Country Music Festival in Mirande

It's nearly time again for the Country & Western Festival in nearby Mirande which starts on Wednesday 13th July and runs for 5 days until Sunday 17th.

You can jostle alongside the Harley Davidson bikers who come from all over France or try your hand at line dancing with all the locals, who love to dress up for the occasion.

Apart from the 63 concerts in the stadium, there are free open air concerts in the centre of the town plus bike shows, car shows, 250 stands, 20 restaurants, balloon flights and even a Disneyland village showing the legend of Buffalo Bill Cody.

Each year, they bring over an ex-Dallas star to open the festival and this year it's Sue Ellen (aka Linda Gray) who is entitled the "Marianne du Festival" which literally translates (rather unfortunately for her) as Godmother of the Festival. Let's hope she's not dressed as such, but sports the usual cowboy hat and jeans.

We've still got places free in our gites for that week (at discount prices) if you fancy soaking up the atmosphere !