Rhône , while 3,500 people enjoyed water activities at Confluence.

Also read: The people of Lyon take the plunge for the first time in the Rhône

Audrey Hénocque, deputy mayor of Lyon, praised " a festival that embodies Lyon's ambition to celebrate its waterways while raising awareness about their preservation ." The date has already been set for 2026.